Saint Lucia Day

This morning we celebrated Saint Lucia Day -- one of my very favorite Christmas traditions.

When I was about 7 I read about Saint Lucia Day in one of my American Girl Doll Books.  Since my family is Swedish, I asked my Mom if we could celebrate it too.  

So we did.  

And we have ever since.  

Maddle and I use to switch off every year dressing as St. Lucia.  We'd wake up early in the morning and make cinnamon rolls.  Then wake up each family member by saying "Saint Lucia invited you to breakfast."  After breakfast we'd open a Christmas present from "Jultomten" (Swedish Santa).  Every year he brings us our Christmas ornament for the year, but Jultomten is tricky.  He writes a poem about each ornament so we can guess what is inside.

This is Mckinlay's first year dressing up as Saint Lucia.  

She has been counting down the days!  She helped pick out everyone's ornaments and even helped me make her crown (Thanks Ginny for the DARLING pattern!).  

I just about cried several time this morning seeing her in her sweet little dress and how excited she was about everything.  I so see myself in her and it just makes me happy to be establishing family traditions.

Here are Jultomten's poems for us this year:
{Mom-- this is for you}


Ty-
Our dad is really sweet & nice,

{not only because he wears Old Spice},

But to be a real man you need a grill.

Flipping burgers & grilling steaks – what a thrill.

With a fire pit and a grill to use whenever he can,

He is now officially a man, man.

Megs-
Cookies, brownie & cakes – Oh my!

Homemade, of course, she wouldn’t think to buy!

Baking went to a new level with her Kitchen Aid,

 Now everyone wants a treat that “Meghan made.”

It makes her happy to be in the kitchen,

Especially when little helpers pitch in.

Mckinlay:   
Our little girl loves to dance,

& will do so whenever she gets the chance.

Pirotte, plie, strike a pose,

Then twirl around on her tippy-toes.

This year Mckinlay started taking dance class,

& moves and groves with lots of sass.

Eliza:
You reach & grab & touch & take,

Leaving a trail of rubble in your wake.

To find an ornament for little Lizy-Lou,

It must be one she can touch & chew.

A soft Christmas doll was just the ticket!

When Mama saw it, she knew to pick it.

Here are our ornaments:

Remember it's like, 7:30am?  

No photo of Liza's ornament {I can't find where I hid it!}, but this is what she was doing while I read her poem to her:  

Need I say more?


Saint Lucia Day is actually supposed to be on December 13, but the weekend works out easier for us.  So there is still time if you want to celebrate too!


Happy Saint Lucia Day!!