This is beautiful, Jolene! Yesterday was Santa Lucía here in Spain, too, but I don’t think it’s celebrated in the same way. Which is sad because those saffron buns look delicious!
Side note that I miss Andersonville-- I lived in Edgewater and used to pop over all the time to visit with friends. It’s such a fun neighborhood!
I love this, Jolene, as you once again are taking me down "memory lane." My alma mater acknowledged Lucia every year with a festival/program. It was a really special celebration; and, of course, the saffron buns were served. I've been wondering if the University still does that...think I'll google today and find out! I'm wishing I lived near the Swedish Bakery! ❤️
I love so much this, Jolene. I've always thought the Lucia tradition was beautiful (ever since I first read about it in one of the Kirsten chapter books from the American Girl series -- which is true for a lot of other women my age, I think 😄) My ancestral roots are south of Scandinavia -- my people were predominantly French and German, along with Dutch, English, and Scottish -- but I also look (every year, and increasingly harder) for small clues as to how they celebrated.
What a beautiful post. i felt like i was in that dark room that warmed up with the smell of coffee and buns. The pictures are beautiful and make sense of lots of disparate storylines and pictures we see this time of year. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Very charming Jolene! I love the Carl Larsson illustration. We had the candle and angels centerpiece when I was growing up. Just shared your piece with a friend whose grandparents came from Sweden.
Really enjoyed this over breakfast this morning (sadly matzo brei, not those buns!) And we have those angel chimes at home, an essential part of the holidays.
Great to see a shout-out to Lost Larson, whose Instagram account I follow while drooling. I hope to make a pilgrimage there one of these days but, meanwhile, I'll console myself with saffron buns!
The angel chimes fascinated me as a kid. I would watch them go around and around and marvel. This post reminds me to slow and savour. Thank you, Jolene!
thank you for sharing this transcendent history, personally and lussekatter-ly. I first read about the Feast of Saint Lucia in what was seemingly an American Girls spin-off...or something similar? And I still find Scandiniavian pastries to potentially be the most inviting...oh that, pearl sugar and those shiny buns....
Dear Jolene--I loved reading about St. Lucia! What an interesting story and I especially learning more about your own family and seeing that 120 year old photograph. Your newsletter just keeps getting better and better...deeper, richer, beautiful--like you. Love, Jamie
I love this old photograph of your family! When I lived in Chicago as a young adult, I lived in Andersonville, where there was some kind of annual Swedish festival... I remember the cinnamon rolls from Ann Sather, too, but I just looked on a map and that location either disappeared (or I hallucinated it)
Glorious story for this dark time of year! Really love all the photos, the ancient tradition, the mystery of your Swedish ancestors’ arrival in this country, those delightful saffron buns that I’d love to sample. Glad Lucia to you, Jolene!
San Diego’s Museum of Man (now the Museum of Us) always celebrated the Saint Lucia tradition at the festive Christmas on the Prado (now December Nights) in our Balboa Park. As I remember it, a half dozen candle wreath- adorned young girls appeared on a high walkway above the throng, carrying trays of...apparently sweet buns. It was quite lovely.
This is beautiful, Jolene! Yesterday was Santa Lucía here in Spain, too, but I don’t think it’s celebrated in the same way. Which is sad because those saffron buns look delicious!
Side note that I miss Andersonville-- I lived in Edgewater and used to pop over all the time to visit with friends. It’s such a fun neighborhood!
A beautiful story and stunning photos and drawings. Although I don't believe I'm even a smidgen Swedish, I sure wish I lived near a Swedish bakery!
I love this, Jolene, as you once again are taking me down "memory lane." My alma mater acknowledged Lucia every year with a festival/program. It was a really special celebration; and, of course, the saffron buns were served. I've been wondering if the University still does that...think I'll google today and find out! I'm wishing I lived near the Swedish Bakery! ❤️
I love so much this, Jolene. I've always thought the Lucia tradition was beautiful (ever since I first read about it in one of the Kirsten chapter books from the American Girl series -- which is true for a lot of other women my age, I think 😄) My ancestral roots are south of Scandinavia -- my people were predominantly French and German, along with Dutch, English, and Scottish -- but I also look (every year, and increasingly harder) for small clues as to how they celebrated.
What a beautiful post. i felt like i was in that dark room that warmed up with the smell of coffee and buns. The pictures are beautiful and make sense of lots of disparate storylines and pictures we see this time of year. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Very charming Jolene! I love the Carl Larsson illustration. We had the candle and angels centerpiece when I was growing up. Just shared your piece with a friend whose grandparents came from Sweden.
Really enjoyed this over breakfast this morning (sadly matzo brei, not those buns!) And we have those angel chimes at home, an essential part of the holidays.
Great to see a shout-out to Lost Larson, whose Instagram account I follow while drooling. I hope to make a pilgrimage there one of these days but, meanwhile, I'll console myself with saffron buns!
So beautiful and rich, Jolene! Love the angel chimes, the art, and the yummy photos. So cool.
The angel chimes fascinated me as a kid. I would watch them go around and around and marvel. This post reminds me to slow and savour. Thank you, Jolene!
thank you for sharing this transcendent history, personally and lussekatter-ly. I first read about the Feast of Saint Lucia in what was seemingly an American Girls spin-off...or something similar? And I still find Scandiniavian pastries to potentially be the most inviting...oh that, pearl sugar and those shiny buns....
Dear Jolene--I loved reading about St. Lucia! What an interesting story and I especially learning more about your own family and seeing that 120 year old photograph. Your newsletter just keeps getting better and better...deeper, richer, beautiful--like you. Love, Jamie
Those saffron buns are so beautiful! What a cool story.
I love this old photograph of your family! When I lived in Chicago as a young adult, I lived in Andersonville, where there was some kind of annual Swedish festival... I remember the cinnamon rolls from Ann Sather, too, but I just looked on a map and that location either disappeared (or I hallucinated it)
Glorious story for this dark time of year! Really love all the photos, the ancient tradition, the mystery of your Swedish ancestors’ arrival in this country, those delightful saffron buns that I’d love to sample. Glad Lucia to you, Jolene!
San Diego’s Museum of Man (now the Museum of Us) always celebrated the Saint Lucia tradition at the festive Christmas on the Prado (now December Nights) in our Balboa Park. As I remember it, a half dozen candle wreath- adorned young girls appeared on a high walkway above the throng, carrying trays of...apparently sweet buns. It was quite lovely.