Bookwitch

This has only a token connection to books, and that would be the hymn book and maybe a song book. And it’s also a few days late, as Lucia should be celebrated on December 13th. But when in exile, we have to make do with the nearest weekend.

In Sweden every town and every school has its own Lucia. Many places of work do, too. If you’re a teacher you’d be wise to get up early that morning, so you’re awake when your pupils turn up on your doorstep wearing white dresses and with candles on their heads. And hope they can sing.

Away from Sweden the task of celebrating Lucia often falls on the Swedish church, if you have one. We’ve been going to Lucia in Liverpool for many years now. First as spectators, then providing young children dressed up, and finally reaching the position of Lucia. Whereas homegrown Swedish children know this sort of thing almost automatically, here it takes a bit of teaching.

I think the half-Scandinavian children here do a magnificent job. They are at best bi-lingual, but sometimes mainly English speakers trying very hard. I attended the first practice for Lucia a couple of weeks ago. Lucia and one of her attendants were to sing a hymn on their own. No music, just voices. These two girls, aged 14 and 15, didn’t know each other before. One is an Anglo-Swedish speaking Finn and the other is Danish-Swedish. They simply stepped forward and started singing, and it was among the most perfect things I’ve heard.

Every year is different, but the standard is always high. I think it’s amazing the way these children are able to perform. The little gingerbread men this year had to be bribed to behave. In a few years’ time they’ll most likely be the backbone of the whole thing. Daughter was Lucia last year, but started her career as a junior attendant, chewing and licking her hand-held battery candle.

They all grow up in the end.

Here is a sample of yesterday’s Lucia, at Gustav Adolf Church, Park Lane, Liverpool. The sound quality isn’t great, and the crying babies just go to prove it’s a family event.