Финляндия, Хельсинки, Эспоо ... Эстония, Таллинн
Иконка канала Финляндия, Хельсинки, Эспоо ... Эстония, Таллинн

Финляндия, Хельсинки, Эспоо ... Эстония, Таллинн

11 подписчиков

St. Lucia's Day at the Senate Square in Helsinki #visitfinland
St. Lucia's Day at the Senate Square in Helsinki #visitfinland Saint Lucia's Day Lucian päivä is a Christmas holiday dedicated to the holy martyr who lived in Sicily at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries. The holiday, popular mainly among Finland Swedes, is celebrated annually on December 13. The holiday came to Finland through Germany and Sweden in the Middle Ages. This is the day when Lucia brings people light, warmth, and with them joy and hope in the coldest and darkest time of the year. Saint Lucia's Day is one of the main holidays of Swedish-speaking Finns. History of Saint Lucia's Day The tradition of celebrating dates back to the 18th century, when Finland was part of Sweden. The first mentions of the celebration of Saint Lucia's Day in the Swedish province of Västergötland date back to 1746. The Swedish Lucia has many prototypes. One of them is the German "Christkindlein" - a little girl dressed as an angel, distributing gifts. This girl is often depicted wearing a wreath with candles. In Germany in the 16th-17th centuries, during the ban on the cult of saints and especially Saint Nicholas, the idea of replacing the kind old man with the baby Jesus, who was depicted by a girl in a white dress, appeared at Christmas. The tradition did not take root, but it penetrated into Sweden. According to the Julian calendar, Saint Lucia's Day coincided with the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year, accompanied by the longest night. In the Nordic countries, which were not spoiled by an excess of sunlight, it was not difficult for Lucia, symbolizing the sun's turn to spring and the lengthening daylight, to win the hearts of the locals. The name Lucia itself goes back to the Latin "lux" - "light". Legends about Saint Lucia There are several legends about who Lucia was. According to one version, the name of the holiday is associated with the martyr from Syracuse - Saint Lucia, blinded and killed for her faith in Christ. Lucia was the daughter of a wealthy Roman citizen from Syracuse, who died early. Her mother, Eutychia, wanted to marry her daughter off, but Lucia was a secret Christian and could not break her vow of celibacy. After her mother was healed from bleeding at the tomb of Saint Agatha in Catania, she agreed with her daughter's vow. The rejected groom incited a cruel persecution against the Christian Lucia. The judge of Syracuse Paschasius wanted to send her to a brothel, but neither a cart drawn by oxen nor a thousand men could move Lucia from the spot. After various tortures and miracles, she was killed with a sword blow. Other legends report that her eyes were torn out. According to tradition, Lucia is the patron saint of all people with eye diseases, the blind or simply nearsighted. There is a legend in Sweden about a fisherman's wife named Lucia who lived in the Middle Ages. One day, when her husband was at sea, a storm broke out, and in addition, the evil spirits went wild and put out the lighthouse. To show the fisherman the way home, Lucia went out onto a cliff above the sea with a lantern in her hands. The evil spirits got angry and began to threaten her, and when the threats had no effect, the girl was beheaded. But even after Lucia's death, her glowing ghost stood on the shore, showing sailors the way home. In Helsinki, Lucia was first chosen in 1930. Since then, every year on December 13, a girl dressed in a white robe, symbolizing Saint Lucia, descends the steps of Helsinki Cathedral to Senate Square. It is here, in the very heart of the Finnish capital, that many events and holidays are held throughout the year. The famous cathedral, built in 1852 according to the designs of Carl Ludvig Engel, one of the oldest buildings in the city and a magnificent example of neoclassical architecture, serves as an excellent backdrop. A young unmarried girl, usually blonde, with a beautiful clear voice, is chosen by popular vote for the role of Saint Lucia. At 17:00 in the Cathedral, she is crowned with a wreath of candles, after which, together with other girls, she sings Santa Lucia and solemnly descends the steps to the square, opening the festive procession. The procession goes along the route Senate Square-Aleksanterinkatu-Mannegheimentie-Western Esplanade-Market Square. Saint Lucia brings light to people. The Yle TV channel broadcasts it, which attracts many viewers. About the symbolism of the outfit The outfit of the "festival queen" is symbolic: the white dress signifies innocence and purity, the red belt with which it is belted - martyrdom, the wreath - a halo, a symbol of holiness, and the burning candles - light. Being chosen as Lucia this year is a great honor, hundreds of musically gifted girls aged 17-23 compete to win this prestigious title. After the coronation, the girl is involved in charity work, visiting nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other social institutions and participating in fundraising for them.