erinthul

The Longest Night

Added 2024-12-13 17:46:15 +0000 UTC

Today let's do a little break from slavic folklore and let's move up north.
Like many Christian traditions, Saint Lucia’s Day has pagan roots. In the Julian calendar, the winter solstice was celebrated on December 13th, then believed to be the longest night of the year. The Yule period was presumed to be rife with danger. Particularly in northern Europe, people believed the long stretches of darkness and cold left households vulnerable to witches.
In Scandinavian countries each town elects its own St. Lucia. The festival begins with a procession led by the St. Lucia designee, who is followed by young girls dressed in white and wearing lighted wreaths on their heads and boys dressed in white pajama-like costume singing traditional songs. The festival marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Scandinavia, and it is meant to bring hope and light during the darkest time of the year.
In earlier centuries the Norse celebrated the winter solstice with large bonfires meant to scare off evil spirits and to alter the course of the sun. After converting to Christianity sometime around 1000, the Norse incorporated the legend of St. Lucia into their celebration. The modern festival of light combines elements of both pagan and Christian traditions.

Hope you'll like this short post made for the Santa Lucia's celebration. Unfortunately there's no snow where I live so I decided togo with more witchy theme (shocking! :D).

Also I need to tell you that next few posts will be full of blood, knights, fire and crosses. I can't wait for those photoshoots!

Love, Erinthul.