Winter is one of my favorite Seasons. A white blanket of snow enveloping houses, streets, trees, and all, making it all cozy inside. Time to plant bulbs inside! Time to bake for St. Lucia Day and for Christmas! Baking brings back a lot of sweet memories of times spent with my family and in particular baking with my own children. We had a lot of fun and still do. For St. Lucia day, we bake a special wheat bun flavored with saffron called “Lussekatt”. I use a recipe from my maybe favorite book: Sju Sorters Kakor ( Seven Kinds of Cakes/Cookies). Here is a link to a recipe in english which is basically the same as the one I use:
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/st_lucia_saffron_buns/

On Lucia Day there are processions all over; in churches, schools, nursing homes, offices, you name it. Girls or women are dressed in white; one is chosen as Lucia and wears a leafy crown with candles (nowadays they are electric). Boys are dressed up as elves (tomtar) or starboys (stjärngossar) and they all sing the St. Lucia song and other Christmas songs. It’s very festive and cheerful in the darkest month of the year.

Happy Lucia Day to you all!