The Oden is a Swedish ship, with a Swedish crew and, accordingly, on board web they follow Swedish traditions and holidays. A special day that signals the start of the Winter holiday season is Santa Lucia Day. Celebrated each year on December 13, this "Holiday of Lights" is observed on the "darkest day" of the winter. It celebrates Santa Lucia, a young woman who, centuries ago, devoted her life to helping the poor and was hailed as a martyr when she was put to death for her convictions.
In Swedish households, the eldest daughter serves her family the morning coffee and pastries, singing a series of traditional songs. All over Sweden, teenage girls vie for the title of Santa Lucia, similar to competing to be chosen for homecoming queen or a beauty pageant. My mother is Swedish and I remember being 6 or 7 years old and bringing my parents morning snacks on a platter and singing Santa Lucia. I also watched my 2 younger sisters and my cousins participating in Santa Lucia celebrations when they were children and teenagers, as a part of my mother's Vasa club, a fraternal order for those of Scandanivian descent. So I am somewhat familiar with the tradition and some of the songs. But I was never involved in a public Lucia celebration, until now.
On the Oden, an announcement on the ship's central message board invited all who were interested in participating in the Santa Lucia celebration to meet in the ship's conference room. My roommate, Swedish science teacher Caroline Gennser, was asked to organize the performance, so I figured I would help her if she needed help. Little did I know what was to come.
So, on December 12, we met in the conference room - me and about 8 of the Swedish scientists and ship's crew. I tried my best to understand their conversation in Swedish (I can understand a little) as they each chose what part they would play. Caroline asked me, "Will you be our Lucia?" My first answer was, "I can't do that. I can't speak Swedish, I can't sing the songs." "Oh, but Lucia doesn't sing. She just stands there." So now I knew why this would be a good role for me! The others practiced their songs, several of which I recognized from watching previous Santa Lucia performances. Then Caroline and I found the Oden's box of Lucia costumes and props, including the crown of candles(!) that Santa Lucia traditionally wears. Surely they don't use real candles on a ship, where fire is always a big concern. But the candles on Lucia's crown had been lit before - they were halfway melted! We found tall, pointed hats made from old nautical charts and added some holiday tinsel, as well as the "starboy" stars which we covered with shiny foil.
The Lucia Celebration was scheduled during the afternoon coffee break on December 13, which ended up being the day with the roughest seas we've encountered so far on the cruise. We met in the conference room to prepare our costumes; I wore a traditional white Lucia robe, with a red sash around my waist, the other women who were Lucia's attendants (the Tarmor) wore white lab coats instead of the traditional robes, the men (starngossar) wore white lab coats or "clean lab" paper jumpsuits, the pointed hats made from nautical charts, and they carried the shiny stars, and the rest of the group, dressed in red robes, were the tomtenissar.The ship was rocking in 5 meter high seas (waves over 15 feet high) as we quietly made our way to the lounge as the coffee break started in the ship's mess. Due to the high seas, it was decided we wouldn't light my crown of candles.By this time, I was really getting into my "Lucia experience," so I was a little disappointed, but it was quite rough, so better be safe than sorry.
We lined up, with me at the head of the line, and walked slowly through the kitchen,singing the "Santa Lucia" song, into the ship's mess. I stood in the middle, with the tarnor, starngossar, and tomtenissar on either side of me. I concentrated on standing still without falling as the ship rocked and crashed against the waves, and keeping my (unlit) crown of candles on my head. The group sang the Swedish songs better than they had in practice as our audience snapped pictures and sang along. Then it was time for me to lead the group out through the mess, back out the lounge, to the applause of our audience. We finished the celebration with Swedish pepparkakkor cookies, sweet braided rolls, and Swedish glogg -which is warm mulled cider - Yum!
On December 13, Santa Lucia Day was celebrated on board the Oden.
Santa Lucia's court includes Lucia, her attendants (tarnor), the starboys (starngossar) and the tomten (tomtenissar.)
Anne Marie Wotkyns played the part of Santa Lucia on board the Oden, Decmber 13, 2010.
Participating in this tradition was a great experience for me, fun, yet tradtional, celebratory, yet meaningful. Thank you, my Swedish friends, for allowing me to be a part of the Oden Lucia Celebration 2010.
Lesson Learned: You're never to old to live out a childhood dream