Follow This Recipe for Delicious Swedish Lussekatter St. Lucia Buns (2024)

FAQs

What does Lucia mean in Sweden? ›

Alongside Midsummer, the Lucia celebrations represent one of the foremost cultural traditions in Sweden, with their clear reference to life in the peasant communities of old: darkness and light, cold and warmth. Lucia is an ancient mythical figure with an abiding role as a bearer of light in the dark Swedish winters.

Why is it called Lussekatter? It is thought that the buns were originally modeled after a sleeping cat (the S-shape being the curled up tail), believed to ward off the devil.

The Festival of St. Lucia, which is traditionally celebrated on December 13, begins the Christmas season in Swedish custom. The so-called "Festival of Lights" stems from the fourth-century martyrdom of an Italian saint and the incidents which followed.

Originally, the buns were called djävulskatter (“devil cats”), but later the name changed to the more polite lussekatter (“Lucia cats”). The dough is sweet and soft, but spiced with a generous amount of saffron to make it bright yellow.

Lucia (pronounced Lu-chée-a in Italian and Lu-sée-a in Swedish) was born in Sicily, an island of the coast of Italy, in the third century A.D. During this time, Sicily was part of the Roman Empire and it was against the law to be a Christian. St.

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. Schools generally close around noon on the day of the festival so that families can prepare for the holiday.

St Lucia buns, or Lussekatter are Swedish buns eaten for breakfast with coffee or as an afternoon treat on the 13^th December, or St Lucia Day. The saffron gives a lovely cheerful appearance to the buns, which is just perfect in the depths of the dark winter (and especially so in Sweden!).

The nation's best-known species is the gorgeous but endangered Saint Lucia amazon parrot. Other species of conservation concern include the pencil cedar, staghorn coral and Saint Lucia racer. The racer, confined to the nine-hectare island of Maria Major, is thought to be the world's most threatened snake.

In short, The festival of St. Lucia begins the Christmas season in Swedish custom, and she comes as a young girl crowned with fresh greens and lit candles carrying a tray of baked goods. These sweet, spiral buns are traditionally served on this day.

Although St Lucia is a former British colony, the French settled in the 17th Century. Their influence lives on in the patois spoken in the country.

How do you make lussekatter without saffron? ›

If you don't have saffron or simply want to make St Lucia buns without saffron, you can use turmeric instead, to give the lussekatter their classic yellow color. Or some people choose to add turmeric on top of the saffron, to make the buns extra yellow.

Cuccìa, the dessert of Saint Lucia

One of the most famous desserts, whose paternity has always been disputed between Palermo and Syracuse, cuccìa is a spoon dessert made with ricotta cheese, boiled wheat, candied fruit and chocolate drops.

There are numerous types of buns, but some popular ones include: Hamburger buns. Hot dog buns. Brioche buns.

Lucia celebrations are a highlight of the winter, and a long-standing tradition. The first Lucia procession at Skansen was held back in 1893. The story of Lucia began in Sicily around the year 283. Since then, old pagan traditions have been combined with Swedish customs, giving rise to new traditions.

Lucia means “light” and it is often associated with Saint Lucia, a martyr from the 4th century AD, who is the patron saint of the blind. The name Lucia is often associated with light, guidance, and hope. It's a name that evokes the feeling of beauty and elegance.

December 13 is Luciadagen or “Lucia Day,” on which Swedes celebrate the coming of light in the darkness. The day was originally timed to the Julian calendar which marked midwinter — the winter solstice — slightly earlier than we do today (December 21 or 22).

National Lucia Bride of Sweden (in Swedish: Sveriges Lucia) was a competition for Swedish females. The winner of the competition would be the "Lucia Bride" heading traditional Lucia processions on December 13, Saint Lucy's Day.