CARIBOU, Maine – When Swedish immigrants settled in Aroostook in the 1870s, they did not just build a community but also filled the area with ties to their home culture.
One of those ties – Saint Lucia Day – continues every Christmas season at Monica’s Scandinavian Imports in Caribou.
According to legend, the martyr Lucia was the “patron saint of light” who brought food to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs. Saint Lucia wore a candle-lit wreath on her head so she could see in the dark night while carrying the food.
Dating back to the fourth century in Sweden, Saint Lucia celebrations involve a young girl dressed as and playing Lucia, carrying a plate of pepparkator, Swedish gingersnap cookies, to guests.
If folks can break the cookies into three pieces with their knuckles while making a wish, their wish will likely come through, said Lukas Lagasse, store manager at Monica’s.
This year, 17-year-old Hannah Chartier of Fort Fairfield played Lucia, holding the plate of cookies and leading her young “attendents” down the stairs and through several aisles of the darkened store. Parents and other guests watched quietly while nearby musicians played violins and other string instruments.
Accompanying Lucia and carrying candles of their own were: Avenea Germain, 15, of New Sweden; Thanen Germain, 12, of New Sweden; Tevney-Rose Germain, 10, of New Sweden; Faith Lowry, 7; of Stockholm, Sam Lowry, 10, of Stockholm; Tobias Ciszewski, 13, of New Sweden; Caleb Ciszewski, 14, of New Sweden; and Annika Ciszewski, 11, of New Sweden.
Celebrating the light that Lucia brought has become just as important as celebrating Midsommar, which marks the coming of summer and the longest day of the year, Lagasse said.
“In Sweden it’s very dark this time of the year. When I was living there, we had only four to five hours of sunlight,” Lagasse said. “So that’s why we celebrate the light.”
