well it’s my birthday too! Lucy and I share a birthday, December 13th, also known as Saint Lucia’s Day. Get it? Lucy = Lucia? Her real name is Lucia because she was born into a Catholic family and born on the day celebrating Saint Lucia. It all became clear when I saw her birthdate on some paperwork and I was able to make the Lucia/December 13th connection.
I had special Saint Lucia birthdays growing up in a church with Swedish roots. Every year they had a Smorgasboard to celebrate and I hoped that someday I would be able to wear the crown of candles that that is traditionally worn by the oldest daughter. By the time I was old enough they had discontinued the Saint Lucia celebration. No crown for me.
I hadn’t thought about it for years until Caleb came home from school talking about how his classmate came in on December 13th dressed as Lucia with a lighted crown (electric — no open flames) and taught the class about Saint Lucia. He said, “Mom! Camille needs a crown because she’s the oldest girl in our family!”
I laughed to my friend that Caleb thought Camille “needed” a crown like her daughter’s and before I knew it, we had a Lucia of our own.
She may look cute, but she’s a bruiser under that pretty dress and crown.