Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings.   For today’s blog post, I will be discussing December 13th, as a day celebrated in honor of St. Lucia, but also known as  Lussi’s Night, and how St. Lucia and the Norse lore of Lussi have, in many ways, become syncretized!

The story of St. Lucia has origins in Sicily, with stories of Lucia going into the catacombs to bring food and water to the Christians who were hiding in them to escape persecution.   She famously did this act of beneficence with candles on her head to light her way in the catacombs, so that she could hold the food and water and still see!   It was for this act that Lucia would become martyred in 304 CE.   Later, according to legend, it is said that she was very hard to kill.   The pyre they attempted to burn her in did not kill her, nor did a soldier’s slice to her throat.   She only died when she was given the Christian sacrament of Extreme Unction, which is the anointing of a seriously ill person with holy oils to heal their soul!   Needless to say, the image of Lucia with candles on her head to light the way in the darkness is at the heart of many celebrations of St. Lucia, with young girls chosen to represent her in this form.   

However, as I noted above, St. Lucia is not only celebrated on her December 13th Feast Day in Catholicism.   She is also syncretized with Lussi, who is celebrated on this day in Scandinavia.   Lussi is a Nordic Sorceress often seen as a parallel to the Germanic tales of Frau Perchta and Frau Holle (known to be Christmas Witches).   In Norse lore, Lussi was said to ride in Odin’s Wild Hunt, causing mayhem and chaos, and she was celebrated on December 13th, known as Lussinatta or Lussi’s Night!   So, it is quite understandable why the connection between Lussi and St. Lucia would be made, and why the celebrations would be combined.   This would allow the continued celebrations of the Divine Feminine and earlier Norse Pagan celebrations to go on uninterrupted with the spread of Christianity, as we see in many places that held on to Pagan beliefs.   This reminds me greatly of the fact that Brigid was made a Saint, even though she has her origins as a Goddess!

But let’s look a little deeper at Lussi.   Even though not much is known about her in folklore and myth, it is clear that she was feared and seen as a very powerful figure.   Given her connection to Odin’s Wild Hunt, she is also connected to Elves and the Fae Folk in general, as they are likewise said to ride in Odin’s Wild Hunt!   As a sidenote, I specify the connection is to Odin’s Wild Hunt, as there are several versions of the Wild Hunt with different Gods, Goddesses, and folkloric figures leading the Hunt, often full of Souls of the Dead and Fae.   The fear people have of Odin’s Wild Hunt is that it is said that if you see the Wild Hunt, you will be abducted into the Underworld! 

There is further fear associated with the fact that the time between Lussi’s Night and Yule is said to be when Elves, Trolls, Demons, and Spirits of the Dead are extremely active, but especially so on December 13th.   Naughty children are cautioned to beware, because in some traditions it was said that Lussi would come down from the chimney and abduct naughty children!   So, yes, I can see why her folklore is often tied with Frau Perchta, who herself has a connection with Krampus, and both are Christmas figures known for punishing children (although Frau Perchta also punished adults).    

Of course, in modern-day Sweden, the celebration is more centered on the benevolent energy of St. Lucia.   A beautiful reminder of the energy of the light in the darkness, carrying people through the troubles and fears at this time of the year.   I find that it is utterly fascinating to explore both the light and the dark aspects of this day.   After all, the celebration is about being a light in the darkness, as St. Lucia was with her candlelit crown.   The story of self-sacrifice in order to help those in need is a beautiful one.   However, the story of the wildness and mischief of Lussi and her Elves is equally interesting.   Together, they show the beauty and the danger of the Winter season.   In ancient times, there was so much danger associated with the Winter, when people could die due to the harsh weather alone.   As time went on, with better shelter and sources of warmth, the season became one of spending time with loved ones, showing the softer aspect of the season!

In many ways, I think that the evolution of the stories of Lussi and St. Lucia, and the fact that the two are now often syncretized, shows this dual aspect of Winter quite perfectly.    I hope that you have enjoyed this exploration of December 13th, both as the Feast of St. Lucia and as Lussi’s Night.   What is the most interesting thing about these traditions to you?   Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is an artwork of Lussi/St. Lucia.   I found the art on https://axismundi.blog/en/2017/12/12/luxuries-the-luminous-double-pagan-and-obscure-of-saint-lucia/.  

LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries

Further Reading

• https://witchlike.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/lucia-and-lussi-celebrating-the-darkness-and-the-light/
• https://www.scandinavianarchaeology.com/the-tradition-of-lucia-and-the-bringer-of-light/
• https://axismundi.blog/en/2017/12/12/luxuries-the-luminous-double-pagan-and-obscure-of-saint-lucia/
• https://whiteroseofavalon.life/2023/12/22/frau-perchta-another-christmas-witch/
• https://whiteroseofavalon.life/2021/12/22/krampus/
• https://whiteroseofavalon.life/2024/12/05/krampusnacht-a-poem/
• https://norse-mythology.org/the-wild-hunt/