Ridgewood resident shares Swedish tradition
THURSDAY DECEMBER 26, 2013, 2:02 PM
BY GLORIA GEANNETTE
MANAGING EDITOR
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Although she has lived in the United States for many years, Ridgewood resident Annika McCrea still celebrates Santa Lucia Day (Dec. 13) every year just like she did when she was a little girl in Sweden. Now her love for the “Festival of Lights” has spread to several hundred people in Ridgewood, who consider it the perfect beginning for their Christmas celebrations.
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McCrea moved with her family to France when she was only 8 and then to Belgium.
“It became especially important to keep our celebration alive when we weren’t living in Sweden,” she recalled.
According to the legend, Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) walked in a white robe with a crown of candles to bring food and drink (today symbolized by Santa Lucia cinnamon rolls and coffee) to a famished village community in ancient Scandinavia – bringing light and hope to the country in a time of darkness and despair.
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