December Festivities | Christmas Day

Lulajże Jezuniu (refren:) Lulajże Jezuniu, moja Perełko, Lulaj ulubione me Pieścidełko. Lulajże Jezuniu, lulaj, że lulaj A ty go matulu w płaczu utulaj Zamknijże znużone płaczem powieczki, Utulże zemdlone łkaniem usteczki. (refren) Lulajże, piękniuchny nasz Aniołeczku. Lulajże wdzięczniuchny świata Kwiateczku. (refren) Lulajże, Różyczko najozdobniejsza, Lulajże, Lilijko najprzyjemniejsza. (refren) Dam ja Jezusowi słodkich jagódek pójdę z nim w Matuli serca ogródek. (refren) Dam ja Jezusowi z chlebem masełeka, włożę ja kukiełkę w jego jasełka. (refren) Dam ja Ci słodkiego, Jezu, cukierka rodzynków, migdałów z mego pudełka. (refren) Cyt, cyt, cyt niech zaśnie małe Dzieciątko oto już zasnęlo niby kurczątko. (refren) Cyt, cyt, cyt wszyscy się spać zabierajcie, mojego Dzieciątka nie przebudzajcie. (refren)

Hush Little Jesus (Refrain:) Hush little Jesus, my little pearl, Hush my favourite little delight. Hush little Jesus, hush, hush But you lovely mother, solace him in tears Close your little eyelids, tired of weeping, Solace the little lips, fainted from sobbing. (Refrain) Hush, our beautiful Angel. Hush, you graceful little flower of the world. (Refrain) Hush, you most decorative little rose, Hush, you most comfortable little lily. (Refrain) I'll give Jesus sweet little berries I'll go with him into his Mother's heart's orchard. (Refrain) I'll give Jesus a little butter with bread, I'll put a doll into his crib. (Refrain) I'll give you, Jesus, a sweet goody raisins, almonds from my little box. (Refrain) Hush! Hush! Hush! Let the sweet little child fall asleep Here it has already fallen asleep like a little chicken. (Refrain) Hush! Hush! Hush! You all go to sleep now, don't wake up my sweet little child. (Refrain)

December Festivities | Santa Lucia, ljusklara hägring let’s celebrate Luciadag and Lussinatt

Top: Photo by Claudia Grunder Bottom: Saffron buns, glögg, from Valarie Budayr’s “A Santa Lucia Festival” for Rhythm of the Home	Swedish: Santa Lucia, ljusklara hägring = Saint Lucy, bright mirage Danish: Luciadag = Day of Lucia Norwegian: Lussinatt = Lucia Night St. Lucia was born in Syracuse. Her parents were noble, wealthy and Christian. When still a young girl, Lucia dedicated her virginity to Christ; hence, as a teen she did not want to marry a pagan suitor – she meant every word of her vow. By that time Lucia’s Daddy was long gone, having died when she was an infant, and Lucia’s Mummy was quite unwell having developed a hemorrhage (cause unknown; we are talking late 200s C.E. here). One would imagine a marriage would be economically welcome. Still, Lucia being devoted persuaded her Mummy to pray at the tomb of St. Agatha for a cure instead. It worked. Lucia shared the nature of her vow and a desire to give her wealth to the poor. Mummy was so happy with the cure that she agreed. The pagan suitor was enraged. Since these were the times when the Christians were really out of favor in the Roman Empire, the pagan suitor, feeling rejected and obviously revengeful – because, honestly, what was this going to get him other than prove he was utterly parochial, but I judge with a modern mind, and also digress – accused Lucia of being a Christian in front of a judge. Lucia was not caving in. She stuck to her faith. The judge, a clever man… ordered her to a brothel. Crazy, ha? Somehow the guards could not move her to the house
of sin; the burning to death also did not work; supposedly her eyes were removed – or she did it herself at the outset – bit unclear here; with a thrust of a sword to her throat she met her demise in 304. The day of Lucia’s martyrdom was December 13th – the shortest day of the year according to the Julian calendar. Winter solstice?! Pagan?! Not anymore, Gregorian calendar moved that to December 21st. Still, Lucia means light and Santa Lucia Day is a celebration of days becoming longer. More light, get it?  Roughly, what we have now is Swedish girls dressing in white and holding candles, one wearing candelabra as a crown, while handing out candy, cookies, cakes, coffee and glögg, Swedish boys dressing up as stjärngossar, in hats shaped like cones and decorated with stars, or as gingerbread men, Finns, Norwegians  and Danes embracing what they need from the Swedish way, the latter "to bring light in a time of darkness” after World War II and centering on Christianity rather than being secular, for the populace of Caribbean island called Santa Lucia December 13th
being a day of National Festival of Lights and Renewal, some Italians making the day all about gifts from Santa Lucia where children are being rewarded for being good or bad by getting gifts or coals, respectively, and having to respect Lucia with coffee, her donkey with a carrot and Lucia’s escort Castaldo, with wine even though they are advised to never watch Santa Lucia doing her delivery, other Italians eat small biscotti shaped like eyes, light bonfires and candles, Sicilians do not eat anything made with wheat flour and switch to cuccia Venetians are all about fried cheese, Swiss have Santa Lucia hand-in-hand with Father Christmas giving gifts to girls and boys, Maltese also celebrate Republic Day. Free for all? Bring on the light!		“Santa Lucia’s Day in Second Life” video by Voff Uggla of “Living in the Virtual World Second Life” “Santa Lucia” sang by Malena Malena Ernman and Charles Castronovo – thanks Voff Uggla

Art | Christmas Art at Laguna Beach

Along South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA, U.S.A. ©MAK

December Festivities | Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Did you notice it is 12/12/12? Beside the point. But then again, how could’ve Juan Diego found flowers in bloom atop a typically barren hilltop, and what’s more, flowers not native to his homeland? Such is the partial story of the Virgin Mary appearing on the Hill of Tepeyac, Mexico. Mary in her Mexican guise went through a title change in 1990s form Patroness of the Philippines to Patroness of the Americas, Empress of Latin America, and Protectress of Unborn Children. Ah, the Popes and their crazy antics! The title of the Queen of Mexico seems to have stayed with her through it all. And rightly so. She is quite something: wearing blue-green mantel with stars over an exquisite golden dress tied high with a belt, she hovers above on a crescent moon supported by a cherub with sunrays emanating all around her. Let’s not forget that she was also identified as the Woman of the Apocalypse, by one Miguel Sánchez, a Novohispanic priest, writer and theologian. She covers a lot of ground being divinely dressed in Aztec symbolism, pregnant under that high sash and a figure in the Book of Revelations, the final book of the New Testament. She is Mexico. Hail The Queen!

Read also: La Virgen de Guadalupe - Mother of all Mexico

Our Lady of Guadalupe / How to Read the Symbol of Mexico