Every year in early December the town green in Arlington, Vt. is lit by a colorful procession of candles, song and story. This weekend-long St. Lucia Festival of Lights is part of a millennium-old tradition that started and became popular in Sweden, and has become a tradition in this small town located on Historic Route 7A about halfway between Bennington and Manchester.
According to tradition, Saint Lucia was a young Sicilian girl from 500 A.D. who stood by her faith during dark times. She wore a crown of candles, supposedly to help find her way through the dark caves in which persecuted Christians hid from the Roman officers. She would bring them food and water to keep them alive. Caught in the act, Lucia was ordered to renounce her faith, and after refusing she was condemned to death by burning, but legend says she was impervious to flames. She was killed after her neck was pierced with a Roman officer’s sword.
No one is quite sure why this child of the Mediterranean caught on in distant Sweden and Norway, though historians believe King Canute of Sweden imported the tradition. He rules around 1000 A.D., a time when Swedes were just beginning to convert to the Christian faith. He supposedly declared that in Sweden, the Christmas celebration would last for a full month, beginning on Dec. 13, the Feast of St. Lucia, and ending on Jan. 13, on a holiday named after himself, St. Canute’s Day.
But perhaps even more important than the king’s proclamation is the hope and peace that the St. Lucia holiday gave to these countries of such high latitudes. ‘Lucia’ means light, and before 16th century Gregorian calendar reform, Dec. 13 was recognized as winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. The lighting of candles and celebration of “The Queen of Light†brings hope in the renewal of another year at a time when the days seem mercilessly short.
Even today, in Sweden and Norway, St. Lucia Day is still celebrated on Dec. 13. Processions of young girls dressed in white, carrying candles, and boys wearing tall white hats, make their way through towns and villages. The children stop in at homes, hospitals, factories and offices, singing songs and bringing cakes and coffee to people. The day is also celebrated to a lesser extent in Italy, with bonfires and feasts.
The celebration in Arlington, put on by St. James Church, is a weekend-long event that includes a festival of songs, stories, Swedish food and lore, as well as Vermont crafts, tours of historic inns, and the traditional pageant of St. Lucia. This year it will take place the weekend of Dec. 7 - 9. Christmas tree lighting and caroling on the Arlington Town Green will take place Saturday, Dec. 8 at 4:30 p.m., directly followed by the St. Lucia Festival of Light Ceremony at St. James Church, at 5. For further information, call the church at (802) 375-2800.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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