Today is the feast of St. Lucy--Santa Lucia.Lucia lived in 3rd century Rome. She was martyred for her faith after rejecting marriage to a pagan bridegroom. Her feast is celebrated mainly in Scandinavian countries with crowns of candles and Lucia bread. Her name means light and the celebration of her saint’s day was originally linked to the start of lengthening days, esp. in Sweden where the days are very short in the winter, but in December they start to get longer, again.
As with most saints many legends grew up around her. It is said that she appeared during famine with bread, so her day is celebrated with the specially shaped bread. It is either formed into a ring and candles can be added, or into smaller rolls that resemble animals.
Family celebrations can also include having the oldest daughter dress in a long white dress with a red ribbon around the waist. She wears no shoes and a wreath with candles on her head. Any other children in the household also wear white robes with shiny ribbons around their waist and head. Girls carry a lighted candle and boys a baton with a star. The children serve bread to the adults while singing Santa Lucia. They can also take bread to their neighbors and teachers.
Simple Lucia Bread can be made using store bought bread dough and kneading in a little orange rind and some spices. However, the purist would want to make the bread from this or another recipe.
St. Lucia’s Braided Bread
1 1/2 cups milk, warm but not boiling
2 1/4-ounce packages active dry yeast
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
2 large eggs
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon finely grated orange rind
5 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Spices (cardomon, cinnamon, saffron) and yellow food color
Mix yeast with 3 cups of flour, orange rind sugar and spices. Stir in milk and butter. Add eggs, orange juice, and yellow food coloring. Blend in remaining flour to form a soft dough. Let rise until doubled. Punch down and form into rolls or ring.
For rolls, divide dough into 30 pieces, roll and shape into rolls.
For braided bread, divide dough into 3 parts. Form three strips of dough, braid together, shape into a ring on a baking sheet.
Let rolls or bread rise. Bake at 350o until done (15 minutes for rolls and ½ hour to 45 minutes for bread).
Top with Glaze and Garnish made by mixing 2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar with 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 tablespoons orange juice. Drizzle over bread ring when cool and top with 1/3 cup dried cranberries.
Simple Lucia Bread can be made using store bought bread dough and kneading in a little orange rind and some spices. However, the purist would want to make the bread from this or another recipe.
St. Lucia’s Braided Bread
1 1/2 cups milk, warm but not boiling
2 1/4-ounce packages active dry yeast
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
6 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
2 large eggs
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon finely grated orange rind
5 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Spices (cardomon, cinnamon, saffron) and yellow food color
Mix yeast with 3 cups of flour, orange rind sugar and spices. Stir in milk and butter. Add eggs, orange juice, and yellow food coloring. Blend in remaining flour to form a soft dough. Let rise until doubled. Punch down and form into rolls or ring.
For rolls, divide dough into 30 pieces, roll and shape into rolls.
For braided bread, divide dough into 3 parts. Form three strips of dough, braid together, shape into a ring on a baking sheet.
Let rolls or bread rise. Bake at 350o until done (15 minutes for rolls and ½ hour to 45 minutes for bread).
Top with Glaze and Garnish made by mixing 2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar with 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 tablespoons orange juice. Drizzle over bread ring when cool and top with 1/3 cup dried cranberries.
Enjoy your Lucia Bread while you think about the One who came as Light to the World. How can I be a light to others on the path?
See you tomorrow.
