Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day! Well, let’s say it used to be the day when the winter solstice occurred. That was before the whole calendar changed back in 1582. Julius Caesar, in 45 BC instituted a calendar for the Roman Empire which became used in most of the world. That’s not odd considering the Roman Empire consisted of most of the world until in all fell apart. Pope Gregory replaced the Julian calendar, as it was called, in order to correct what had happened over the years. That correction he deemed necessary because the Julian calendar was not accurately taking into account the time the earth was taking in making its appointed trip around the sun. The solstice now occurs on or about December 21. But in Scandinavia, particularly Sweden, the former solstice date is still celebrated on December 13. It is Lucia Day, the Feast of Saint Lucia, a Sicilian saint who somehow became popular in the cold and frozen north. Her name means “light” and her feast marked the end of the shortening days and the return of longer daylight hours little by little. Since it is very dark in the Scandinavian countries in winter the people long for even a little more sunlight, even minutes more day by day. The tradition calls for a daughter of the family

to dress in a long white garment, place a crown of candles on her head and go from bed to bed waking the household. She also offers Lussikattor, saffron buns and coffee. The buns are twisted to resemble “cat eyes” with raisins inserted for the pupils. A charming custom but not without danger to the one who wears the crown! I think battery powered candles are most prevalent now. The Swedish Lutheran Church includes a St. Lucia liturgy in the High Mass on the Sunday nearest St. Lucy’s Day. One finds remnants of the celebration even in 2020. Churches whose roots are found in Swedish immigrant culture sometimes have a Lucia festival on or near December 13. St. Mark’s Lutheran, here in Sioux Falls, is of that ilk and yearly enjoys the feast and shares it with others. As I write this the gloom of night has descended upon us as of 5 PM. Those of us with SADs will begin rejoicing when the daylight increases begin. It doesn’t help that the whole day was gloomy. We had beautiful autumn weather at the beginning of the week with temps in the mid 50s. The sun shone brightly. ’Tis the case no longer. I think the high today was 27º. I will look forward to a roaring fireplace this evening having just returned from my afternoon walk. All has gone well this week. I’ve felt really well. I’ve read through a lot of music and chosen what I will work on to play this Yuletide. I used to cringe at the sight of those daily pill containers that seemed to indicate some kind of religious devotion to the taking of medication. I don’t have that much medication but I am finding that using one of those daily dispensers helps keep track of what I’m supposed to do. I say “helps” because in refilling the thing this afternoon I discovered I had forgotten to take the requisite pills on two days this past week. This could be a sign of senility, or that I was feeling so well that medication was but a distant thought. I don’t know which. I do know that my watch has an alarm set so I will remember to medicate. It’s interesting that the alarm goes off and I just ignore it and don’t take the pills! I wonder what that means? Have a good week. I am grateful for all of you who share my thoughts, who hold me up in prayer and are such an important part of my life.