The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #34651   Message #1790675
Posted By: Jim Dixon
23-Jul-06 - 10:45 AM
Thread Name: ADD: Santa Lucia (in Italian)
Subject: Lyr Add: SANKTA LUCIA (Swedish)
By the way, there is also a Swedish song called SANKTA LUCIA, sung to the same tune. The lyrics are not a translation of the Italian song. It is traditionally sung on St. Lucia day, December 13, an important holiday in Swedish custom. According to Wikipedia, "Lucy is the only saint celebrated by the Lutheran Swedes, Finns, Danes, and Norwegians, in celebrations that retain many pre-Christian elements of a midwinter light festival." And "Before the reform of Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, St. Lucy's Day fell on the winter solstice."

Natten går tunga fjät
rund gård och stuva;
kring jord, som sol förlät,
skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus,
stiger med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

Natten går stor och stum
nu hörs dess vingar
i alla tysta rum
sus som av vingar.
Se, på vår tröskel står
vitklädd med ljus i hår
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

Mörkret ska flykta snart
ur jordens dalar
så hon ett underbart
ord till oss talar.
Dagen ska åter ny
stiga ur rosig sky
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia