Lussekatt aka lussebulle aka saffransbulle aka lussekuse aka julkuse aka dyvelskatt - they have many names 🤤

Maybe these seem strange if you don't have an emotional connection to the saffron bun? 😁

They are a tradition for advent, Lucia and jul (christmas) here in Sweden - let me know if you have the same in other countries?

Fun fact: they used to be called dyvelskatt/dövelskatt meaning ”devils cat”.
There are so many interpretations where the pastry and the name comes from - it having to do with St Lucia or with Lucifer, but most likely it first came from Netherlands ”duivekater” which is a sweet white bread, and was translated to dyvelskatt in swedish.

A mishmash of traditions has created our modern Lucia celebrations (on Dec 13th), to which the lussekatt is most associated, and to me its just such a wholesome cozy and nostalgic tradition! Even though it was quite a while since I saw a Luciatåg/Lucia choir/parade which is the main element of the celebrations!

There are some necklaces still in my shop at https://www.nymla.se/shop

💚🎄

The real edible lussekatter.

A typical Lucia choir/Luciatåg.

There are both quite professional Luciatåg as well as arranged in almost every school, even as young as kindergarteners which is very cute.
They usually walk in very slowly as a "parade" (tåg) holding their candles, with the Lucia in the crown of candles leading it, and you hear them faintly singing far away coming closer and closer and then they line up and bust out bangers such as Sankta Lucia, Lusse Lesse and Så Mörk Är Natten I Midvintertid.

Dalarnas Lussibrud - Ett luciatåg i folkton

I would have loved to attend one of the performances of this amazing Luciatåg, but they were all sold out!  It's basically a Luciatåg from the 1860s.
Check out the instagram account of the person who created/arranged it: LINK

Here is a video where they show and talk about it (in Swedish, but I think you still get a lot from the imagery): LINK

And for even more Lucia cozyness I recommend checking out Jonna Jintons Lucia videos!

Thanks Lucia for offering some light in the darkness 🕯️