This weekend I spent some time exploring my Swedish roots by making these traditional yeasted saffron buns, called Lussekatter, or St. Lucia cats.
They're traditionally made every 13th of December, St. Lucia Day, and served to the family by the youngest girl, dressed in white with a wreath of candles perched atop her head. St. Lucia Day is a celebration, or a looking forward to, the end of the long, dark winter. The golden color of the buns and light from the candles in the young girl's hair represent the return of light to their frozen land.
I used this recipe and was quite pleased with the results. Although they look like they might taste sweet, they actually have a more savory, dinner roll flavor. My son and I ate some for breakfast this morning with mugs of hot cocoa. Yum. This may be a tradition we keep up in the future!
Ellie and I just read about the Swedish tradition on our Advent Calendar from this month's Friend magazine! Wish we could "partake" in this family tradition with you!
Posted by: Claire | 12/14/2009 at 07:52 PM