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Painting
the first Lucia’s march was conducted in the expected holiday a year, namely Christmas.
capital Stockholm and the holiday acquired a Multi-coloured and solemn event used to take
national and state meaning. place in Larsson’s house with a pomp and joy.
In the early morning on 13th December, It was the most important celebration a year,
the Swedish people are awaken by the aroma which all inhabitants of Sundborn estate
of hot coffee and saffron buns coming from participated in.
Lucia’s tray who is usually played by the The large family gathered around
youngest daughter in the family dressed in flamboyant New Year Tree to unpack presents
light clothes and flower crowns decorated together and eat the Christmas dinner cooked
with burning candles. Closer to the evening, with love. The watercolour “Christmas”
the public pours out in the streets to watch a (1904-1906) from the album “The House in
solemn procession: Lucia stalks accompanied the Sun Rays” depicts the family and cosy
by girls dressed in white gowns and boys in atmosphere of the holiday. At the head of the
white shirts and high cone caps decorated separate table in a big old armchair, the eldest
with stars. The rest of children put on the from the Larssons, who is father Karin Adolf
costumes of trolls and dwarves. On this day, Bergie, is sitting. It was thanks to his generous
fires are usually set and incenses are thrown present to the newly married Karin and Karl
into them. People sing, dance, and have fun. that “The Little Hut” (the Larssons’ estate)
The watercolour “St. Lucia” (1908) emerged.
gives us an idea how this saint’s day was Continuing the Christmas theme, in 1892,
the painter drew a watercolour called “The
The large family gathered Christmas Eve”. Its composition is very simple
around flamboyant New and is not full with details abundance. All
space of the sheet is occupied with the door
Year Tree to unpack surface. In its background, children’s little
presents together silhouettes look especially moving in their
joyful and exciting mood together with a
and eat the Christmas wonder anticipation. The Christmas waiting is
dinner cooked with very strong in the childhood, when something
fabulous is not separated from the real one
love. The watercolour and presents are brought by the “winter forest
Dz dz ȋͥ͜͝͠Ǧͥ͜͢͝Ȍ master”. The watercolour “The Christmas
Morning” portrays this mood of childish
from the album “The sincere pleasure from long-awaited dolls and
dz skates. The childhood mood that is not calm,
full of fantasies and magic penetrates into the
depicts the family and sheet space. This morning has become the
cosy atmosphere of the climax of long-expected Christmas holiday.
In Larsson’s family, special attention was
holiday paid to the name days celebration of each
family member and not only. Housekeepers
used to become close to children and take part
centuries, during the times of the prohibition celebrated in Carl Larsson’s family. This in all family events as well. The watercolour
of saints’ cult and especially St. Nicolas’ one, day the dark and gloomy winter morning “The Birthday in the Tiny Storeroom” is
the idea appeared to replace a kind elderly is painted with a festive mood. The eldest inscribed by the author as follows: “Once
man symbolising this saint by baby Jesus daughter in the family becomes a symbol children were playing in the tiny storeroom.
who had been acted by a girl in a white dress of “luminiferous” St. Lucia in her white Then they were celebrating Emma’s birthday.
on Christmas. The tradition did not endure clothes and the traditional flower crown They put on funny costumes, brought her
in Germany but penetrated into Sweden. with burning candles. She wakes family coffee into bed. Susanna dressed in my suit
In XVIII—XIX centuries, the custom was members with perfect hymns in honour of read a congratulating verse; Ulf disguised
established on earlier St. Lucia’s day, before the holiday. Conditional refreshments: buns as a peasant from Dalarna was carrying a
Christmas, and it was she who became the hero with saffron and ginger as well as morning coffee tray… Johan standing near the staircase
instead of Jesus. In the Middle Ages, there was coffee are brought straightly into beds to the bottom was playing the violin and tears
a belief that St. Lucia helped the ill recover whole family. were rolling down Emma’s face” [3, P.67].
from diseases. She is considered to be a patron The artist’s numerous works are devoted “The Tiny Storeroom” is likely to be one
of the blind: her name means “light”. In 1927, to the celebration of, perhaps, the most long- more bedroom at the Larssons’ organised on
74 Arctic Art & Culture • №1 (3) • 2018 Arctic Art & Culture • №1 (3) • 2018 75
