Advent: 13 December
On 13 December, St Lucy’s Day. St Lucy or Lucia was a Christian martyr who died in the opening years of the fourth century in Syracuse, Sicily. It is said that she brought food and help to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs during the Diocletian Persecution, wearing a candlelit wreath on her head to light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible. In Nordic lands, girls wear candles in headdresses on this day, signifying light during the darkest time of the year. Happy Sankta Lucia’s Day if you are celebrating.
In our Advent Calendar, we consider those first visitors to the infant Jesus, the shepherds. The haiku recalls their encounter with the angels. Here are a couple of shepherds with their flock near Khiva in Uzbekistan.
Were shepherds woken
by angels, or still asleep,
dreaming peace on earth?
This evening sees the University’s London Alumni Carol Service, at 7 pm at St Columba’s Church of Scotland, Pont Street. I look forward to seeing graduates and other friends there – though as I woke up this morning with no voice, there may be others sharing the words I have prepared! Let’s hope the hot drink of honey and lemon I am currently sipping does the trick….
Yours,
Donald.