How Saint Lucia Angered Me

Saint Lucia made me so mad! I know what you’re going to say now, you’ll say: “Little girl, don’t goof around!”

But how could a holy woman who brings gifts make you mad? Well, she could! And let me tell you how she angered me, to the point of outright tears!

Every single blessed year, I listen to my friends brag about the beautiful things Saint Lucia brought them. Both Pera and Lena tell me: “Saint Luce brought me chocolates, she brought me krokant (almond brittle), and she brought me a whole bowl of candied almonds…”

They make my mouth water because for me… Poor me, every single year she brings the exact same thing. She puts the gifts for me in a red stocking on the windowsill, and inside there is always a handful of dried figs, a handful of almonds, two or three carobs, an orange, a big onion, and… a switch (rod)!

It feels to me like Saint Lucia is mocking me. And how could I not be sad and sorrowful then?

Well, I decided to catch her this year and not let her go until she pulls something nice out of that sack of hers for me too, a little bit of sweet treats. And so, I decided to stay awake and catch her in the act. I will wait for her all night long, if necessary.

What does she think, who am I?! Let her tell me then why Pera and Lena are better than me for her to bring them better gifts, or let her finally give me something good too, just like she gives them. Last night I went to bed early and threw that red gift stocking close to my head, so I could hear her when she comes into my room. I intended to grab her by the sleeve.

So I wait, and wait, and wait… But she didn’t come! She wasn’t there the whole entire night!

And then in the morning, my mother woke me up and said: “How can you sleep so much, my Juba (darling), get up. Look, she was here! But she couldn’t find your stocking in the dark. You didn’t leave it on the window like you’re supposed to, so she put your gifts in a little red bag.” In amazement, I sat up in bed, and then eagerly emptied everything from it into my lap, and there it was…

Oh, my sorrow, the exact same thing again: a handful of dried figs, a handful of almonds, two or three carobs, an orange, a big onion, and… a switch (rod)!

“My dear Saint Lucia, don’t you have anything better up there in heaven for me too?” I cried out through tears, into my mother’s lap.