12 Days of Christmas- 28th December- Santa Lucia

This years 12 Days of Christmas parcels started with a hand dyed braid on 25th December, but then the following days all contain brand new colours of Superfine Merino & Silk. 
This is the exact same fibre composition as all the rest of the stock currently in the shop, so can be used interchangeably in the same projects. This was specially commissioned for the 12 Days of Christmas parcels, which meant I had to order lots of each colour. As a result the spare fibre is going online at midnight (GMT) on the day featuring each individual colour. Anyone can buy this spare fibre... it's really rather pretty!  You can find it in the Superfine Merino & Silk section of the shop, and the usual Buy 2, Get a 3rd Half price offer applies to this fibre as well. 

I've given them seasonal names, picking out traditions from all around the world. ​

This shade is called Santa Lucia. It's made up of lots and lots of different shades of green, with a warm undertone. 

Santa Lucia is a Scandinavian tradition, celebrated on Saint Lucy's Day, 13th December. The origin of the tradition comes from Lucia of Syracuse, who bought food to the Christian martyrs, hiding in the catacombs in Rome. She carried candles on a wreath around her head to free her hands to carry as much as possible. Before calendar reforms  the saints day was on the shortest day of the year, so the tradition of bringing light fitted in nicely with many existing traditions. 
It's now celebrated by processions of young children, wearing white robes, with the girls wearing a crown of candles, and boys wearing cone hats decorated with stars. Historically of course the candles would have been real, many are now replaced with electric candles. 
Sweet treats are often given out, specifically Lussekatter, saffron flavoured buns coiled in to an S shape.