I am a proud Dane. My mother is Danish and immigrated to the United States when she married my father. My mother's entire family still lives there and my brother and I visited many times when we were growing up. We still love to visit and reconnect with relatives, reminisce, and just be in a societal atmosphere that is so different than our own. I guess if I ever run for public office, I can truthfully use the evocative phrase, "I am the child of immigrants!" Well, immigrant, technically, but I digress.
When I was in college, I became very interested in the history of Denmark during World War II. I was a history major and the Senior Seminar my senior year was on World War II, so I wrote my final paper on the Danish Resistance and the Rescue of the Danish Jews. Fascinating Stuff. I could go into why, but that would take a whole lot more than a blog post.
A quick summary of some key points. During World War II, Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany. The occupation of Denmark was not violent at first: the kingdom surrendered with little fight on 9 April 1940 and at first life did not change for the average Dane. Meanwhile, few Jews lived in Denmark, but those who did were entirely integrated into national life, unlike most of Europe. On 1 October 1943, when the Nazi occupiers attempted to "evacuate" the Danish Jews to concentration camps, they discovered empty houses. The gentile population had been tipped off my a sympathetic German official, and mere hours before, approximately 7,200 Danish Jews had been smuggled to unoccupied Sweden.
After that, the iron fist of the embarrassed Nazis tightened around Denmark. In reaction, the resistance grew more active and sabotage and violence against the Nazis grew. Life in Denmark was very, very dark.
Franz Wend, secretary of Föreningen Norden (a NGO that promoted nordic solidarity and cooperation), had an idea: importing St. Lucia's Day (a.k.a. Luciadag or Lucia's Day) from their friends in Sweden. On December 13, the eldest girl in a Scandinavian family wears crown of candles, symbolizing the fire that refused to take the original St. Lucia's life. The celebration continues with processions, cakes, and songs about light overcoming darkness. Wend hope to bring some light and joy in the midst of a dark time.
Now, why the history lesson> I thought this was a silly blog about Star Wars and Legos. It is, so stick with me. Yesterday was St. Lucia's Day and today, this was the figure:
A MSE-6-series repair droid, also known as the mouse droid. It is a very silly little being, famous for beeping and whistling in absolute panic after being growled at by Chewbacca on the Death Star. It plays no role whatsoever in the plot of any of the films, but it is quite memorable and provides a joyous bit of comic relief (one of the few times George Lucas attempted humor and succeeded).
Advent and Christmas occur during a dark time of year. That is compounded by the business of our lives and the business of the season. And, if one is hurting or alone or missing someone beloved, the season can be quite dark indeed. We may not be occupied by a foreign nation, but the season can be welcome nonetheless.
If you are in darkness, remember Isaiah, " I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them." (Isaiah 42:16, NRSV). Remember the lights of St. Lucia and St. Lucia's Day. Remember the small things, like a little robot, or perhaps even a little child, that grow into the very light of the world. The reign of God begins with something small, but will grow and can do more than we can possibly imagine. What is small in your life? What could it become?
Have a good day. See you tomorrow. Blessed Advent.
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