Lucia's Eve in the 1970s - a booze party.
Luciavaka (or lussevaka) is an old Swedish tradition, often associated with heavy drinking and partying. Already in the Middle Ages and the 18th-19th centuries, it was described as a night of brandy, beer, food (such as Christmas pig or lussekatter) and sometimes wild antics - young people could dress up, walk around between farms, sing carols, beg for food and drink, be scared or sing obscene songs. In some regions, especially western Sweden, it was one of the days when the most alcohol was consumed.
No, Coop hasn't sponsored me, I'm offering that advertising. Beer in a Rigello can, a can of medium-sized beer in one hand, KIR in the other.
In the 1970s (and up until the 1980s and 1990s), a modern version of the Lucia wake was very popular among young people, especially students and high school students. It was common to "wake up Lucia" by partying all night, often with alcohol, and many people would dress up in Lucia clothes – white dresses, chandeliers or other costumes inspired by the Lucia figure. Young people would wander around town, in snowdrifts or between parties, drinking and partying until dawn, and then perhaps participating in the Lucia procession in the morning (sometimes straight from the party, which could lead to tired or intoxicated participants). This was seen as a fun, slightly rebellious tradition, a kind of youth party before the Lucia celebration.
Today, the wild party part has been toned down considerably – Luciavaka is not as common anymore.
The Luciavaka phenomenon shows how the Lucia celebration mixes old folk beliefs, Christian influences and modern youth traditions – from protection against darkness to pure festive joy in the winter darkness.