Sankta Lucia Festival

Saturday, December 6, 2008
3:00 PM
Anderson Chapel

For more than a thousand years, the Swedish saint of light has been celebrated by Swedes and, more recently, Scandinavian-Americans. In Sweden, on the morning of Sankta Lucia Day, the eldest daughter in each family dresses in a white robe with red sash, and wears a wreath of lingonberry branches and candles on her head. She carries coffee and a breakfast of sun-colored saffron buns and gingerbread cookies to her parents in their room. Her sisters and brothers follow; the girls carry candles and the boys wear tall, pointed caps.

The afternoon performance will feature Christmas carols, folk tales, special vocal and instrumental musical selections, and a dramatic candlelight procession with Sankta Lucia and her court singing traditional Swedish Christmas songs.

Following the pageant, the Lucia Court will lead the audience across campus—their path lighted by luminaries—in a “Lucia Tåg” (Lucia Train). The public is invited to a special “Lucia Buffé” at 4 p.m. in Hamming Hall, which will include authentic Swedish specialities.

The Sankta Lucia Festival is sponsored by the Center for Scandinavian Studies, one of several centers for cultural study and exchange at North Park.

Admission to the Lucia Pageant:

All ages: $2

Admission to Lucia Buffet in Hamming Hall

Adults: $15

Children age 12 & Under: $10

These tickets needs to be pre-booked between November 17-November 28

For more information about this event please contact Project manager Maiken Sparshott at the Center for Scandinavian Studies at mjakobsson@northpark.edu or call 773 244 5592