Festival of Sankta Lucia set for Dec. 2
Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø's annual celebration of the Festival of Sankta Lucia on Dec. 2, 2024, will commemorate the holiday with traditional Scandinavian Christmas carols, lessons and poetry.
It will begin at 7 p.m. in Ascension Chapel on the second floor of the Bahls Center (Founders Hall).
The Sankta Lucia Festival is a cherished tradition of the Advent season in all the Nordic countries. A candlelight procession of singers is led by a young woman robed in white with a crown of candles on her head, to commemorate the martyred St. Lucy (d. 304 AD), whose feast day is Dec. 13. Each year, a student is chosen to portray Lucia during the event.
The Ascension Ringers will play, directed by Ben Holmes, in addition to special music by several Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students.
Music in the program is drawn from the Advent and Christmas traditions of the historic Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Lutheran Church and the other Swedish-American denominations in the United States.
The singing is led by the Swedish language students and campus organist, Chris Nelson.
The celebration is hosted by Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø's Scandinavian Studies program, together with the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, the American Scandinavian Association at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, and Campus Ministries.
Contact:
Dr. Mark Safstrom, 309-794-7329