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Sankta Lucia crowned
December 12, 2007
The Sankta Lucia Fest signals the beginning of the Christmas season in Sweden, and each December, the Scandinavian Cultural Center celebrates the tradition.
The festival honors Lucia, a saint who devoted her life to God and serving the poor. Traditionally, the eldest daughter in a Swedish family wears a crown of candles and serves as Lucia during the religious ceremony.
At PLU, however, female students compete to be crowned Lucia. To be considered, students wrote an essay, were interviewed and participated in weekly rehearsals to learn the Swedish songs sung at the festival by Lucia and her attendants. The student selected as Lucia received a $500 scholarship.
Fourteen students entered the contest this year, and junior Kate Geldaker was crowned Lucia during a private “sashing” ceremony prior to the start of the festival. Geldaker’s status as Lucia was denoted by a red sash and crown of candles.
“I had no idea, I really didn’t think I was going to win,” she said.
After the Lucia was crowned, the festival continued with an hour-long program of Swedish music, song and dance in Lagerquist Concert Hall. During the ceremony, the Lucia and her attendants sing the five Swedish songs they learned earlier in the year.
This marked the second year Geldaker participated in the festival. She initially applied for the scholarship because her family is Scandinavian and the tradition is familiar. At home, her mom has Geldaker and her sister participate in the ceremony each year, she explained.
“I did it last year, too, and it was really fun, so I wanted to do it again,” she said.
In the days following the festival, Geldaker and her attendants sang Swedish songs and other Christmas carols at Ikea in Seattle and the Tacoma Lutheran Home.
“We got to talk with the older folks,” Geldaker said. “It was fun … some of them actually speak Swedish, so they sing along.”
The Sankta Lucia tradition was introduced to PLU in 1950 by Rev. E. Arthur Larson. Following the Swedish tradition, Larson sent a white-robed student, wearing a crown of candles and a red satin sash, to wake up members of his Swedish language class one cold December morning. The crown, worn by Lola (Murk) Gracey ’54, is now part of the SCC’s permanent artifact collection.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu. Photo by University Photographer Jordan Hartman.
At PLU, however, female students compete to be crowned Lucia. To be considered, students wrote an essay, were interviewed and participated in weekly rehearsals to learn the Swedish songs sung at the festival by Lucia and her attendants. The student selected as Lucia received a $500 scholarship.
Fourteen students entered the contest this year, and junior Kate Geldaker was crowned Lucia during a private “sashing” ceremony prior to the start of the festival. Geldaker’s status as Lucia was denoted by a red sash and crown of candles.
“I had no idea, I really didn’t think I was going to win,” she said.
After the Lucia was crowned, the festival continued with an hour-long program of Swedish music, song and dance in Lagerquist Concert Hall. During the ceremony, the Lucia and her attendants sing the five Swedish songs they learned earlier in the year.
This marked the second year Geldaker participated in the festival. She initially applied for the scholarship because her family is Scandinavian and the tradition is familiar. At home, her mom has Geldaker and her sister participate in the ceremony each year, she explained.
“I did it last year, too, and it was really fun, so I wanted to do it again,” she said.
In the days following the festival, Geldaker and her attendants sang Swedish songs and other Christmas carols at Ikea in Seattle and the Tacoma Lutheran Home.
“We got to talk with the older folks,” Geldaker said. “It was fun … some of them actually speak Swedish, so they sing along.”
The Sankta Lucia tradition was introduced to PLU in 1950 by Rev. E. Arthur Larson. Following the Swedish tradition, Larson sent a white-robed student, wearing a crown of candles and a red satin sash, to wake up members of his Swedish language class one cold December morning. The crown, worn by Lola (Murk) Gracey ’54, is now part of the SCC’s permanent artifact collection.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu. Photo by University Photographer Jordan Hartman.