How Swede it Is

Now that the 2009 Winter Walk and St. Olaf Christmas Festival are history, I'm ready to move on to one of my favorite holiday events – the Swedish Lucia celebration.

You don't have to be a connoisseur of meatballs and fruit soup to enjoy this annual festival of light.  You don't even have to be Swedish to attend.  Just show up at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield with a couple of dishes to pass, a dozen cookies and your own tableware, and you're ready for an evening of fun.

The Northfield Swedish Club has been sponsoring this event for years - this will be the 34th annual – and it's a multi-generational event that includes a potluck supper, a procession, live fiddle music and dancing around the Christmas tree.  It's a low-stress way to meet new people, reconnect with friends, and celebrate cultural traditions.  And the food is delicious!

After the meal, the Lucias, each dressed in white with a red sash at her waist and wearing a crown of candles on her head, lead a procession of attendants and star boys, singing the traditional St. Lucia song. Hannah France and Alexandria Lane are this year’s Lucias. 

Attendants are Synneva Bratland, Katie Brust, Libby Brust, Kirstin Buck, Grace Casson, Johanna Drentlaw, Annie France, Annika Fredrickson, Annika Hanson, Elise Hanson, Freya Hauer, Sylvia Koenig, Louisa Lawler, Siri Lindell, Elsa Nystrom, Julia Peterson, Emily Rhoades, Madeline Scott, Codi Shogren, Andrea Thurnheer, and Linnea Thurnheer.

Halvor Bratland, Anders Koenig, Elias Lawler, Peder Lindell, David Rhoades and Connor Scott will be the star boys.

After the procession, the Lucias and attendants serve cookies and coffee to everyone. The event concludes with songs and dancing around the Christmas tree.

For more information, contact Wendy Smith at 664-9304.
 

Photo cutline:  The Lucias for 2009 are Alexandra Lane, left, and Hannah France, right.