Lucia Dagen

Celebrating light, during dark December, is what Lucia Dagen (Lucia Day) is all about. It marks the beginning of the Swedish Christmas season. Lucia, a 3rd century Christian, was grateful that her mother's health was restored and in thankfulness Lucia spent her dowry money to feed the poor. Her fiancée, a Roman noble denounced her to the authorities. She was found guilty of being a Christian and was burned at the stake on December 13. Her story traveled to Sweden with Christian missionaries. Her example is celebrated in household and community settings with a young girl in white (purity) with a red sash (martyrdom) and a crown of candles on her head bringing food to family members in the pre-dawn hours. Since 1927, the Stockholm Lucia is crowned at the palace and serves coffee to the Nobel prize winners.

Welcome the Jul (Christmas) season with the celebration of Lucia….follow the candles to the candle lit early morning worship ( in Swedish) with fiddle and citra music in the1856 log church ( oldest Lutheran Sanctuary in Minnesota) on the Gammelgarden property.

Next is the wonderful Lucia Fest Breakfast served buffet style by candlelight in the Scandia Community Center. Included on the jul bord are Lucia Katta ( Lucia Buns), Jul Kaga, eggs, cheese, herring, salmon mousse, fruit soup, rice pudding, cookies, coffee and apple juice.

The Svenskarnasdag Girls choir presents their lovely musical program that honors Lucia and her ministry of bringing light into darkness.

Careful! The Tomte might show up too and snatch your cookies!

A family tradition for all ages….bring your camera too.

Date for 2010: December 12th
Lucia Dagen worship, breakfast and program

Lucia Dagen 2008
Lucia Dagen 2007

Photo by:Carol Seefeldt Photography