#10 The Danish Pioneer’s Countdown to Christmas 2014: Time for St. Lucia in Chicago

Scandinavian community celebrates St. Lucia in Chicago –

The life of a martyred saint, Lucia or Lucy, will be celebrated by the Swedish American Museum and other organizations in several Chicago events this week.

St. Lucia Day, a legendary festival of lights, will be observed Saturday, December 13, 2014 in Andersonville during commemorations that include an evening program at the Museum, 5211 N. Clark Street.

At 4:45 p.m., the annual Lucia celebration will begin with a procession that starts and ends at the Museum. Andersonville’s traditional Lucia celebration, with holiday songs, readings and procession, will begin at 7 p.m. in nearby Ebenezer Lutheran Church.

Young women in white gowns, with red sashes and crowns of candles, reverently sing, “Då i vårt mörka hus, stiger med tända ljus, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.” (There in our dark house, walking with lit candles, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.) Young men follow with another chorus.

A day earlier, in the downtown Richard J. Daley Center, a program at 11:30 a.m. Friday, December 12, will include selection of a Lucia queen from candidates who represent Swedish-American organizations throughout the city.

December 13, which was the winter solstice on the former Julian calendar, marks the martyrdom of Lucy, a Sicilian who in 310 was sentenced by Roman authorities to be burned to death for refusing to compromise her Christian principles.

One legend credits Lucy with wearing a ring of candles on her head while carrying food to Christians who hid in the darkness of catacombs beneath Rome. The story was told by monks who brought Christianity to Sweden during the first millennium.

The candles symbolize both the light with which Lucy overcame the darkness of the catacombs and the fire that she endured for her beliefs. The tradition has been celebrated in Sweden since 1764.

Christmas activities in the Swedish American Museum will conclude with Julmiddag, an old-fashioned smörgåsbord dinner, at 5 p.m. Sunday, December 21. The Swedish Santa Claus (Tomten) will give presents (julklappar) to the children. A St. Lucia procession and dancing around the Christmas tree are part of the festivity.

Another Andersonville tradition, Svensk Julgudstjänst (Christmas service in Swedish), will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, December 21, in Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Foster and Ashland.

The Museum will be closed December 24-25, and December 31-January 1.