Festival of St. Lucia
This Year
The Festival of St. Lucia marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Swedish custom. The festival is celebrated annually at Gustavus with a chapel service featuring a court of five sophomore women chosen for their leadership, service to the College and others, charity, kindness, and thoughtfulness.
The day of celebration begins when the Court of St. Lucia, singing carols, visits the rooms of Gustavus students before sunrise. Then, at a morning chapel service, the newly crowned St. Lucia processes through the chapel wearing a crown lit by burning candles, accompanied by the court, and the St. Lucia legend is read. The chapel service is followed by a luncheon sponsored by Gustavus Library Associates (GLA).
Did you know?
In 1990 the Gustavus Band was the first American ensemble to perform in East Berlin after the wall fell and the country reopened to Western travel.
