St. Lucia FestivalDecember 12 at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Festival of St. Lucia begins the Christmas season in Swedish custom and will be celebrated at Gustavus on Thursday, December 12 at 11:30 a.m. in Christ Chapel.

Find out who will be crowned St. Lucia at the start of the service.

The student organizers of the Chapel service are partnering with Gustavus Women in Leadership in planning a celebration that brings out themes of the Lucia story of lifting women up and honoring people who are lights in the world. The Lucia service will continue to have the Lucia Court and reading of the Lucia legend and will now include time to participate in an art or service project, Swedish treats, and socializing.

According to Swedish legend, a ship carrying a maiden "clothed in white and crowned with light" appeared on the shore in Värmland during a great famine. The maiden, widely believed to be Lucia, distributed food and clothing to the needy, thus endearing herself to the Swedish people. As a school founded by Swedish immigrants, the Gustavus Adolphus College community has found it appropriate to celebrate some Swedish traditions.