Nothing can compare to the sheer wonder and awe I felt the first time we ever visited. It is the same every year so by now I know very well what to expect, but the experience has been enriched by my memories of all the other years.
Lucia is a Swedish tradition dating back to the middle ages. Originally a martyr in the 4th century, Lucia is now imitated by young girls in long white nightgowns tied with a red cord (to symbolize her martyrdom). They wear a wreath with candles to signify that-in the long dark Swedish winter-Lucia brings the light.
The pageant is held at Augustana Lutheran Church, a stone, high ceiling-ed neo gothic building. I particularly love the stained glass windows for their restrained color palette.
here are some images of the church:
this is the adorable little Lucia-in-training who sat in front of us. SO CUTE!
The pageant is preceded by a Swedish language advent service. As always the highlight of the service is the congregation’s singing my favorite Swedish hymn “Hosianna David’s Son” or as I like to call it “the best two minutes of the year.” It’s always so sad when it’s over and I know I’ll have to wait a whole year before I hear it sung in that church again.
The sermons always amaze me with their brevity. This year it clocked in at 9 minutes and 32 seconds. (I timed it on the stopwatch on my cell phone.)
Each year a choir of ladies in traditional costume sings Swedish advent songs. Also, the Swedish ambassador comes to speak. The past 4 years we had the dashing and well dressed Jan Eliasson. Unfortunately, he has retired and his replacement is a dull, uninspired bureaucrat who looks like he has been gathering dust in his office for the last 10 years. Our man-on-the-inside Erik tells us this guy has had an undistinguished but long career in government for which he is now being rewarded with a post in Washington.
This is him...
I’m reminded of the thinly veiled version of Colin Powell in the movie Mars Attacks who, upon receiving an important promotion, says “I knew that if I stuck around long enough and kept my mouth shut, good things would be bound to happen.”
His wife accompanied him. They wore matching glasses. She scares me.
Once the service was over, the church became completely dark, then the back doors opened and there, singing, came Lucia-wearing a wreath of Lingonberry with 5 candles on her head. She was followed by a group of attendants and ‘star boys’ – something for the guys so they don’t feel left out.
They processed to the front and sang several traditional Lucia songs then they made their way back out again singing the Lucia anthem.
The Lucia this year was a bit of a disappoinment. She didn’t have the sort of “Joan of Arc” expression on her face I think Lucia should wear.
Oh well. Perhaps I’m starting to nitpick from having been there so often. It was still wonderful. Erik agreed that it is like being transported to Sweden for a couple hours. We went to the candle-lit reception afterward and drank coffee. Then it was time to go into the cold night, drive home and sleep and dream about next year.
