THOUSAND OAKS : Cal Lutheran Hosts Santa Lucia Festival
Cal Lutheran’s annual Santa Lucia Festival, the university’s longest-running traditional event, is scheduled to take place Wednesday.
The festival, which commemorates the death of Christian martyr Santa Lucia in AD 304, has been a hallmark of the university’s Christmas festivities for about 30 years.
The story of Santa Lucia holds that she secretly vowed to dedicate her life to God as a child but was betrothed by her parents to a wealthy, prominent pagan. After repudiating her suitor, Lucia was brought to trial as a Christian and sentenced to burn at the stake.
Cal Lutheran’s ceremony is performed by 10 students elected by the campus to represent Santa Lucia, four brides and five wise men.
The students are chosen for demonstrating the Christian attributes of faith, hope, charity and compassion for humankind, university officials said.
The student playing Santa Lucia will wear a 78-year-old crown that holds seven candles. The crown, which was donated by a former Ventura County resident and native Swede, was made in Sweden and used in Santa Lucia ceremonies there.
According to tradition, Santa Lucia appeared after her death on a lake in Sweden, providing light and food during a winter famine.
The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in the Samuelson Chapel.
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