Old Tradition From Sweden Is Rekindled

Students at Cal Lutheran lit up the morning Wednesday as they celebrated the old Swedish tradition of the Festival of Santa Lucia with candles and hymns and a brief explanation of the Christian martyr’s feast.

The celebration, a tradition at the 36-year-old college, features the lighting of a crown of candles worn by a senior representing the early 4th-century Christian martyr. The Lucia Bride and her court of representatives, male and female, are chosen by the students as those who best exemplify Christian virtues.

This year’s Lucia Bride, Heather Embree, 21, of Oceanside, was excited but solemn during the brief service.

“It was exciting because it’s such an honor,” she said afterward. “But I was nervous because I had to write a talk.”

The tradition is not exactly like those seen in Sweden. Student Ylva Ekstrand, 21, of Goteborg, Sweden, said there are no explanations, because everyone already knows the stories, and the celebration is usually held earlier in the morning when it is still dark and candlelight is more effective.

“I think they did it really nicely,” she said. “And I think it’s important that they explain all the background because everyone here doesn’t know it.”

Santa Lucia was actually from Sicily. Raised a Christian in the time when it was illegal in the Roman Empire, she vowed not to marry and to devote herself to God. Unknowingly, her mother had the maiden betrothed to a wealthy pagan, who did not take Lucia’s vow well. She was tried and burned at the stake in 304 A.D.

She became a part of Swedish legend during the Middle Ages. According to tradition, during a famine in the province of Varmland, a mysterious ship landed with food and clothing for the starving. At the helm was a maiden in a white gown and wearing a crown of candles, who said she was Lucia.

The crown of seven candles worn by Embree originally came from Sweden, brought here by Thousand Oaks resident Maj-Britt Peterson when she came to this country in 1950.

She wore the crown when she was a child, and donated it to Cal Lutheran in 1991.