NEW SWEDEN, Maine — New Sweden maintained its long-standing tradition of celebrating Santa Lucia Day this year, although the festivities looked much different amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Lucia, in Swedish culture, is a figure with light in her hair who appears on Dec. 13, illuminating the year’s darkest day.
The event took place for many years at New Sweden Consolidated School and was recently moved to Woodland Consolidated School after New Sweden’s school closed. This year, it was held on the deck of the New Sweden Historical Society Museum as guests watched from parked vehicles on Saturday, Dec. 12.
Photos and videos of the event were also shared on the museum’s Facebook page for those who could not attend.
Brenda Jepson, documentarian for the New Sweden Historical Society, said that St. Lucia, portrayed by an eighth-grade girl whose name is chosen from a hat every year, normally leads a procession of attendants and “Star Boys.” Then, children dressed as Christmas elves (or Tomtegubbar) deliver baskets of ginger cookies (or pepparkakor). However, this year, only St. Lucia was able to take part in the event.
Eighth-grader Peyton Jennings played St. Lucia as Lukas Lagasse sang the Saint Lucia song in Swedish.
Prior to Jennings’ appearance, Ray Hildebrand told guests the story of St. Lucia, which goes back to 304 AD in ancient Rome. Jepson said accounts of St. Lucia were brought to Sweden during the spread of Christianity, after which St. Lucia was soon adopted into Swedish culture.
Following the event, Melania Lagassie distributed pepparkakor, made by Karla Fisher, to onlookers in their cars. Traditionally, it is believed that once a person makes a wish, they break the cookie in the palm of their hand using their knuckle. If it breaks in three pieces, their wish will come true.
“It would have been so sad, in an already sad year, if this wonderful custom had been abandoned,” Jepson said. “Girls at the school have to wait until their eighth-grade year for the chance to be chosen to be Lucia. It was truly heartwarming that it did take place.”
