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Woodland Consolidated School eighth grader Peyton Jennings portrayed Santa Lucia in a socially distanced iteration of the event held at the New Sweden Historical Society Museum on Dec. 12. (Courtesy of Brenda Jepson)
Woodland Consolidated School eighth grader Peyton Jennings portrayed Santa Lucia in a socially distanced iteration of the event held at the New Sweden Historical Society Museum on Dec. 12. (Courtesy of Brenda Jepson)
New Sweden has maintained its long tradition of celebrating the feast of Santa Lucia this year, although the festivities have looked very different amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEW SUEDE, Maine — New Sweden has maintained its long tradition of celebrating the feast of Santa Lucia this year, although the festivities have looked very different amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saint Lucia, in Swedish culture, is a figure with light in her hair who appears on December 13, illuminating the darkest day of the year.
The event was held for many years at New Sweden Consolidated School and recently moved to Woodland Consolidated School after the New Sweden school closed. This year, it stood on the deck of the New Sweden Historical Society Museum as guests looked on from parked vehicles on Saturday, December 12.
Photos and videos from the event were also shared on the museum’s Facebook page for those who were unable to attend.
Brenda Jepson, documentarian for the New Sweden Historical Society, said Saint Lucia, represented by an eighth grade girl whose name is chosen each year in a hat, normally leads a procession of attendants and “Star Boys”. Then, children dressed as Christmas elves (or Tomtegubbar) deliver baskets of gingerbread cookies (or pepparkakor). However, this year only Saint Lucia was able to participate in the event.
Peyton Jennings, eighth grade, played Saint Lucia while Lukas Lagasse sang the Saint Lucia song in Swedish.
Before Jennings’ appearance, Ray Hildebrand told guests about the history of Saint Lucia, which dates back to 304 AD in ancient Rome. Jepson said stories of Saint Lucia were brought to Sweden during the spread of Christianity, after which Saint Lucia was quickly adopted into Swedish culture.
After the event, Melania Lagassie handed out pepparkakor, made by Karla Fisher, to spectators 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 into 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. “The girls at the school have to wait until their eighth year for the chance to be chosen to be Lucia. It was really heartwarming that this happened.
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