santa lucia - festival of lights

The festival of Santa Lucia begins before dawn, on December 13th, traditionally the longest night of the year. Throughout Sweden, the oldest daughter in each household comes to her sleeping parents, dressed in a long white gown tied with a red sash, and wearing a crown of lingonberry leaves and candles. In her hands she carries a tray of coffee and bread. The procession includes her sisters and brothers also dressed in white, holding lighted candles, and singing of the light and joy of Christmas. Awakened by the lights and the singing, the parents arise and eat the breakfast served, thus ushering in the Christmas season.

 After the Lucia portion of the program, they did traditional folk dancing!