Since 1948, students in the Scandinavian Department have performed a Luciatåg (Lucia procession) to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. Join us this year for a special Lucia Concert on Friday, December 5th at 2:30 PM in room 108 in the Husky Union Building (HUB) on campus. This event is free and open to the public. Coffee and refreshments will be served following the concert. The event is being sponsored by the Scandinavian Department and the UW Swedish Club.

This year, the concert will feature an impressive 43-voice choir of students from Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola in Jönköping, Sweden, as well as the members of the UW Swedish Club who will perform the Luciatåg. All students interested in participating in the Luciatåg should contact Swedish Club president, Sarah McConkey.

A note on the tradition: Lucia celebrations are held in many places in Scandinavia on Dec. 13th, Lucia’s saint day. The tradition of a girl wearing a crown of candles on her head is full of symbolism, most notedly the theme of the return of light at the darkest time of winter (Dec. 13th was the winter solstice on the old Julian calendar).