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By DAWN SLADE - Mille Lacs County Times
You don’t have to be Swedish to enjoy the 30th anniversary of the Santa Lucia festival at Zion Lutheran Church.
Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden on Dec. 13. At Zion, Santa Lucia (aka Sankta Lucia) will be celebrated on Friday, Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Dec. 13 date represents the old midwinter solstice.
Each year at Zion, a high school girl from the congregation is selected to portray Lucia and hand out cookies to diners at the luncheon.
She is chosen by the “Lucia Mama” who takes care of her robe and crown and teaches her the Lucia song.
All former Lucias are invited to the luncheon.
Who is Lucia?
Lucia was actually a Sicilian Christian who was condemned to death during the Middle Ages (304 AD).
At some time in history, the idea of Lucia (meaning light) merged with a legend from Varmland, a province in Sweden.
The story goes that during a time of great poverty, a young woman appeared out of nowhere and sailed around the lake in a huge ship filled with food, which she then distributed to the starving people.
In Sweden, Lucia Day begins the festival of lights.
The appearance of Lucia evolved into a family tradition in which the eldest daughter, dressed as Lucia, in white with a red sash, wearing a crown of green foliage and lighted candles, would rise early to deliver special buns and hot coffee to her parents’ bedroom.
Today, city officials in Sweden choose the Lucia. And in Stockholm, where the Nobel Prize winners are typically named, she has the duty of crowning the winner of the literature prize.
At Zion, the chosen Lucia wears the white costume and crown of lights (though they are no longer candles) and she serves cookies to those attending.
Michelle Gruba, who portrayed Lucia in 2007 and 2008, said it was a good opportunity for her.
Not only did she enjoy the friendly smiles she received handing out hundreds of cookies, she added, “I was able to talk with them about who I was and who Santa Lucia was.”
Santa Lucia started at Zion when Magny and Louise Peterson’s son told them about the Santa Lucia festivities at the college he was attending - Gustavus Adolphus.
Louise Peterson, along with help from Virginia Christensen and Martha Norrgard, began the new tradition at Zion in 1979. Louise was a member of the Eunice Circle and it became part of their duties to sponsor the event each year. Mary Anderson is now the chairperson.
The first Lucia portrayers (there were two that year) were Sara Christensen and Swedish exchange student Petra Wange.
Most years, things have gone smoothly and the festival has been attended by an average of 225-250 people.
Norrgard recalled how one year, her and her husband Clinton, the Petersons and the Christensens worked all day in the kitchen preparing all the food.
Unfortunately, there was a severe snow storm and the event had to be cancelled. But one group’s loss is another’s gain, as all the food was brought over to the Elim Home.
Zion Pastor Stephen Blenkush, said of the annual event, “I am thankful that the Swedes here had enough good sense to skip the Lutefisk!
“On the other hand, between the hospitality, the great food, the music, the decorations and the traditional Swedish attire--it is good to see that much enthusiasm.”
The festival includes the Swedish Singers who have been providing entertainment during the luncheon since 1986.
Lunch includes kotbuller (meatballs), bruna bonar (beans), gron sallad (coleslaw), rod betor (beet pickles), cranberries, risgryns pudding (rice pudding), julbakelser (Christmas cookies), and kaffee (coffee).
They came from Sweden
Norrgard, who has been instrumental in the annual luncheon, said that although she was born in Sweden, she wasn’t always enthusiastic about her heritage.
“When I was growing up I could care less bout Swedish things,” Norrgard said.
But in 1965 she made a trip to Sweden and these days she has a plethora of information about her mother country.
“It opened up a whole new world for me,” the Swedish immigrant said.
At the age of 15, Norrgard’s mother came by ship, alone, to the United States - a trip that typically took six weeks to complete.
She eventually met a man who became her husband and they had two boys. Her husband insisted they return to Sweden so she could see her mother.
Pregnant with Martha, she and family made the trip and she gave birth to Martha in Sweden. When Martha was five months old, they returned to America.
“It’s important for families to keep up with their roots,” Norrgard said.
Norrgard, who has a degree in Swedish and enjoys translating for others, is proud of her heritage and wants to share it with others through song and food.
“It has been good to see the tradition being passed on to another generation, not all of whom even have that Swedish heritage, but seem to capture the spirit of the day and event,” Blenkush said of Santa Lucia.
“The other thing that comes to mind is, any time people can sit down and share a meal together it is a good opportunity to create new friendships, bridge differences and create community. And that’s all good!” Blenkush said. “So, I would whole heartedly encourage anyone who is able to join us for the Santa Lucia Luncheon to join us.
“How can you turn down good food, good company and a bunch of enthusiastic Swedes?”
Zion Lutheran’s Santa Lucias
1979-Sara Christensen and Petra Wange
1980-Ann Grahn
1981-Wendy Johnson
1982-storm, canceled
1983-storm, canceled
1984-MaryAnn Halgren and Sarah Johnson
1985-Brenda Hjort
1986-Delaine Nelson
1987-Heide Anderson
1988-Theresa Halgren and Lara Schramm
1989-Annie Fransen
1990-Shelly Johnson
1991-Jennifer Karels
1992-Carmen Ramstad and Rachel Hemstad
1993-no record
1994-Sarah Hunt
1995-Molly Bostic
1996-Andie Edmonson
1997-Megan Erickson
1998-Leah Hjort and Autumn Hirsh
1999-Jessica Kiel and Laura Johnson
2000-Sara Gunnick
2001-Diane Johnson
2002-Jenna Eggert
2003-Sadie Hemmerich
2004-Maggie Mycue
2005-Anika Erickson
2006-Anika Erickson
2007-Michelle Gruba
2008-Michelle Gruba
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