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Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections, 2015.196.66.1, Connecticut Historical S…
Programs: St. LucÍa Festival
Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections, 2015.196.66.1, Connecticut Historical Society, In Copyright

Programs: St. LucÍa Festival

Date2016-2019
MediumPaper
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
Description2015.196.66.1a-d: program, 103rd Annual St. LucÍa Festival, 2016

2015.196.66.2: program, 103rd Annual St. LucÍa Festival, 2019
Object number2015.196.66.1-.2
CopyrightIn Copyright
NotesSubject Note: Held since 1914, at Emanual Lutheran Church on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, the St. Lucia Festival celebrates the Nordic tradition of St Lucia’s Day, December 13. The Festival presents a pageant featuring children from the congregation reenacting the story of how St. Lucia brought light in the darkness of winter. The participants take roles in the play, portraying tomten (little elves), shepherds, light bearers, children and people of the town, and St. Lucia who is dressed in white wearing a crown of lights. They all sing (much of it in Swedish) and form a procession to lead St. Lucia into the church. After the pageant, there is a social gathering in the church hall, with Swedish cardamom rolls, coffee, and Swedish-style crafts for sale. All the proceeds from the events go to a local charity. The festival has grown so popular that it is held on two weekend nights, sometimes with three showings. Emanuel Lutheran Church, founded in 1889 by Swedish immigrants to the Hartford area, is home to an active following with an educational, outreach, and charitable mission, and is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (Source: https://emanuelhartford.org/) Additional audio, video, and/or photographic materials exist in the archive relating to this community and these events. Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.
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