Local Church Plans Lucia Fest

CREST HILL, IL — The Swedish tradition of Santa Lucia will be observed at Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant, 2437 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill, at 11:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, immediately following the 10:45 a.m. worship service. All members of the community are invited to attend.

The Queen of Light will be portrayed by Ruby Barraza, 17, of Joliet. She is the daughter of Irma Rivera and Juan Manuel Holguin Barraza.

As part of the traditional Lucia Fest, the Queen of Light, also known as Lucia, will invite the congregation to a Fika, a time of fellowship, coffee and Swedish pastries, sponsored by Women Ministries.

Barraza will be accompanied by attendants portrayed by children from Church of the Good Shepherd Sunday School. Sarah Lender-Hawkins will sing the traditional Lucia song, and Cyan Bradley, last year’s Queen of Light, will read the traditional story of Lucia.

The celebration of Lucia Fest is a Swedish custom that ushers in the Christmas holiday. According to legend, Lucia was a godly girl who became engaged to a nobleman at the age of 17. Before the wedding, Lucia gave her dowry to the poor as a thank you to God for answered prayer. Her intended husband, suspicious that she was a Christian, ordered her put to death on Dec. 13, 304 A.D.

Hundreds of years later, Lucia reportedly appeared in western Sweden during a famine to distribute food among starving people. She wore a long white gown and was encircled by light. Following Lucia’s visit, the days grew longer, leading people to believe she brought the end of winter and the return of light.

Lucia became known as a symbol of light, faith and Christian charity. The traditional celebration of Lucia Fest recognizes the return of light after the dark of winter and heralds the approaching Christmas season with candlelight and music.

Barraza is a junior at Joliet Central High School, where she participates in ROTC. As a member of Church of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Covenant, she regularly attends Sunday school, SOJO (the high school youth group), and takes part in various other church activities. Upon graduation from high school, she plans to enroll in the culinary arts program at Joliet Junior College.