St. Lucia Festival in Little Sweden, U.S.A.

Annual Christmas (Jul) Celebration at Lindsborg, Kansas

Nov 2, 2009

St. Lucia marks the start of Christmas, or Jul, in Sweden on December 13th. Celebrate St. Lucia in Little Sweden, U.S.A. on the second Saturday of December.

Lindsborg area’s first Swedes immigrated from the Värmland Province, Sweden. With much anticipation they came to framtidslandet, land of their future, to America in 1869. They brought their deep Lutheran faith and love of music. Both are passionately adhered to today, some 160 years later.

What is St. Lucia Day?

One such religious and cultural celebration carried out annually in Lindsborg’s Little Sweden USA, is The Festival of St. Lucia on the second Saturday of each December. St. Lucia Day has been a tradition in Sweden since the 1800’s, marking the beginning of Christmas on December 13th. Swedes know Christmas as “Jul.”

Traditionally, Swedes awaken early on the morning of December 13th. According to Lindsborg’s events, “Lucia” wakes the family by singing the Sicilian hymn, Santa Lucia. Usually this is done by the eldest daughter while dressed in a white robe with a red sash, and wearing a crown of lighted candles on her head. While serenading her family, the daughter carries a tray of coffee and traditional Lucia Buns or ginger cookies to each family member.

This is an ancient story from before 500AD Sicily, of a girl who was to burn at the stake for being a Christian. Instead of burning, the legend is that her body glowed as she died. This martyr became associated with a Swedish legend of a time when the Swedes were starving and a beautiful young lady appeared in white robes, with a glowing crown, along with great quantities of food. The story goes that she only answered to the name “Lucia.” St. Lucia represents hope in the dark days of winter.

Lindsborg, Kansas St. Lucia Event

Lindsborg, Kansas area’s downtown is the center of all the joyous activity, culminating at Bethany Lutheran Church. Plenty of delicious traditional Swedish food vendors abound, so every tummy is happily filled with Swedish meatballs, lingonberries, pepparkakor (ginger cookies), glogg, and much more. Being in Lindsborg is as if actually visting Sweden without the long travel time for Canadians, Americans, and Mexicans.

Live traditional Swedish music, dance, and vintage festival costuming and musical instruments passed down from generation to generation delight festive participants throughout the day. The Swedish fiddle is awe-inspiring and uniquely beautiful in sight and sound.

Santa Claus makes an appearance for the young and young-at-heart. The whole town breathes Christmas with roving carolers, and the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers, a nationally recognized group that began in 1963, composed of about 40 local high school students.

Holiday shopping has its place at St. Lucia Day too. There is a Swedish bake sale, and also opportunity to support local college artists in an arts and crafts sale.

The day culminates at Bethany Lutheran Church where St. Lucia is crowned. She is selected from among the high school age members of the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers. The honoree distributes hot cider and ginger cookies to the guests and observers of the St. Lucia ceremony.

Know Before You Go

Lindsborg's rv parks, motels, and bed & breakfasts are reasonably priced. However, it is a small town and reservations fill quickly. Check accommodation options in the larger town of Salina, Kansas, about 20 miles away, where there are many more choices for lodging.

The copyright of the article St. Lucia Festival in Little Sweden, U.S.A. in Kansas Travel is owned by Lynn Pritchett. Permission to republish St. Lucia Festival in Little Sweden, U.S.A. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.