Swedish Sancta Lucia Festival

The legend of Saint Lucia tells the story of her bringing food to the Christians hiding in the catacombs and wearing a crown of candles on her head to help light her way; freeing her to carry food with both hands. Lucia Day is traditionally celebrated on December 13th, which in the old Julian calendar was the darkest day of the year and the light of Lucia pointed the way up out of the way of darkness. Due to Covid, it has been rescheduled to January, but within the 12 days of Christmas prior to the Epiphany.

The pageant is directed by Mr. Rustan Swenson, a native of Sweden, and now living in Middlebury. He has directed this pageant in Middlebury and Orwell in previous years, with George Matthew Jr. on the piano and the church’s historic pipe organ. The daughters of Jenny & Rev. Mark Orten, chaplain of Middlebury College, along with Ainsleigh Linnea and Nellie Pierce, will be singing in Swedish in the pageant, with Rebecca Orten as St. Lucia.