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Imagine Santa Lucia with her crown of candles, joined by children bringing song and light into the darkness of winter. Come join us at Mayo Street Arts to bring vibrance to that dream at this beloved holiday tradition! In Sweden, Saint Lucia's Day is December’s holiday of light, and MSA is celebrating Scandinavian style with the Boston-based vocal group, Northbound. Northbound’s tight five-part harmonies render seasonal classics and fresh takes on traditional folk tunes from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. This special holiday concert will begin with a beautiful candlelit Lucia procession.
MSA’s East Bayside neighborhood historically provided a home to immigrant populations of Irish and Scandinavians. In 1898, the Danish Lutherans (who later merged with the Immanuel [Swedish] Lutheran Church) built the St. Ansgar’s church, that is now home to Mayo Street Arts. This celebration honors our building's history and heritage. Thank you for joining us and bringing your light to our halls!
What is St. Lucia's Day?
St. Lucia’s Day is a festival of lights celebrated in Sweden, Norway and the Swedish-speaking areas of Finland on December 13 in honor of Saint Lucia (Saint Lucy).
In Scandinavian countries, each town elects its own St. Lucia. The festival begins with a procession led by the St. Lucia designee, who is followed by young girls dressed in white and wearing lighted wreaths on their heads and boys dressed in white pajama-like costumes singing traditional songs. The festival marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Scandinavia, and it is meant to bring hope and light during the darkest time of the year.
Originally Saint Lucia was celebrated only in Sweden, but during World War II under German occupation, the custom became popular in Norway and Denmark as a way to assert Scandinavian identity, and remains popular all over Scandinavia today. In modern times, Lucia’s crown often features battery operated lights, but MSA’s event will be a rare opportunity to see a procession with real candles and traditional songs from the region sung in the original languages.
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Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 PM (doors 1:30 PM), 90-minutes, no intermission
Sunday, December 15 at 5:00 PM (doors 4:30 PM), 90-minutes, no intermission
Tickets are available for $20 in advance, $23 at the door, and $30 for preferred seating (pay-what-you-can available)
All Ages
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
10 Mayo St, Portland, ME, United States, Maine 04101
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