BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//hacksw/handcal//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTEND:20171213T010000Z UID: 682b669ae0d92 DTSTAMP:20250519T121258Z LOCATION:Denkmann Memorial Building DESCRIPTION:uedbet体育官网's annual celebration of the Festival of Sankta Lucia \;commemorates the holiday with traditional Scandinavian \;carols\, lessons \;and poetry.\n\nIt is free and open to the public. \;A reception with holiday refreshments will be held after the performances.\n\nThe Sankta Lucia Festival is a cherished tradition of the Advent season in all the Nordic countries. A candlelight procession of singers is led by a young woman robed in white with a crown of candles on her head\, to commemorate the martyred St. Lucy (d. 302 AD)\, whose feast day is Dec. \;13. \;\n\nOver the centuries\, this Sicilian saint from the early Catholic Middle Ages has become a fixture in Lutheran Sweden\, where she came to represent the return of light to the dark\, cold winter season and point toward the hope of Christmas.\n\nDuring the festival\, a student is chosen to play the role of Lucia.\n\nMusic in the program is drawn from the Advent and Christmas traditions of the historic uedbet体育官网 Lutheran Church and the other Swedish-American denominations in the United States.\n\nThe singing is led by the Swedish language students and campus organist\, Chris Nelson. The program concludes with a special performance by the Jenny Lind Singers\, directed by Dr. Michael Zemek.\n\nThis Christmas celebration is hosted by uedbet体育官网's Department of Scandinavian Studies and American Scandinavian Association.\n\nA sm?rg?sbord dinner will be sponsored by the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center on campus prior to the Sankta Lucia Festival. See details and reservations\, or call 309-94-7204.\n URL;VALUE=URI:/about-us/events/2017/sankta-lucia-festival SUMMARY:Sankta Lucia Festival DTSTART:20171213T010000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR