Lucia Fest & St. Eric’s Fair at Old Swedes’ Church, Philadelphia, PA

The Lucia Fest weaves together a number of Swedish holiday traditions into a colorful musical pageant. The heart of the celebration is the Lucia procession in which a young woman is joined by other female members of the household in taking hot coffee and a warm Lucia bun to all the residents of the home. She comes crowned with candles, dressed in white, singing her traditional song, “Sankta Lucia.” In Sweden her day is celebrated in homes before dawn on the 13th of December, which, at one stage of life with the Julian calendar, marked the winter solstice – the point at which the hours of darkness begin to diminish and the daylight hours begin to lengthen.

At Gloria Dei Church the celebration is held within the walls constructed by Swedish settlers in 1699-1700, in the beauty of candlelight, with a large entourage of young girls joining her in song and procession. For many people participation in the Lucia Fest is a unique way of marking the beginning of the holiday season.

This year’s Lucia’s are Dina DiMedio of Medford, NJ, Kristen Seagers of West Chester, PA, Hayleigh Allen of Jamison, PA, and Emily Oakes of West Chester, PA.
Presentations will be made at 6:00 & 8:00 PM on Friday, December 5th; on Saturday and Sunday, December 6th and 7th, the presentations are at 2:00, 3:30, & 5:00 PM. Before, during and after each of the presentations, the St. Eric’s Fair, a Christmas bazaar that specializes in Scandinavian imports is held in the Parish Hall that adjoins the Church. Food and drink are available. Free parking is provided

Tickets can be purchased at the door; groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make reservations by calling the church office at 215-389-1513. Tickets are $8.00 per adult; $4.00 for children under 12 years of age.
Gloria Dei (Old Swede’s Church) is located in South Philadelphia on Christopher Columbus Blvd, just to the south of Penn’s Landing, between Christian Street and Washington Avenue.
The public is invited.