Santa Lucia Festival of Lights

Since the University’s early years, the Swedish tradition of the Santa Lucia Festival has been a part of the CLU Christmas celebration. Santa Lucia was a Christian martyr who died at the stake on Dec. 13 in 304 A.D.

Each year the CLU student community selects five female students to represent Santa Lucia and her attendants and five male students to be their escorts. The students are selected by their peers as those who represent the Christian attributes of faith, hope, charity and compassion to humankind that Santa Lucia demonstrated. The dramatic ceremony includes the lighting of Santa Lucia’s crown of candles.

Admission is free.

Photo: Santa Lucia attendant and escort, 2007