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Kind: News, PressRelease Music Genre: Vocal Categories: Culture, World, Holidays, Entertainment Published: December 9, 2009

Santa Lucia lightens Scandinavian America

The strong transplanted Scandinavian Lucia tradition from late 3rd century, with annual festivities of the legendary Saint Lucy (or Sankta Lucia) on December 13 live on in the Scandinavian homelands as well as the hearts of the U.S. Scandinavian expatriates. Lucia is often treated as a cultural pre-christmas event, which sets the christmas mood, including specialties from food delicacies and decoration to music and dance. While the six Scandinavian countries have distinct traditions in their homelands, abroad they tend to blend nicely in broadened assortments, and make everyone feel at home. Lucia is, however, a Swedish tradition at its core, although often freely licensed by the neighboring countries from Iceland to Estonia, allowing the saint to shine even stronger in these northern countries. The tradition comes with timely perfection: In mid-December, Scandinavia typically experiences fifteen to eighteen hours of daily darkness.

In New York City, the Swedish Lucia tradition is celebrated at Scandinavia House and the Swedish Church. The Swedish Church has been located in Midtown Manhattan since the mid 70s, and held highly popular Lucia concerts every year. However, since 2001, the church has expanded the concert to a three-set mega event production at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on the Upper West Side, selling advance tickets at their equally popular christmas bazaar one week before Thanksgiving. This event contains a well-rehearsed program with a traditional lucia procession accompanied by famously quality singing from solo to six-part harmony by amateur singers with professional soloists and musicians. The singers are traditionally Scandinavians and fans of Scandinavia, working in various fields from Wall Street to professional dancing. Other Lucia and pre-Christmas events also include a band with soloists, which highlights both traditional and contemporary rhythms, blending with local repertoire. In Sweden, every town typically has an array of vocalists, which in our terrains would be called "world class". They grow up singing in church choirs. It is these childhood and adolescent experiences - often left aside during university years - which are recalled when awakening traditions at this important time of the year, especially when living abroad. Playing, singing and reading sheet music is a commodity for everyone in Scandinavia.

Due to the vast popularization of the Lucia tradition now being shared by all New Yorkers, several smaller Lucia events have popped up around town. The one produced by the Swedish Church is therefore often called "the real event."

This year, the Lucia event by the Swedish Church will take place on Saturday, December 12th with showtimes at 4, 6 and 8 pm. Tickets are for sale at the Swedish Church, 5 East 48th Street, New York, NY.

christmascarols.bluemusicgroup.com

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