BEMIDJI 鈥� Annika Reed has been participating in Bemidji鈥檚 annual Sankta Lucia Festival since she was 3 years old.
But this year was extra special as she led the Lucia procession as Sankta Lucia herself.
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A junior at Holman High 歪歪漫画 in Holman, Wis., Reed has her parents, Travis and Sara Peters, and grandparents, Kermit and Sandy Bensen, to thank for her involvement in the longtime Swedish tradition.
The program takes place at 6 a.m. on the dot each year on Dec. 13, the longest night of the year.
鈥淲e love doing this every year,鈥� Sandy said. 鈥淢y alarm went off at 3:15 this morning to get this whole household going and ready for the program.鈥�
Now in its 49th year, the Bemidji Affiliate of the American Swedish Institute originated as the first affiliate of the ASI in Minneapolis thanks to 鈥渇ounding mothers鈥� Edna Kroll and Monica O鈥橞oyle. Bemidji held its first Sankta Lucia Festival in 1976 with Lynne Hansen being named the first Lucia.
Kermit Bensen, who emceed the morning鈥檚 program, explained that for many years the program was held at the Fireside Room at the old Holiday Inn by the Bemidji Regional Airport before it was moved to Calvary Lutheran Church.
To start things off Director Debby Miller narrated the waking of Tomte Och Sangare 鈥� a character from Swedish folklore who rules over households with an iron thumb 鈥� as a group of little tomtes danced and sang along to the music portion of the program.
鈥淗ard in the cold of midwinter's night, stars sparkle and gleam in the lonely town at this midnight hour,鈥� Miller read. 鈥淎ll are sleeping. Moon wanders its silent way. Snow lights white on fir and spruce. Only tomtes are about.
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鈥淚n olden days, it was believed that every house had its own tomte, or gnome. On Christmas Eve, a dish of porridge was left out for him and his family so that they would be friendly during the coming year. In this song, the little tomtes are enjoying their feast. And today, we're going to ask you to sing along and help us wake them up.鈥�
After several more songs and Swedish traditions were shared, complete with a few Sven, Ole and Lars jokes, it was time for the main event. The Sankta Lucia processional began to make its way through the dimly lit sanctuary as Bensen read the first verse of the Sankta Lucia song in English.
鈥淭he night walks with heavy steps around farm and cottage. Around the earth, forsaken by the sun, shadows are brooding,鈥� Bensen read. 鈥淭hen into our dark house, she steps with lighted candles, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.鈥�
Violinist Anita Norden started off the procession as Sarah Carlson played piano to accompany soloist Drew Hougard as he sang 鈥淪ankta Lucia,鈥� Hosianna鈥� and 鈥淪taffan Song.鈥�
Slowly Reed entered the room wearing a crown of candles followed by her First Attendant Clare Fogelson, Senior Attendants Becca Hanson and Ava Swanburg, and Junior Attendants Adeline Runnigen, Kristen Sandmeyer and Anja Hazelton, with Star Boys Will Ames and Markus Runnigen bringing up the rear.
Slowly the processional made its way around the room, weaving through the church pews as the music played. Once they had completed their stroll, the group gathered on stage for the congressional singing of 鈥淐hildren of the Heavenly Father鈥� and 鈥淪ilent Night.鈥�
As the main program drew to a close, everyone migrated to the reception hall for the remainder of the festivities along with the serving of Lucia buns, coffee and a Smorgasbord breakfast.
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Before diving into the meal, Reed and Fogelson shared a little history of how the Sankta Lucia Festival traditions were born.
鈥淭he story of Sankta Lucia begins in the third century when Lucia was born into a wealthy family on the island of Sicily,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淗er name means light and during her short life, she shared the light of Christ with those around her. She lived during the persecution of the Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian.
鈥淟ucia traveled through the catacombs bringing food and supplies to the poor hidden there. Because her hands were full of food, she tied torches to her head to light the way. This expression of her faith angered her husband-to-be and he turned her over to the Roman authorities. She was blinded and put to death.鈥�
Reed said that according to legend, centuries after Lucia鈥檚 death, a ship carrying food and clothing arrived in Sweden at the height of a terrible famine.
鈥淎 maiden in the bow clad in white with a halo about her head distributed food to the starving,鈥� she read. 鈥淭he word Lucia can be translated to the Latin word lux meaning light. Because Lucia was the light with her luminous halo of candles, she became the symbol for turning the tides of the long winter and above all a reminder of the light of the world.鈥�
Fogelson, a junior at Mayo High 歪歪漫画 in Rochester, shared that the Lucia Festival in Sweden is celebrated on Dec. 13 because according to the old Julian calendar, it is the longest night of the year.
鈥淭he celebration marks the beginning of the Christmas season and the hope of brighter days to come,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he Lady of the Light, as she is known, rises early this morning and so do we.鈥�
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Once each of the 2024 Lucia Court had introduced themselves and shared the history of their Swedish ancestry, those in attendance enjoyed their breakfast as more music was played.
The official 2024 Sankta Lucia crown was then presented to Reed by 2023 Sankta Lucia Brooklyn Saiger to conclude the morning鈥檚 traditional festivities, launching Bemidji into the Christmas season.
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