St. Cloud's Annual Santa Lucia Celebration

The legend of Santa Lucia originated in Syracuse on the island of Sicily. There, as a young girl about to be married, Lucia gave her entire dowry to the poor and admitted being a Christian. She also refused to marry her fiancé because he was a pagan. Outraged, he accused her of witchcraft. She was taken prisoner and burned at the stake, December 13, 304 A.D.

She was later named a Saint (Santa) by the early church and thus received the name Santa Lucia. Although she died in the fourth century, legend has Lucia appearing in the bow of a ship laden with food coming to the starving people of Värmland, Sweden sometime in the Middle Ages. She was clothed in white, with a crown of light circling her head.

There are many legends, but in each one, Lucia becomes the symbol of light and hope to humanity. She comes on the darkest day of the year to herald the glad Christmas time.

Salem Lutheran Church was founded in 1883 by the Swedish immigrants who settled in St. Cloud’s East Side. The Santa Lucia festival tradition of the festival of Light and Hope has been an annual tradition for more than 75 years. We invite you experience it with us each December.