St. Lucia event is Dec. 7
STRATFORD — A special Swedish tradition — the Lucia Festivity of Light — will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Stratford Lutheran Church, 812 Teneyck Ave. in Stratford. This year will be the 20th year that the Swedish Foundation of Iowa’s Swede Bend Settlement Inc. has hosted this annual event.
St. Lucia Day, Dec. 13, is celebrated all over Scandinavia where the legend of a young Christian girl who was martyred for serving those in need is embraced. The name Lucia is derived from the word lux, meaning light. The Lucia festivities, which take place in the darker days of winter, are a welcome start to the holiday season.