Elaine Mikel was crowned St. Lucia for 2010 by St. Lucia Court members Katie Batz, Dawn Comstock, Claire Curran and Ellen Liebe (Photo by Stacia Vogel).
Gustavus Adolphus College crowned sophomore Elaine Mikel as the 2010 St. Lucia during the College’s 70th annual Festival of St. Lucia on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010.
Every year five sophomore women are chosen to serve on the College’s St. Lucia Court based on academic achievement, spiritual leadership, service to the College, charity, kindness, and others.
This year’s court included Mikel, Katie Batz, Claire Curran, Dawn Comstock, and Ellen Liebe.
The Festival of St. Lucia begins the Christmas season in Swedish custom and is traditionally held on Dec. 13. On this day in Sweden, the eldest daughter plays the role of St. Lucia by preparing and serving baked goods and coffee to her family at sunrise. Wearing a crown of lighted candles, Lucia represents the return of light that will end the long winter nights and serves as a symbol of hope and peace for the Christmas season.
At Gustavus, the St. Lucia court traditionally sings carols through the College’s residence halls during the early morning on the day of the crowning and a traditional Scandinavia smorgasbord luncheon typically follows the ceremony. Lucia is chosen through a campus community vote.
The following is a short video from this year’s Festival of St. Lucia:
Also, read the chapel homily delivered by 2009 St. Lucia Jen Fox ’12:
http://makeyourlifecount.blog.gustavus.edu/2010/12/10/like-st-lucia-shed-light/
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510
Hello –
My Grandmother, Great Aunt, Mother, her twin sister and my cousin all attended Gustavus where they earned their education degrees. Tomorrow I am privileged to use your video of St. Lucia Day to help my first grade class learn about winter celebrations around the world. It was wonderful to be able to use your college website for current resources. What a beautiful video. Thank you!