Sophomore Jennifer Werness of Burnsville, Minn., was crowned St. Lucia on Thursday morning in Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College’s 71st annual Festival of St. Lucia.
Click here to read a feature story on Werness by the online news outlet Burnsville Patch. Click here to view photos from Thusday’s Festival of St. Lucia.
Every year five sophomore women are chosen to serve on the College’s St. Lucia Court based on courageous leadership, strength of character, service to others, and compassion. This year’s court included Werness, Susan Crane of Des Moines, Iowa, Annalise Dobbelstein of Bemidji, Minn., Elizabeth Johnson of Plymouth, Minn., and Ellen Krueger of Minnetonka, Minn.
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 service 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 hours on the day of the crowning and a traditional Scandinavian smorgasbord luncheon typically follows the ceremony. St. Lucia is chosen through a campus community vote.
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