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LIGHT OF LUCIA
By LINDA M. LINONIS
boardman
For 40 years, the St. Lucia breakfast and festival at First Covenant Church heralded the Christmas season for many valley residents. They enjoyed the food, music and took away a comforting message of peace and hope.
Today’s event was the final festival. Though the activity will be no more, the meaning of the St. Lucia festival will be held in the hearts and memories of those who attended throughout the four decades.
Lori Mitzel and Cathy Bodamer of Covenant Women’s Ministries of the church coordinated the 40th and final St. Lucia event, that took place this morning. Earlier this week, they discussed the tradition in their lives and in the community.
The story of the Italian girl’s generosity, conversion to Christianity and martyrdom was carried by the Vikings to Sweden, where the people admired her actions. That acknowledgement continues, Mitzel said, with St. Lucia Day, Dec. 13, viewed as the beginning of the Christmas season in the Scandanavian country. In information about the event, it is noted that Swedes generally celebrate St. Lucia Day as a family observance. The oldest daughter, dressed in white gown, serves the family freshly baked St. Lucia buns. In Italy, St. Lucia Day also is marked with a special meal.
“The legend says that St. Lucia gave her dowry to the poor just before she was to get married,” Mitzel said. St. Lucia, or St. Lucy as she also is known, converted to Christianity and took food to Christians hiding in the catacombs, she added.
St. Lucia is usually depicted wearing a wreath on her head that holds lighted candles that is symbolic of the candles she wore in her hair when she went into the dark catacombs. Her rejected bridegroom had a hand in turning her over to authorities; she was burned at the stake as a Christian martyr in the fourth century.
“She is a symbol of light and hope for all mankind,” Mitzel said of the saint whose name means “light.” Through her actions, St. Lucia shined a light on her faith.
Mitzel said the St. Lucia Festival originated in 1971 when the Rev. Arthur Anderson was pastor of the Evangelical Covenant congregation. His wife, Bernice, is credited with the suggestion of having a St. Lucia breakfast. “It started out as a fundraiser,” Mitzel said.
For years, she said, the event attracted so many people that five seatings were offered — with about 200 at each. In 2003, it went to three seatings. Attendance in the last few years has fluctuated from 380 to 520.
Bodamer said 18 committees worked on the event; about 80 volunteers were involved. “It does bring the church together,” Bodamer said. “We work as one.” It has been somewhat challenging, and that is the reason why it’s the 40th and final.
But it was no less of an experience for festival guests. The candlelit breakfast featured a fruit soup, which volunteers started Monday. Soup chairwoman Gail Demetruk, who is of Swedish heritage, said her great-grandfather, Atarius Carlson, was a church founder. She said the breakfast also would include cardamon braids, a Swedish tradition.
“Working on this is service to the church,” she said. “I think people have enjoyed it ... it helps people keep aware of their heritage and traditions.”
Also on the menu were coffee breads, cheese, homemade cookies and coffee or tea. On Friday, Mitzel and her husband, George, made a 200-or-so- mile round trip to Jamestown, N.Y., where the Ecklof Bakery is located. There, the Mitzels picked up their order of Swedish pastries and breads.
As festival-goers feasted, there was entertainment coordinated by Tami LaPaze, music director. Children dressed as “pepparkokar,” gingerbread cookies, and “tomtar,” Swedish elves, danced about the Christmas tree. “Generation after generation have participated,” she said.
A special group, the Lucia Singers, performed. The group includes church members, members of First Covenant Church of Bessemer and community residents. “It’s a very moving experience. The choir gives you chills,” Bodamer said of the presentation. “It lifts your spirits.”
Coffee breads and cookies were sold in the Bake Shop; there was a sale of Swedish decorations, many of them straw, and other items.
Breakfast proceeds benefit local charities and a denominational project on human trafficking.