A Swedish tradition was recently held in southeast Iowa to celebrate light in the darkness. The Swedesburg Heritage Society hosted the presentation of Saint Lucia, where each year a teenager wears a white robe with a red sash along with a crown of four candles. Santa Lucia is joined by star children as they bring light into the winter’s darkness.

This year’s Santa Lucia was Josie Settles and she shares what it was like to portray the role, “It was an honor, like I loved doing it because Jema, she got to pass the crown to me because she did it last year. And my mom was also Saint Lucia, so that was really cool and just like this really big thing in my family. And then, so Saint Lucia she was a Christian martyr, and so she brings light into the world of darkness during the dark time. So, the lights were off and I walked around with my star children, that were some of my cousins, so that was also really cool to do it as a family. And then I had candles on my head, and then we walked around kind of like just symbolizing the light that is in the darkness and shining bright. And then we handed out cookies to people too. And then Jema and I got to sing a duet.”

Settles is the daughter of Jess and Joanna Settles, and her grandmother Trish Woepking serves as the Museum Director. Traditionally the celebration begins on December 13th and runs through January 13th.