Cecelia Chmelik (wearing the crown) and Amy Carpenter, standing next to her, were both picked as St. Lucia this year for Julefest at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. St. Lucia court attendants from L-R: Ella Hallberg, Katie Shannon and Piper Sporn.
Two young ladies were selected to wear the crown of St. Lucia at the annual Julefest celebration held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Saturday, December 9. Cecelia Chmelik and Amy Carpenter, were both picked for the honor this year. Carpenter wore the crown the next day at the church service.
Julefest is Bethlehem Lutheran’s variation of the celebrations held across Scandinavia to remember St. Lucia, a young woman in ancient times who brought food to the poor. Early on the morning of December 13, the shortest day of the year according to the Julian calendar, the oldest daughter of the house dons a crown of fresh greens and glowing candles and serves her family coffee and saffron buns, bringing sustenance and light to the household on one of the darkest days of the year.
Bethlehem’s Julefest festivities included a bake sale of homemade traditional Scandinavian Christmas breads, pastries, and cookies. Julefest guests mingled before the service, enjoying coffee and conversation as they sampled rommegrot, rice pudding, krumkake, sandbakkels, kransekake and other delicacies amid the colorful Scandinavian holiday decorations.
It was an afternoon of special music, carol singing, and a drawing for raffle items donated by local businesses and individuals.
Proceeds from the coffee table, bake sale and raffle will be distributed to various charities and mission projects throughout the area.
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