Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Sankta Lucia

On a whim, my friend and I decided to go to the Sankta Lucia celebration at the chapel.
I am actually really glad we decided to go! It put me in the holiday spirit and shifted the focus of Christmas away from all the materialistic embellishments and commercial atmosphere that typically consume this holiday. It helped me remember the more traditional elements of the holiday and gave me insight into this Scandinavian tradition and history.
The speeches were not too long but yet meaningful and emphasized the importance of giving during the holiday season; being a servant to God and to society and doing things to help others and give back during this time of year. Especially in today's society where Christmas has become centered around gifts and buying and money and sales and decorations etcetera, I realized how important it is to just step away from all these fabrications and remember what truly matters. We must remember to give to those who cannot have all the gifts and pleasures we put so much pride in, and shift our focus to the beautiful simplicities during this time of year like family, friends, and being thankful for all that we have.
Anyways...back to the event! I loved hearing the about the history of the event and how Sankta Lucia was originally Sicilian. I found that especially interesting because I'm Sicilian and loved being able to relate my own culture to this event! The procession of the class representatives of Sankta Lucias and their hosts was really charming! I loved their attire and the candle lighting ceremony. Having traditional events such as this at CLU is really a cool experience to add to my freshman year and I don't think I would have gotten the opportunity to enjoy this Christmas tradition had I decided to go to school elsewhere! :)

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