Scholarship & Application Lucia Necklace Design Contest
Congratulations to Kaija Perkiomaki. Oregon's Official 2010 Lucia!
Oregon's Official Lucia & Scholarship Information
An Oregon tradition since 1956, the Lucia, First Light of Christmas, program brings young women of Nordic heritage in touch with this beloved legend of Scandinavia, while offering them the opportunity to serve their community and receive a $1000 scholarship. The Lucia Bride will be crowned at ScanFair, December 6, 2009.
The Scandinavian community in Portland has taken great pride in preserving the Lucia tradition since 1956. Governor Tom McCall in the 1970s proclaimed the Portland Lucia bride the official Lucia of Oregon. Formerly a program of the Scandinavian Club of Portland, the Lucia program is now sponsored by SHF and the New Sweden.
The Scandinavian Heritage Foundation is accepting applications again this fall from young women of Danish, Faroe Islands, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian or Swedish heritage between the ages of 16 and 22 (must be at least a junior in high school, unmarried and a citizen of the U.S.).
Applicants must apply and write an essay of no more than 250 words (typed and double-spaced) on What being Lucia means to me. Applications must be postmarked no later than November 6, 2010. Call the SHF office (503) 977-0275 or email shf@mindspring.com for applications and a preliminary Lucia court schedule for 2010 or get the pdf file right here: 2010 Lucia Application, 2010 Lucia Court Schedule.
Lucia Tradition
The traditional story of Lucia is about a Sicilian maiden who gave her life for her faith. She gave her dowry secretly to the poor and when her fiancé found out, he denounced her and she was tortured and killed.
Scandinavian tradition holds that in Vårmland, Sweden, a white-clad maiden wearing a crown of burning candles and a red sash brought food to starving villagers on the shores of Lake Vanern, a much happier tradition. On the morning of December 13, the strains of “Santa Lucia” are heard everywhere as the white-robed maiden comes out of the night with her burning crown of candles to dispel the darkness, bringing bright light to the Christmas season. While it was originally a Swedish tradition, it has since spread to other Scandinavian countries.
Lucia morning is celebrated in nearly every Scandinavian home, office, church and at large public events. Traditionally she brings coffee and saffron rolls. She is generally accompanied by a train of white-clad attendants.
Lucia Necklace Design Contest
Your design could be the official SHF Lucia necklace. The Lucia of Oregon committee of the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation will be producing an exclusive necklace to be given to each member of the Lucia court (for an application to the Lucia Court, click here).
Design Contest: SHF is entertaining original designs for this exclusive Lucia necklace. The necklace that will be given to each member of the Lucia Court will be custom made by Nielsen’s Jewelers, in sterling silver. The winner of this design contest will be announced at the Lucia selection luncheon, November 6, 2010. The winner will receive the first produced piece of their design.
Please submit all designs to SHF by October 6, 2010. The designs should be emailed, or delivered to SHF, shf-sassa@mindspring.com. Put Lucia Design Contest in the subject line. The winning design will be the property of the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation. If you have questions, please call Sara Winter at Nielsen's Jewelers, (503) 234-1614.
