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Lucia Day in the Swedish Center
Every year in the middle of December Swedish Center in Nizhny Novgorod celebrates the traditional Swedish holiday - Lucia Day.
Origin of this holiday throws back to Middle Ages, while first ceremonial Lucia parade took place in Stockholm in 1927. Since then this holiday is celebrated in every Swedish town. Local newspaper arranges a contest and publishes photos of young girls, for readers to vote. The winner - usually a blonde with long hair - becomes the central figure in parade which goes solemnly along the main street. Other participants in white garments follow her and sing a traditional Lucia song. Households and cafes are serving festive tables with coffee and muffins.
Swedish Center is celebrating this holiday every year, together with special guests and members of the Swedish Club. This time the students of NSTU Faculty of Economics, Management and Innovations were also invited.
Vice-Director of the Swedish Center Maxim Soroka congratulated everyone with a holiday and offered to take part in mini-quiz "What do you know about Sweden?".
Winners were awarded with prizes from Swedish Center and Swedish cosmeceutical company "Fleur de Sante".
Student of the Economics High School Anna Zaytseva told the audience about origin of this holiday and its celebrating traditions.
Culmination of the evening - parade of young girls in traditional white garments and chaplets. The solemn cortege was accompanied by "Sancta Lucia" song, sang in Swedish.
 
The evening went on at the smorgasbord with coffee and traditional Swedish cookies from "IKEA".
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