TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY; UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES SWEDISH CUSTOMS.Byline: Annette Bailey Daily News Staff Writer As it has since 1961, California Lutheran University Mission statement The University's mission statement is as follows: "California Lutheran University is a diverse, scholarly community dedicated to excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies. initiated the holiday season with its annual Santa Lucia Festival. A Scandinavian tradition, the ceremony celebrates the martyrdom Martyrdom See also Sacrifice. Agatha, St. tortured for resisting advances of Quintianus. [Christian Hagiog.: Daniel, 21] Alban, St. traditionally, first British martyr. [Christian Hagiog: NCE, 49] Andrew, St. of Santa Lucia, a Christian saint who was burned at the stake on Dec. 13, 304 A.D. Wednesday morning, Cal Lutheran's Samuelson Chapel was decorated with colorful poinsettias, lighted white candles and lighted Christmas trees Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. as 10 students portrayed the traditional Scandinavian roles of the Santa Lucia bride, attendants and their escorts. The female attendants, clad in long-flowing, white satin robes, carried white candles, while the bride wore a traditional Swedish crown adorned a·dorn tr.v. a·dorned, a·dorn·ing, a·dorns 1. To lend beauty to: "the pale mimosas that adorned the favorite promenade" Ronald Firbank. 2. with green lingonberry lingonberry Fruit of a small creeping plant (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) of the heath family, related to the blueberry and cranberry. Also known as cowberry, foxberry, and mountain or rock cranberry, the lingonberry is a wild plant used for jelly and juice by northern Europeans leaves and seven candles, considered a festival tradition. The five male escorts donned dark, conservative suits and ties, and also carried single white candles. During the service, each attendant and escort read a brief passage signifying a single Christian virtue ranging from service, sympathy, thanksgiving, kindness, humility and purity. With each concluded passage, attendants and escorts lighted the bride's crown until it was fully aglow. Freshman attendant Malika Rice said the service carried much meaning for her. ``It's a service to celebrate people who have stood up for their faith in Christ,'' she said. Lucia bride's escort, Lawrence Rodriguez, noted that the students performing parts in the pageant pageant, modern dramatic spectacle or procession celebrating a special occasion or an event in the history of a locality. In medieval times the word pageant had meant the wagon or the movable stage on which one scene of a mystery or miracle play was performed. were elected by the entire student body. ``It's an elected position, the whole school votes. The reason why I'm here is because other people know that my life is about obeying my Christian faith - and I live by that,'' he said. Fred Tonsing, professor of religion and Greek, said that the ceremony originally got its start 37 years ago with the assistance of Dean Rudy Edmounds and has been a university tradition ever since. For the past 13 years, Tonsing has headed the festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. , which draw on his ample knowledge of Swedish religion and traditions. ``As a small child, I grew up with the customs in central Kansas, and I'm more than a little familiar with the traditions and the culture because of the large Scandinavian population,'' he said. To Tonsing, the festival signifies the beginning of the season, and provides a brief moment for people to ponder morality and goodness. ``This is the inauguration INAUGURATION. This word was applied by the Romans to the ceremony of dedicating some temple, or raising some man to the priesthood, after the augurs had been consulted. It was afterwards applied to the installation (q.v. of the season. A happy, yet formal event that makes people have to think very carefully about these virtues of the Christians as described in the Jesus sermon on the mount Sermon on the Mount Biblical collection of religious teachings and ethical sayings attributed to Jesus, as reported in the Gospel of St. Matthew. The sermon was addressed to disciples and a large crowd of listeners to guide them in a life of discipline based on a new law of in Matthew,'' he said. Student Kathy Kreycik brought her young son to the ceremony for a history lesson of sorts. ``I was interested in bringing my youngest son to get a little taste of Christianity from another culture's perspective,'' she said. Daniel Kreycik, 8, beamed with delight, but offered few words. ``It was neat,'' he said. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) Christine Lintvedt, center, portraying the Santa Lucia bride, is crowned with candles on Wednesday at California Lutheran University. (2--Color) Bethany Bryde, 4, listens to the proceedings during the festival. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Special to the Daily News |
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