The Lucia Day celebration

Riding on horseback and followed by a train of attendants carrying torches and lanterns, as well as a group of “common folk,” she travelled through the city streets.

Like many other traditions, the celebration of Lucia came from Sweden to Swedish-speaking Finland and Ostrobothnia. Brage’s Lucia in Vasa began in 1936 when Anita Brander rode on horseback through the city with her procession. As far as is known, Brage i Vasa’s first Lucia, Anita Brander, was also the first Lucia in Finland to appear outdoors in public. During the first years, Lucia was chosen from within the association’s own circle; in the 1950s, nominations and voting began to be conducted in cooperation with the newspaper Vasabladet. Lately, Lucia has not been elected by the public but has instead been selected by a jury and most recently by drawing lots.

Brage’s Lucia was previously crowned at Bragegården on the Sunday before the 13th of December and rode on the official Lucia Day with her procession through the city streets to the City Hall, where the tribute ceremonies took place. Surrounded by her attendants, she was honored with speeches, music, and choral singing from the City Hall balcony, after which the audience moved indoors, where ring dancing around the Christmas tree enticed both young and old to take a turn together with Lucia and her attendants. Much remains the same today, even though Lucia and the attendants now carry out their duties all in a single day—featuring the coronation, visits to care homes, and a celebration filled with song, music, and ring dances for both young and old.

Brages Lucia sing at the evening celebration 2024

An important tradition included in the Lucia festivities is the visits to homes for the elderly and other care facilities. Lucia and her attendants, travel around to the different institutions, singing and spreading joy. All work with the Lucia arrangements is done on a voluntary basis, and all events have free admission. Vaasa Brage’s Lucia has spread light and warmth for nearly 90 years, and the hope is that the new generation will continue to take part in Lucia, and let the people of Vaasa and its surroundings enjoy the “light in the dark midwinter times.”

Lucia celebrations outside the Town Hall in 2017.