The local Nordic community, through the Astoria Scandinavian Festival Association, marks the start of the jul (Christmas) season with a traditional Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) procession on the Friday following American Thanksgiving. Young women, girls, and boys process with candles and stars to symbolize light overcoming darkness. In addition to singing carols and enjoying traditional dances by our local Viking and Nordic Dancers, there is live music and dancing for friends and family around the Christmas tree after the evening program.

Lucia celebrations will be on Friday 22November 2024 See our Local Nordic Events page for more details.

Our four local Nordic lodges (Danes, Finns, Norwegians, and Swedes) provide and serve light snacks such as cookies or cake and beverages to event attendees every year, with the host lodge rotating through each of the lodges. The Danes will next be hosting Lucia in November 2027.