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Traditional Saint Lucia Celebration held in Swedesburg
This year’s celebration featured Josie Settles as Saint Lucia, Tatum Woepking as Junior Lucia and Alexandra Bergmann and Asher Woepking as Star Children.
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
SWEDESBURG — The Swedish American Museum and Historical Society of Swedesburg hosted the annual Saint Lucia celebration on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church Parish Hall honoring Josie Settles as the 2024 Saint Lucia.
Josie’s older sister Jema Settles, 2023 Saint Lucia, crowned her as this year’s Saint Lucia Celebration.
Josie resides in Pella and is a junior at Pella High School. She formerly resided in Mt. Pleasant resident. She is active in cross-country, track and field, choir, marching band and concert band. She has been active with the Log Village of Midwest Old Threshers for over 10 years. She serves in the children’s ministry with her church and enjoys participating in Bible studies.
Since she was a little girl, Josie has dedicated countless hours to the museum, inspired by her family’s commitment to preserving Swedish heritage. Josie’s passion for her roots and her admiration for her family’s hard work make her a wonderful choice to carry on the Saint Lucia tradition.
Josie is the daughter of Joanna, 1989 Saint Lucia, and Jess Settles. She is the granddaughter of Swedish American Museum and Historical Society Museum Director Trish and Warren Woepking and Mary and Steve Settles. Josie’s great grandmother was the late Louise Unkrich, the founding museum director, who served in this role until she passed away earlier this year.
The evening officially began with Museum board of directors President Ralph Sandeen offering a prayer of thanks. A potluck meal was shared as part of the holiday evening event. Behind the scenes, 1995 Saint Lucia and cochair of the Saint Lucia Committee Megan Wenstrand Jacobson was responsible for preparing the procession.
Following the meal, 1990 Saint Lucia Karla Crawford Kerr welcomed all and asked Jema Settles to introduce and offer background on her sister, the newly crowned Saint Lucia Josie. Jemma is the social media, marketing and communications manager for the museum, a graduate of Pella Christian High School and student at Liberty University. During the celebration, Jema also read Bible verses and related Lucia’s martyrdom to the Bible.
Karla then read the story of Saint Lucia by candlelight. The historical account was written by the late Jane Wickham.
The Sankta Lucia, Saint Lucia or Lucia celebration traditionally begins with the Christmas season on Dec. 13 and continues until Jan. 13. Saint Lucia, who died as a martyr in the fourth century for her Christian beliefs, is credited with bringing light into a darkened world. Her message of hope and the light to come has long been uplifting in the dark Swedish winters and continues to be celebrated today.
The charming Saint Lucia song rang out as Josie, dressed in a red-sashed white robe with the traditional crown of candles on her head, served homemade Swedish Saffron Buns “Lussekatter” to the guests. Her procession included the first ever junior Saint Lucia Tatum Woepking. Josie and Tatum were followed by star children Alexandra (Ali) Bergmann and Asher Woepking.
Tatum, a seventh-grader, and Asher, a kindergartner, both attend Columbus Junction Community Schools. Their parents are Danielle and Jason Woepking, grandparents are Trish and Warren Woepking and Janine and Matt Clark.
Alexandra (Ali) is the daughter of Megan and Beau Bergmann. She attends the Mt. Pleasant Christian School and is in third grade. She is the granddaughter of Dr. Mary Wettach and the late Dr. Steven Wettach and Rhonda and Ken Bergmann.
All attendees enjoyed a duet by Josie and Jema of, “Mary, Did You Know?” and were then invited to sing along with traditional Swedish music, Christmas hymns and carols. Josie and Jema led the music portion with Trevor Veenstra of Pella, a graduate of Pella Christian High School and student at Liberty University, and were accompanied by accomplished pianist Ann Bosold of Fairfield.
The program concluded with a prayer by Pastor Mark Youngquist of the Swedesburg Lutheran Evangelical Church. Former Saint Lucias gathered for a photo with Josie including Josie’s mother Joanna (Woepking) Settles (1989), Karla Crawford Kerr (1990), Karisa Overton (2019), Annika Kerr (2022) and Josie’s sister Jema Settles (2023). Also in attendance were Megan Wenstrand Jacobson (1995) and Kennedy Woepking (2021).
For anyone interested in visiting the museum and gift shop, becoming a member, making a donation or for more information please see: https://www.facebook.com/SwedesburgSwedishAmericanMuseum/ or call 319-254-2317. Email: swedish@iowatelecom.net. The museum is located at 107 James Avenue, Swedesburg.
