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A
Swedish Christmas In Toronto
Harbourfront
Centre Serves Up A Unique Holiday Event.
The
Swedish Women's Education Association is celebrating its 20th Annual
Christmas Fair at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. The cultural event
will take place November 24th and 25th at the city's waterfront pavilion.
There will be exhibits and merchant booths where traditional Swedish
vendors will sell unique homemade crafts and decorations (no plastic
here), handmade candles, and Swedish handblown glass. Also for sale
will be "Glögg" or mulled wine, gingerbread men, homemade
pastries and cookies as well as lots of other types of Swedish foods,
including traditional open faced sandwiches served up at Harbourfront's
waterfront restaurant.
On the live performance stage, at 1:00 and 3:00 on both days, folk dancers
in colorful costumes will perform along with a Lucia Pageant, which
is a procession lead by "Lucia" (also known as Saint Lucia
the Sicilian Saint). In this beautiful procession, Lucia, represented
by a woman, is dressed in a long white robe, a red satin sach and adorns
candles in her hair.
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Santa
Lucia is a celebration that takes place evey Dec. 13th in Sweden.
The Swedish people are mostly Lutheran, but they celebrate in honor
of Saint Lucia, who is a Sicilian Saint. One legend has it that Lucia
was burned at the stakes for her belief in Christ. The flames went
around her body and continued at the top of her head.
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She
leads a choir in an angelic singing procession. The attendants in the
procession or pageant, are also dressed in white with glitter around
their waists and in their hair, and carry candles in their hands. At
the end of the procession appear the Star boys and Santa's little helpers.
Together, they all sing traditional Swedish Christmas carols and hymns.
Children
will also be able to join in on the fun at the Children's Corner where
they will be able to make and decorate their own gingerbread men and
different Christmas decorations.
Featured at the Fair will be the quilting artistry of Swedish artists
in the form of demonstrations and exhibits.
So
if you happen to be in Toronto on November 24th or 25th, or live in Toronto,
here is your opportunity to head down to the waterfront and take part
in a unique holiday experience.
All events take place in and around York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay
West. For more information, contact Harbourfront Centre at info@harbourfront.on.ca.
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