Close out the Holiday Season with The Scandinavian Women's Choir!
We hope your December was filled with warmth and light!
SWC performed with the Bethany Lutheran Choir on December 16th as part of their beautiful annual Christmas program. In January, we’ll be holding our own holiday program, and hope you will join us.
Join us for Swedish Christmas Traditions through Song and Tale, Advent through Knut’s day. The program will be narrated as the chorus takes the audience through the Swedish holiday calendar.
Where: Bethany Lutheran Church, 116 Rolfe Street, Cranston, RI, 02920
When: January 13, 2013
Time: 2:00pm
Admission: $5.00
Refreshments to follow!
In Sweden, the Christmas season doesn’t end until January 13th, Saint Knut’s Day. Canute IV of Denmark, who is partially associated with the holiday, was a Danish king who was largely responsible for establishing Christianity in Denmark. However, the holiday is more closely linked to the story and legends around Canute Lavard, a Danish nobleman, who was likely murdered for his ambitions toward the crown. His canonization was requested for the miraculous events that occurred (allegedly) around the tombs of both men.
As to why Sweden, a protestant country, celebrates a Catholic (and Danish!) saint, well, that’s up to debate. It could simply be a holdover from when the country was Catholic, before Gustav Vasa made Sweden a Lutheran country. January 13th is also the name day for Knut—which came first is a mystery. Some also say that the Swedes thought the season was simply too short, and therefore extended it to St. Knut’s day rather arbitrarily. Much like Saint Lucia’s day, the celebration of these saints may be rooted less in religious observation, and more in celebration of life and living.
We hope you can come celebrate with us!
