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Lucia Day Celebration
The Vaasa Brage Lucia tradition is one of the
oldest ones in the country. 
As early as 1936 the then
15-year-old Anita Brander was crowned the first Lucia of
Brage.
Riding on horseback and with a train of attendants carrying torches and lanterns, as well as a group of "country people", she travelled through the town streets. This ceremony, the way it was planned over 60 years ago, has not changed much over the years and is as popular today as it was then. As far as we know, the Brage Lucia Anita Brander was the first Lucia in Finland to act officially outdoors.
During the first years the Lucia was
selected from the circle of Brage itself, but since the
1950s nominations and voting is done through co-operation
with the local newspaper Vasabladet.
The Brage Lucia is usually crowned
at the Museum on the Sunday before 13 December, but on
the official Lucia Day she rides with her train through
the town streets to the Town Hall, where the welcoming
ceremonies take place. Surrounded by her followers she is
greeted through speech, music and choir song from the
balcony of the Town Hall, after which the audience moves
on inside where young as well as old are tempted to have
a dance round the Christmas Tree with Lucia and her
maids. All the work with the Lucia arrangements is done
on a voluntary basis and entry is free to all the entertainments.
One important part of the Lucia celebrations is the traditional visits to hospitals and old people's homes. A whole day Lucia and her maids, assisted by the Brage choir, travel around to the different institutions.
The Vaasa Brage Lucia has spread
light and warmth around her for nearly 70 years, and
hopefully also the new generation will be as persevering
as the old one and will with all its power contribute to
bringing people in Vaasa and surroundings still many
years to come enjoyment in the light that appears when it
"the years midnight is".
Also take a look at our photo cavalcade from earlier years