Welcome!

We are the Lucia Fest children’s choir that performs at Dania Home, the Danish Lutheran Church, and the Scandinavian Cultural Centre in Burnaby BC.

We sing in Danish and in English, but we welcome anyone aged 4-15 who wants to join (you don’t need to speak Danish or be Scandinavian).

This site is to keep current participants up to date, as well as to provide info for new folks on how to get involved.

We are currently seeking help for several volunteer positions for Lucia 2026. Please contact us to learn more:

  • choir director (conduct the choir, make staging and program decisions, etc.)
  • program coordinator (make arrangements behind the scenes, liaise with facilities, etc.)

About Lucia

The Lucia tradition is based on the story of a young Italian woman who was a devout Christian in the 4th Century CE. Practicing Christianity was forbidden in the Roman Empire at that time. Lucia was generous and helpful to Christians who were in hiding from the Roman authorities. It is said that Lucia, in order to keep her hands free for handing out food and clothing, lit her way wearing candles in a wreath on her head. Lucia was sainted by the Catholic Church for her generosity toward the poor, hungry and sick, and because she wouldn’t give up her Christian faith. The red ribbon the Lucia bride wears symbolizes martyrdom.

No one is entirely sure how the legend of St. Lucia reached Scandinavia, but it is likely that tales of Lucia were carried to Sweden by Vikings and early missionaries. In communities across Scandinavia, children dressed in white and led by a Lucia “bride” gather in processionals, visiting hospitals and seniors’ homes where they sing and bring homemade foods to “light” the lives of others. The name “Lucia” means “light.” In these short, dark days of December, the traditions of Lucia make it an uplifting festival of illumination and generosity.

Your Choir Directors

Alison and Andrea Wardrop (sisters) both participated in the Lucia choir from the ages of about 4 to 16. They come from a musical family but are not choir directors by trade, and are not fluent Danish speakers! However, they are spirited and up for a challenge, which has resulted in them serving as volunteer choir directors for the Lucia choir since 2014 (with a brief hiatus in 2024).

Contact

Interested in joining? Contact us here.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

2025 Program Information

We are tentatively planning to perform at Dania Home on Sunday November 30 (this performance is for Dania Home residents and guests only, though parents of young participants are encouraged to attend and help with costume changes, etc.). 

Our performance at the Danish Lutheran Church usually takes place on the first Saturday in December, and is booked for the evening of Saturday December 6. For more information on this performance, check out the church website.

We usually perform at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre on the second Friday in December, and we are accordingly booked for the evening of Friday December 12. For more information on this performance, check out the Scandinavian Cultural Centre Events Calendar.