Written by Andrea
December 15, 2008
On Saturday, December 13th, a typically Washingtonian crowd of culturally adept and internationally-oriented guests descended on the Embassy of Sweden on the Georgetown waterfront to celebrate the Feast of Saint Lucia Ball.
The gala evening's main event, the Saint Lucia procession, featured a dozen young women wearing white gowns tied with loose sashes, each holding a candle and one, the designated Santa Lucia, with a candle-adorned crown. Guests watched in silence as the group proceeded up the Embassy's garland-touched staircase, where it paused to sing first the Santa Lucia song and then traditional Christmas carols, before continuing to the main floor of the Embassy. This feast day, celebrated in much of Scandinavia, commemorates the light with which a young Saint Lucia overcomes the darkness.
For their own part, attendees had no trouble overcoming the December darkness and cold in radiant ball gowns and dapper tuxes in festive reds, golds, greens and shimmering shades of metallic. After warming up with some mulled wine, the more Scandinavian at heart ventured to the rooftop for a sparkling view of the emblematic Georgetown skyline, featuring Rossyln and the Kennedy Center.
To fuel their dancing to the live music, guests enjoyed holiday cocktails and feasted on Swedish meatballs, cocktail shrimp, fresh salads, meats, breads, cheeses, fruit and some decadent Swedish chocolates. While there were many regulars of the House of Sweden at the ball, the event also won several new converts to the venues events. We will all be looking forward to the Embassy's cultural attaches next After Dark program in the new year.
The gala evening's main event, the Saint Lucia procession, featured a dozen young women wearing white gowns tied with loose sashes, each holding a candle and one, the designated Santa Lucia, with a candle-adorned crown. Guests watched in silence as the group proceeded up the Embassy's garland-touched staircase, where it paused to sing first the Santa Lucia song and then traditional Christmas carols, before continuing to the main floor of the Embassy. This feast day, celebrated in much of Scandinavia, commemorates the light with which a young Saint Lucia overcomes the darkness.
For their own part, attendees had no trouble overcoming the December darkness and cold in radiant ball gowns and dapper tuxes in festive reds, golds, greens and shimmering shades of metallic. After warming up with some mulled wine, the more Scandinavian at heart ventured to the rooftop for a sparkling view of the emblematic Georgetown skyline, featuring Rossyln and the Kennedy Center.
To fuel their dancing to the live music, guests enjoyed holiday cocktails and feasted on Swedish meatballs, cocktail shrimp, fresh salads, meats, breads, cheeses, fruit and some decadent Swedish chocolates. While there were many regulars of the House of Sweden at the ball, the event also won several new converts to the venues events. We will all be looking forward to the Embassy's cultural attaches next After Dark program in the new year.
Spotlight Type: