Last Sunday, members of St. Ansgar Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portland held its annual Festival of St. Lucia. According to the old Julian calendar, Dec. 13 was considered to be the

longest night of the year, and that’s when the people

of Sweden celebrate the Festival of St. Lucia. Lucia was a Christian who served the poor. Christian legend has it

that Lucia was betrayed by the Romans. Later, Vikings, impressed by her faith, are said to have brought her legend

to Scandinavia from Italy. Among participants in the festivites were, from left, Jacob Loranger, Portland; Mara McDonough, Scarborough; Taylor Whitcomb, Gorham; Kristina Birthisel, Cumberland, who was crowned this year’s St. Lucia; Ayantu Regassa, Westbrook; Brickley Littell and Nathan Loranger, Portland.

From left, Jacob Loranger (Portland), Mara McDonough (Scarborough), Taylor Whitcomb (Gorham), Lucia-Kristina Birthisel (Cumberland), Ayantu Regassa (Westbrook), Brickley Littell (Portland), Nathan Loranger (Portland)