Roughly 150 visitors to historic Hallstrom House celebrated St. Lucia Day on its official date last Sunday, Dec. 13. The Indian River County Historical Society hosted the festive holiday event, which featured a “Night of Lights” procession of children before the lighting of the outdoor Christmas tree.
In Sweden, the eldest daughter traditionally dresses in a white gown with a red sash and wears a crown of lighted candles to serve her parents a breakfast of sweets and hot coffee. At many town celebrations girls wearing wreaths of candles on their heads walk to their Christmas trees alongside other holiday figures such as gingerbread men. At Hallstrom House five angelic, St. Lucia girls were joined this year by two gingerbread men.
Inside, the graceful two-story brick home was filled with traditional Scandinavian Christmas décor, reflecting the former owner’s Swedish ancestry. Hearts, Julbock (goats), Vikings, atars, tomte (little wooden elves) and Dala horses decorated trees, tables and mantelpieces in every room.
The Historical Society began celebrating St. Lucia Day in 1999, when Ruth Hallstrom, the home’s owner and a founding member of the organization, would invite the public in to explore the house and join her for gingersnaps and punch. She donated the house and all its contents to the IRCHS upon her death.
County Historian Ruth Stanbridge greeted visitors beside a Florida Sand Pine, one of a dozen trees at the Nordic celebration. Looking a bit like Charlie Brown’s crooked tree, it was typical of those used by Florida pioneers.
“Back in the olden days you used whatever you had to put on the tree,” said Stanbridge. “Some people had more than others but most did not have what we all put on our trees today.”
Erika Spalin and Robin Scent grew up in New York where, as members of a Scandinavian club in the Bronx, they learned Swedish folk dancing and participated in all their native celebrations, including St. Lucia Day.
“This is the first time we have actually seen this event here or been inside,” said Scent, who lives in Vero Beach.
“It is so neat to see the horses, the tomte and all the things in the house that remind me of growing up.”
“It is almost like being at my grandmother’s house,” added Spalin, fondly.
This year’s celebration was also a reunion of sorts for approximately 35 visitors of Swedish background who filled the house. Members of the Jelmby/Hjalmeby family, owners of Helmet House Construction, had told many of their Swedish friends about the event and their children participated in the procession as well.
“It is so nice to meet other Swedes and to see a settlement that goes back over a hundred years here,” said Jan Jelmby, referring to the Hallstrom Farmstead. “It is so neat that they were able to arrange this and to bring out so many Swedish people in this town, many who have been living here for a long time.”
“I am so thrilled that the turnout was so wonderful,” said new IRCHS President Carolyn Bayless. “I was afraid with the weather we might not have anyone and to have it be this crowded is just great!”
