WCU’s Dept. of Art + Design Presents Glimma | Mörkret (Glimmer in the Darkness) March 3 – April 3
Exhibit Explores the Roots and Continuity of the Swedish Lucia Celebration
From March 3 – April 3, 2026, West Chester University's Department of Art + Design
will present Glimma | Mörkret (Glimmer in the Darkness). The exhibition is FREE and open to the public in the Knauer Art Gallery at West Chester University, Swope Music Building and Performing
Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday,
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact the Department of Art + Design at 610.436.2872
or email artinfo@wcupa.edu. An artist talk and opening reception will take place on Thursday, March 5, at 4 p.m.
An Exploration of Light, Tradition, and Cultural Continuity
A crown of lighted candles, little red elves, goats made of straw — what do these items represent and why are they so important?
Glimma | Mörkret (Glimmer in the Darkness) examines the Swedish Christmas celebration of Saint Lucia, a tradition whose roots stretch back to a fourth-century Sicilian legend and draw from ancient Roman culture, Viking culture, and Catholic observances. Over time, Lucia came to be known as the “bringer of light.”
Lucia celebrations in private households were documented as early as 1764, with the first public Lucia pageant held in 1893. Today, the tradition remains a central part of Swedish cultural life. Newspapers and cultural movements embraced the symbolic white gown, red sash, and crown of candles, and public performances became popular in annual school, church, and social events.
Through artifacts, historical context, and interpretive displays, Glimma |Mörkret explores the implications of cultural reinterpretation. The exhibit invites viewers to reflect on their own traditions through the history of Swedish Lucia and the evolution of a Christmas experience.
The exhibition also traces how Lucia traditions evolved in the United States through several means:
- Seventeenth-century settlers brought homeland traditions of church and family to ensure a good future harvest.
- The 18th century and early 19th century saw an influx of immigrants who brought unique cultural experiences, but also the need to be recognized as Americans, leading to the development of a new Christian experience.
- Social gaps divided families as the desire to assimilate was in conflict with traditions of the older generation.
- Late 20th century shifts in social empathy and awareness led to a rediscovery of traditional values: the elements of pageantry and symbolism that heighten and enhance community.
ART GALLERY LISTINGS INFORMATION
March 3 – April 3
West Chester University's Department of Art + Design Presents
Glimma i Mörkret (Glimmer in the Darkness)
Knauer Art Gallery, West Chester University
Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center
817 S. High Street, West Chester, PA
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 5, 4 p.m.
Admission: FREE and Open to the Public
For more information, call 610.436.2872 or email artinfo@wcupa.edu.