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 Applications for the Swedish Club of Houston's 2010 Lucia are now being accepted. Our 2010 Lucia will be presented at the Swedish Christmas Traditions and Lucia Procession.
Candidates must be young women between the ages of 16 and 24, and they must be members of the Club. In addition, they must be able to attend the Swedish Christmas Traditions program, and they must also be able to represent the Club at the Texas Day celebration in Barkeryd, Sweden on Sunday, August 7, 2011. Round-trip airfare for our 2010 Lucia will be provided from Houston to Sweden.
As ambassador of the Swedish Club of Houston, our Lucia will be in a parade and send greetings to the people of Barkeryd on behalf of the Club. Finally, on her return to Houston, our Lucia must write an article for publication in The Swedish Club News about her adventures in Sweden.
The Lucia program has provided a wonderful way to travel and learn about our Swedish ancestry and our Texas connection with Barkeryd, Sweden since 1987. Round-trip airfare from the USA to Sweden has been provided for our Lucia by SAS Scandinavian Airlines from 1989 to 2008 and by Continental Airlines since 2009. |
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The Swedish Club of Houston has been represented by the following Lucia's: |
1987: Barbara Wueggertz
1988: Katheryn De Witt
1989: Emily Dryselius
1990: Deserie Gay
1991: Jennifer Olson
1992: Amy Accord
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1993: Rebecca Cadwallader
1994: Betsy Philen
1995: Elizabeth Webb
1996: Veronica Llanos
1997: Kelley Mauritzson
1998: Kristin Klatt
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1999: Karolina Melrose
2000: Katie Armstrong
2001: Allana Clarke
2002: Cathy St. Clair
2003: Sjerrie Colburn
2004: Frida Sellman
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2005: Maren Britt Stavinoha
2006: Morgan Leigh Halvorsen
2007: Jenny Panahi
2008: Eden Shapiro
2009: Athena Flusche
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Application for Lucia Candidates, Lucia Attendants, and Star Boys |
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- Name: ______________________
- Address: ____________________
- Telephone: ( ___ ) _____________
- Date of Birth: _________________
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For Lucia applicants only: In addition to the above, all Lucia applicants must also:
- write an essay describing their Swedish heritage, special interests and why they want to represent SCH in Sweden, and
- include a current photograph with their application.
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Applications must be postmarked by September 24, 2010 to: - The Swedish Club of Houston
- c/o Margaret St. Clair
- 13831 Queensbury
- Houston, Texas 77079
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Why is Barkeryd, Sweden important to Texans? |
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Barkeryd, Sweden is a small parish near Nässjö in Småland. The church is a beautiful rose color and can hold as many as 450 people. This small parish had half of the population emigrate to Texas between 1836 and 1927. The conditions were bad and the opportunity of settling in America was given to the people of Barkeryd. Around 1867 many young people left Barkeryd and S.M. Swenson and Svante Palm paid for their passage to come to work for them in Texas. Texas was a new place where workers were needed to help on the farms. The immigrants worked off their passage in about 2 years. After the debt was paid off they were free to live and work for themselves.
In honor of the large number of immigrants to Texas from Barkeryd, the people of Barkeryd were proclaimed honorary citizens of Texas on May 27, 1975 by Gov. Dolph Briscoe.
There are many Swedish communities around Central Texas which were settled by the Barkeryd immigrants. Some of them are New Sweden, Hutto, Lund, Austin, Manor, Govalle, Palm Valley, Round Rock, Georgetown and many more. The Swedish settlers made a real mark in Texas' history; many important people were of Swedish decent. Today you can travel in Central Texas and see the many beautiful churches and landmarks that Swedes helped make. Be proud of your Swedish heritage. Travel to Sweden and find out where your roots came from! |
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Lucia
