After the success of “Pugliese Week in Sweden”, as part of the event “Night of Candles: Puglia meets Sweden” conceived and created by Euforica, we enter the second phase with “Swedish Week in Puglia”.
There are only a few days left when preparations are in full swing with the aim, also in this edition, to shed light on the common roots of European culture by creating a direct connection between Puglia AND Sweden through the knowledge and exchange of uses and customs associated with the date December 13th and to the cult of light identified with Saint Lucia Celebrations.
But let’s go into detail Swedish Week in Puglia – Sweden meets Puglia. Since 2009, the Swedish Embassy has brought to Italy one of the most popular and evocative traditions of the Swedish winter calendar: the feast of Saint Lucia. This year the celebrations will take place in Bologna, Rome, Turin, and for the second time in Puglia in the municipalities of Lecce and Galatina, two of the most evocative settings in the region. There will be two shows Chorus Nordiska Musikgymnasiet: inside the Basilica of Santa Croce in Lecce and in the evocative setting of the Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina.
The winter darkness of the evenings of December 12 and 13, in which the dies natalis of the Syracuse martyr is traditionally celebrated, is lit up by the candles of the procession of Saint Lucia, which consists of twelve young people from International Music High School Nordiska Musikgymnasiet in Stockholm who sing traditional Swedish Christmas tunes typical of the celebration of the saint combined with the ancestral tunes of the Salento group Chorus to chorus and a harpist. The initiative is made possible thanks to the valuable contribution of the Swedish Embassy in Italy, AssoSvezia – the Italian-Swedish Chamber of Commerce and important business partners such as IKEA and Ericsson.
They definitely couldn’t be missing from the celebrations this year either Saint Lucia on Locorotondo. This year’s celebrations include a re-introduction of the Triduum of Saint with a ceremony gift of eyes, on Sunday, December 10where they come 13 Silver Masks were delivered to Santa Lucia as an ex-voto and symbol of devotion. In addition to the Solemn Mass of Saint Lucia on December 13 in the Mother Church of San Giorgio Martire from 6:30 p.m. At 8.00 a.m. the celebration of morning holy mass in honor of St.
Always December 13th Third will be in the mother church of San Lorenzo, from 18:00, Solemn Holy Mass with the celebration of Saint Lucia. The concert will follow LaterChorus Civic Choir – Laterza directed by Maestro Vincenzo Perrone, at 19:30, with a suggestive atmosphere created by candlelight for the event “Santa Lucia, between music and lights”
Undoubtedly, it deserves a separate chapter”The Blind & Light Experiences – Between Dinners in the Dark and guided tours by Candlelight”. The light of (electric) candles will also be an accompanying element of the guided tour “Giuseppe De Nittis” art gallery in Barletta created in collaboration with the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired ONLUS – APS Puglia Regional Council and Municipality of Barletta.
The second experience of this kind in Apulia, after the one carried out in 2022 at the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MARTA), this particular activity aims to raise the awareness of visitors about the issues of universal accessibility and energy saving among the treasures and wonders of one of the most important museums in Apulia and which exhibits some of the most interesting works of the impressionist painter Giuseppe De Nittis.
The Blind Dinner created in collaboration withTalenti del Gusto will allow participants to live a sensory experience completely immersed in darkness, whose true protagonists will be culinary traditions and the rediscovery of the senses of taste, hearing, and touch.
But a candle cannot be missing on the Night a view of art, including exhibition itineraries and creative workshops. Two events characterize this edition of the exhibition, created thanks to the rare contribution of the “Don Tonino Bello” High School Trikasa Institute: “Discovering Art” and “Looking at Art”.
The December 13th delegation of the Swedish Embassy in Italy with the Nordiska Musikgymnasiet Choir of Stockholm will be guided during the visit to SMART (Student Art Museum) in Poggiardthe world’s first museum created inside a school where you can admire works of art completely created by students.
On the same day, students of the art school “Nino della Notte” in Poggiardo will present a live performance entitled “View of Art” in a traditional context at Santa Lucia Fair in Scorran, the famous city of Apulian lights. 39 high school art students will be chosen in a special competition, the theme of which is eyes, to paint the appearance of the people they meet in the market in the city of Scorrano at the 13 stations of the Santa Lucia Fair.
The Night of Candles, with its rich program, is a candidate to represent one of the most evocative events of the winter in Puglia, celebrating in an innovative way the ancient feast of Saint Lucia and the traditions associated with the date of December 13 in Italy and ‘abroad.
Program of the Swedish Week in Puglia
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 – Lecce
Nordiska Musikgymnasiet concert in Stockholm
Swedish Choir of Saint Lucia
Basilica of Santa Croce, 8 p.m
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Poggiardo
Discovering art – Discovering art
Guided tour of the Santa Lucia Swedish Choir and diplomatic staff of the Swedish Embassy in Italy at SMART (Students’ Museum of Art) in Poggiardo
ZUÃ…Â “Nino della Notte”, 11:30 a.m
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Scorrano
A view of art – Performing Arts
Live performance by the students of the “Nino della Notte” High School of Art in Poggiardo as part of the Santa Lucia Fair in Scorrano
Marketplace, 10.00 a.m
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Locorotondo
Saint Lucy’s Day
Celebrating the morning mass of St. Lucia in Matica of the church, 8:00 a.m
Saint Lucia Solemn Blessing of the Candles
Solemn celebration of the Mass of Saint Lucia
Mother Church, 6:30 p.m
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Laterza
Santa Lucia, between music and lights
Holy Mass in honor of St. Lucy, 6:00 p.m
Concert of the LaterChorus Civic Choir from Laterza directed by Maestro Vincenzo Perron
Mother Church of San Lorenzo, 7:30 p.m
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Galatina
Nordiska Musikgymnasiet concert in Stockholm
Swedish Choir of Saint Lucia
Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, 8:30 p.m
Friday, December 15, 2023 – Barletta
Discovering the Darkness – Discovering the Darkness
Guided tour of the “Giuseppe De Nittis” art gallery in Barletta by candlelight
Palazzo Marra, 5:30 p.m
Saturday, December 16, 2023 – Fasano
Blind Dinner – Tasting in the dark
Dinner in the dark to rediscover the flavors of typical Apulian and Swedish cuisine
Masseria Pedali – Fasano Zoosafari, 20:30
