An Oregon tradition since 1956, the Lucia program puts young women with and interest in Nordic heritage in touch with this beloved legend of Scandinavia, while offering them the opportunity to serve their community and receive Scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $1,000. The official Oregon Lucia is crowned each year at NNW’s ScanFair in December. Lucia and her court members appear at various Nordic events during the holiday season and throughout the year.

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The Scandinavian community in Portland has taken great pride in preserving the Lucia tradition since 1956. In the 1970s, Governor Tom McCall proclaimed the Portland Lucia the official Lucia of Oregon. Formerly a program of the Scandinavian Club of Portland, the Lucia program is now sponsored by Nordic Northwest. 

Nordic Northwest accepts Lucia applications from young women with an interest in Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian or Swedish heritage between the ages of 16 and 20 (must be at least a junior in high school, unmarried and a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.).