YASS
Celebrating Scandinavian culture, language, and traditions
through social events, learning, and activities
Sankta Lucia at York Minster
15th of December 2025
The highlight of the YASS year is surely the annual Sankta Lucia celebration, which is held at York Minster and involves a candlelit procession, carols and traditional Swedish songs sung by a visiting choir.
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In 2024 this choir was Chorus Pictor Choir & Friends from Stockholm and in 2025 we welcome back the London Nordic Choir.
The event is always very popular and regularly attracts over 1400 visitors from both York and much further afield, including national and international visitors. For further details see our events. ​
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Members of YASS have access to reserved seats close to front, with an excellent view of the choir.
A collection made at the service is split between York Minster and the York Anglo-Scandinavian Society, with YASS making a donation from this towards the CoScan Travel Award.
Photograph: Caroline Key 2024
The service is streamed live via the York Minster YouTube channel and we are very grateful to the Dean and Chapter of York Minster for making it possible for everyone to enjoy the event in this way.
The Sankta Lucia service in York Minster begins and ends with prayers, hymns and readings. At the centre of the service is the Choir, led by the chorister representing Lucia. The Choir procession moves from the West End of the Minster to the Nave Sanctuary. By candlelight, the Lucia song and other traditional songs are sung in Swedish. A video of the 2024 service and a description of the event are provided below:
There are several versions of the Sankta Lucia song but the most commonly sung today are:
Sankta Lucia, ljusklara hägring
Sung by the Adolf Fredrik Church Chamber Choir
Natten går tunga fjät
Från Oskar Frediks kyrke i Göteborg
For Press and Media attendance at Sankta Lucia in York Minster please contact the York Minster Media Centre.
The Sankta Lucia service is a partnership between the York Anglo-Scandinavian Society and York Minster. We gratefully acknowledge the support of this year's partners, whose contributions help make the night possible. If you would like to become involved in sponsoring next year's Sankta Lucia then please see the details on the partnership opportunities page or by downloading the partnership booklet.
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