Danish club celebrates tradition of St. Lucia

Bay Ridge’s Danish Athletic Club celebrated an age-old Scandinavian tradition on Sunday, December 14 by reenacting the traditional story of Saint Lucia, an annual custom the club—part of the Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights community for the past 122 years—always keeps.

The ritual reenactment – held on one of the shortest days of the year — involves the family’s oldest daughter getting up early in the morning, and donning a long white gown, a red sash, and a wreath on her head with candles. She then carries a tray with coffee and buns from house to house, giving them to people.

Despite ongoing rumors of its closing, the Danish Athletic Club is open and active, recently expanding its restaurant.