Saint Lucia’s Day (Luciafest) Holiday Readers Theater Script for Grades 3 to 5

This engaging Readers Theater script for Grades 3–5 brings Saint Lucia’s Day (Luciafest), a Swedish and Scandinavian holiday on December 13, to life, immersing students in its radiant traditions and contrasts with USA Christmas! Through a present-day classroom and flashbacks to the 300s CE and 1300s, kids explore Lucia processions with candle crowns, saffron buns, and star boys, rooted in Saint Lucia’s martyrdom and Swedish heritage. Unlike the USA’s Santa and gift-heavy Christmas, it emphasizes light and hope in winter’s darkness with serene songs and community unity. Perfect for social studies teachers seeking multicultural resources, this activity aligns with CCSS standards, boosting fluency, cultural awareness, and comparative thinking.

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(a single PDF with links to Google Docs/Slides, if print format is preferred you can download from your Google Drive to word/pdf/ppt/etc)

What’s Included

• 12-scene script (Google Doc, ~1750 words, 9 pages, 12 characters)
• Teacher guide with script summary, answer keys, and standards alignment (Google Doc, 6 pages)
• Student worksheet (Google Slides) featuring vocabulary, comprehension, candle crown math, tradition comparison questions, and reflection prompts

Skills Addressed

• Reading fluency and expressive storytelling
• Understanding the cultural and historical significance of Saint Lucia’s Day
• Analyzing characters’ roles in celebrating Luciafest traditions
• Building vocabulary tied to Scandinavian Christian practices and foods
• Encouraging cross-cultural comparison and kind actions

The Worksheet Includes

• Short-Answer: Identify key details and themes from Luciafest’s history and traditions
• Candle Crown Math: Solve problems using candle quantities (e.g., 4 + 2 star boys’ candles)
• Tradition Comparison Questions: Compare Luciafest and USA Christmas in written responses
• Reflection Prompts: Connect Luciafest’s kindness to personal actions
• Vocabulary: Clearly defined terms (e.g., lussekatter, martyr) supported by script quotes
• Themes: Deep exploration of light, hope, and cultural contrasts

Script Summary
This script celebrates Saint Lucia’s Day (Luciafest), a Swedish and Scandinavian holiday on December 13 honoring light in winter’s darkness, explored through a present-day classroom and historical moments for Grades 3–5. Students learn about Lucia processions with candle crowns, saffron buns, and star boys, rooted in Saint Lucia’s 4th-century martyrdom and medieval Swedish traditions. The story begins in a present-day classroom where a teacher and student discuss the holiday’s radiant joy. It flashes back to the 300s CE for Lucia’s kindness and the 1300s for Luciafest’s growth, then highlights modern traditions like community processions and baking lussekatter. Contrasting with USA Christmas’ Santa and gifts, it emphasizes hope and serenity. The script ends with a glowing Luciafest party, inspiring students to share light and kindness.

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