Male Lucias cause ruckus in Swede schools

Some celebrations honoring Saint Lucy have raised controversy in Swedish schools where male students lobbied to play the female character.

During Sweden’s Lucia celebrations, a child — traditionally a girl — wears a white robe and a crown of candles on her head to symbolize the saint, but some schools faced public outcries when students chose male students to portray Lucia, The Local reported Friday.

Students at the Lillerud high school in the city of Karlstad nominated a male student to play Lucia after the student council lobbied heavily on the issue, calling it a matter of equality. However, the male Lucia took his name out of consideration after harassing e-mails and Internet posts.

Meanwhile, a school in the south central city of Motala voted for male student Freddy Karlberg to portray Lucia during the festivities, but school principal Birgitta Wessman intervened and gave the role to the girl who came in second in the voting.

However, a Jopnkoping, Sweden, student said he was successful in his quest to become a male Lucia, with only one catch — he will be accompanied by a female Lucia.