"Feasts and Festivals" book release

A joint publication of East Hall Press and the Augustana Historical Society, "Feasts and Festivals: The Story of Winter Traditions at Augustana College" will be released to the public just in time for the holiday season!

Meet some of the folks involved in the book, pick up a copy of the book and enjoy a reception.

"Feasts and Festivals" immerses the reader into a small college's cultural traditions, some of which are rooted in its Swedish American past, like Sankta Lucia and the Christmas Smörgåsbord, and others of which came to campus as the student body grew more diverse, like Kwanzaa, Día De La Virgen and the Lunar New Year. Through short histories, archival photos and poems, this collection explores how students, faculty and staff worked to create community during the Midwest’s coldest months.

Many of the entries were composed by students in an oral history course at Augustana, while the book design was completed by students in a book publishing course. The book also features winter poetry by legendary English professor Dr. Dorothy Parkander.