The Swedish goat, or Julbock, is a very traditional Christmas decoration. Traditionally, they are made of straw; however, today you will see varying forms of the julbock, such as the one we had by our Christmas tree from Ikea.
There is even a famously gigantic Julbock made of straw that has been built in a town called Gavle every year since 1966, which measures 13 meters tall (43 feet). Typically, it doesn't make it to Christmas as it is a Swedish tradition to try it and burn it down, even though it is illegal. However, this year, the goat made it through Christmas, a fate that hasn't happened in a long time!
There is a long history behind the Julbock as its origin dates back to before Christianity in Scandinavia, from the worship of the Norse God Thor and his two goats, Tanngnjost och Tanngrisner, that pulled his flying chariot.
Later, the Julbock was depicted as a humanoid goat figure with horns and hooves, said to represent the devil, ensuring that people deserved their presents. This version of the julbock was altered into a scary prankster who caused trouble and demanded gifts.
For a long while the Julbock, not Santa, was the one who would deliver and hand out the Christmas presents.
Just as someone in Swedish families dress up as Santa to give out the gifts to the children nowadays, the same was done back then. Dressing up as the Julbock for Christmas also included singing, acting, and pranks while wearing something like this:
During the 1800’s, people would throw the straw made Julbock back and forth, yelling “Take the Christmas goat!” The straw goat was also passed between neighbors, hiding it in each others house without it being noticed, in an effort to get the Julbock out of their own house. Today, as a prank, Swedes often hide Julbocks in their neighbors houses. When the pranked family discovered it, it is their task to hide it another neighbor's house.
Advent chimes
Since it is so dark in Sweden, part of the Christmas tradition involves candles as they bring both warmth and light, and part of that tradition involves advent chimes. The heat from the four small candles moves the cherubs around in a circle, chiming and producing a lovely little background melody for your festivities.
Advent stars
These stars, usually made from paper or metal, are hung throughout cities as well as in the windows of many homes. The star is meant to represent the Star of Bethlehem, and is lit up on the first Sunday of Advent.
Swedish Santa: Tomte
The traditional Santa that we are familiar with in America is not a typical tradition in Sweden. Instead, they have Tomte. Originally, Tomte (sometimes called Nisse)t played a role more similar to a “house gnome.” The tomten would secretly live in, or under, a house and protect the children and animals from evil or misfortune. Sometimes a tomten would even help with chores or farm work. Despite being tiny, they were also known to have a temper, playing tricks or killing livestock if offended by rudeness.
It was around the 1840’s t tomten became Jultomten, or “Christmas tomten,” and started to play the role of Santa after being depicted as wearing a red cap and having a white beard. The tomten even started delivering Christmas gifts.When a tomten delivers Christmas gifts, he doesn’t use the chimney, but comes straight through the front door. This coincides with the Swedish tradition of many households having their very own Santa simply walk in and hand out presents.
Jultomtens don’t live in the North Pole, like Santa, or in peoples houses, like traditional tomtens, but is believed to instead live in nearby forests. Much like leaving Santa cookies and milk, tomten likes porridge, or rather requires it. If not gifted with porridge, tomten would stop helping and leave the house or, even worse, cause mischief.
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