One of our most popular holiday items, year after year, is the straw “julbocken” (yule goat.) Not too much of a surprise, considering the Scandinavian heritage of our area. But why? Where did the tradition of a Yule goat come from?
The origins may go back to as far as the times of great Norse gods. Thor’s chariot was pulled by a team of goats, and pre-Christian Yule celebrations often involved the slaughter of a goat. Throughout the ages, goats have served a number of roles: from scaring children and demanding gifts at Christmas, to an invisible presence checking to make sure the Yule preparations were done correctly.
Present-day julbocken are usually ornaments or decorations made of straw, traditionally tied with red ribbon. A popular prank used to be to hide a goat in the home of a house or neighbor, who then would pass it on in the same fashion. Goats were also left on porches, usually with a funny or naughty rhyme. Sometimes they are placed under the tree to guard the gifts.
One tradition that I’ve come to love reading about is the huge julbocken built by the city of Gavle, a seaside city on Sweden’s Eastern side. Starting in 1966, an enormous version has been built in the town square. Approximately every other year, the goat is burned by arsonists. (Starting in 1988 it was possible to place bets in England on when the goat would be burned.) In 1996, webcams were installed and now you can watch the construction of the goat, from anywhere in the world!
For more information about the Gavle goat, check out the Wikipedia article, or visit the official website of the Gavle Goat.
How will the julbocken join your holiday traditions?
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