Let’s go Julebukking

Imagine that you are living in a different place and time.  Imagine life in a Northern European land, let’s say ten, twelve or fifteen centuries ago.  You worship a powerful and popular god named Thor.  He is red-haired and fiery tempered.  Lightning flashes from his eyes.  In fact, he controls the wind and rain, the thunder and lightning, and the growth of crops.  This dynamic deity rides through the skies in a chariot pulled by two goats.  When they touch down to earth, the soil is scorched and mountains crack. Thor’s goats are magical creatures.  If he is hungry, their master can roast and eat them, then resurrect them with a touch of his hammer mjolnir, which he also uses to kill giants.

You have been taught that time is an ever revolving wheel, and every year  when the wheel (hjol) is at the point where the sun is at its lowest point, a celebration called jol is held.  This is the time when beer brewed earlier must be ready, to drink toasts to Thor and to other gods, for prosperity in the coming year.  This is the festival at which a billy-goat is sacrificed.  Later, during the festivities, the goat comes back to life, just like Thor’s goats.

When the Norwegians adopted Christianity, the goat came to be associated with the devil.  This goat-devil showed up  at celebrations and parties.  Many families of Norwegian origin have stories about dances at which the devil made an appearance.  These anecdotes are either of very old origin, or the custom was carried on in isolated areas long after the medieval church forbade the custom which they  abhorred.

The concept of a festive jul is reflected in Germanic derived words of several languages:  yule and jolly (English), joli (French), giulivo (Italian).  To this day, the winter holiday known as Christmas retains its pre-Christian roots in northern cultures.  The Icelanders still call it jol.  In Norway, Sweden, and Denmark it is called Jul.  Estonians observe joulud, which is similar to the Finnish joulu.  In England, the terms Yule and Yuletide were retained in the Northeast part of the country.  The Shetland Islands of Scotland celebrate the Yules from December 18 to January 18.

The julebukk emerged as a more benign and acceptable character, and so the Norwegians continued to celebrate.

Julebukking consists of dressing in costume and going from house to house,  similar to the custom of trick or treat.  Outlandish disguises are worn, and treats are not given until the identities of the participants are discovered by the house owner.  A goat  head that represents Thor’s carrier,  or an improvised head on a stick, is carried.  Sometimes pantomimes or songs are performed.  Julebukking  was practiced  by  Norwegian immigrants to the US  well into the thirties  or forties.  Among immigrant items donated to the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah, Iowa is a carved wooden julebukk head with cow horns, designed to be stapled to a wraparound garment that disguised the wearer.

Julebukking served to preserve the cohesiveness of the community, much as mumming, masking and wassailing did in England and Ireland.  Greeks and Russians engaged in similar activities.

The demise of julebukking in the US as a social custom can be attributed to many causes.  It is possible that traveling around from house to house by car was not as much fun as riding in a horse drawn conveyance.   Some Yankee citizens living in proximity to Norwegian immigrants were vehemently opposed, and they held the julebukkers up to ridicule.  Editorials in newspapers said julebukking was dangerous, and that citizen who engaged in such a ridiculous practice were unlikely to achieve decent middle class status.  In fact, two julebukkers who scared a little girl to death, literally, were charged with manslaughter.

Julebukking is still practiced in Norway in some areas, but has morphed into a milder celebration.  Children go from house to house and perform music or skits in exchange for treats.  Usually one of the group is dressed like a goat, as in olden times, but the others wear various costumes and masks depicting characters such as witches, wizards, knights, the Christmas nisse, and others.  Adult julebukking is rare but it has not died out.  Adults expect to be treated to aquavit, beer, cognac or coffee. Sometimes entire families go out together, usually on New Year’s Eve.

Although julebukking died out to the degree that it cannot be said to be a living tradition in the US, there has been a recent effort to revive it, especially in areas where there are significant populations of Norwegian descent and interest in Scandinavian folk culture.  A quick internet search reveals that modern day julebukking takes place in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Alaska, and perhaps elsewhere.  In most instances, the custom is so remote that it has to be reinvented.

For those who would like to take part in the tradition of julebukking, the activity can take one of several forms.  In some instance, the julebukkers play the part of pranksters.  In olden times, they would burst into a neighbor’s house and turn furniture upside down.  Nowadays, a julebukker has to make certain that the household he or she visits is either forewarned or familiar with the custom.  Scaring someone to death may have dire consequences.  Families prepared for julebukkers will offer snacks and treats.  It is written that in former times the men might retreat to the cellar with the man of the house and return in a jollier mood.  In another version of julebukking, seasonal Christmas songs are performed in exchange for treats such as hard candy, cookies, nuts, and fruit.  A third reinvention of the custom has costumed julebukkers going around to nursing homes and entertaining the residents.

Would-be julebukkers should keep in mind that the julebukk eventually turns into a devil.