Julbok: The Yule Goat
Correction Notice: In the previous article The History and Traditions of the Twelve Days of Christmas and Twelfth Night, I mentioned the Scandinavian tradition of Yule starting from the winter solstice until the first full moon after solstice, “often lasting 12 days”. If you know anything about the lunar cycle, the dates of the full moon are variable and would only be exactly 12 days from the winter solstice every nine or so years. The article has been updated to reflect this and I’d like to thank my friend who pointed out the mistake. I appreciate advice, suggestions and input about any errors or areas for improvement so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you notice anything. Please also let me know about your own experiences and traditions with seasonal celebrations, I love learning about other people and cultures, traditions and recipes.
PS: Interestingly, the 9-year cycle was important for the old Norse religion in which large communal gathering were held every nine years and nine animals of every species including humans were sacrificed, and sometimes hung in the branches of a sacred grove or thrown into large purpose-built wells. Not my cup of tea, but there are plenty of other Nordic traditions that I enjoy, particularly at this time of year.
In this article, we explore the history and traditions of the Julbok, the Yule goat. It is a charming tradition, and I did plan to make my own Julbok this year for Yule, but time got the better of me. There is always next year and for those reading from the northern hemisphere, there is still time yet to prepare for Yule/Christmas. In the meantime, Glaedelig Yule from the southern hemisphere!
The Scandinavian tradition of the Julbok, also known as the Yule Goat, has its origins in ancient pagan beliefs and customs. The Julbok was originally associated with the Norse god Thor and his goats, Tanngrisnir (Toothgrinder) and Tanngnjóstr (Toothgnasher), who pulled his chariot through the sky. These goats were said to have the magical ability to be slaughtered and then brought back to life the next day.
They are famously depicted in Marvel’s Thor Comic Book series and most recently in the movie based on these comics, Thor: God of Love and Thunder, as explained in the video (3:37 mins) below.
In old Norse farming communities, the last sheaf of harvested grain was kept aside for Yule celebrations, as it was believed to have magical properties, bringing abundance, fertility, and good fortune, and warding off evil spirits. This sheaf of grain was called Julbok, or Julebokken and was fashioned into the shape of a male goat often adorned with ribbons, bells, and other decorations.
It was a common practice (and still is in some regions) for neighbours to prank each other by sneaking a Julbok into each other’s houses or sneaking the gifted one back without anyone noticing. From around the 17th century, in a tradition similar to the English mumming, guising, or wassailing, young men in costumes would go from door to door singing songs, acting out plays and performing pranks. One person in the group would dress as the Julbok and acted particularly rowdy, demanding gifts and capering about.
A similar tradition occurred in Eastern Europe, where the ancient proto-Slavic people honoured the god Devac (also known as Dazbog or Dažbog) during the Koliada (Yule) festival. Devac was the god of the fertile sun and the harvest, represented by a white goat. A person dressed as a white goat demanding offerings was a key feature of the Koliada.
The figure of the Julbok as the demander of gifts shifted in the 19th century when the Julbok became the Christmas gift-giver. It became a popular tradition for one of the male family members to dress up as the Julbok and give out gifts to the other members of the family. Not long after this, and probably related to the spread of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus traditions from other parts of Europe, the Julbok was replaced by the jultomte or julenisse, (or the Finnish joulupukki), about which we will learn more in a future article, closer to the Christmas season.
In 1966, the Swedish town of Gävle erected a large Julbok in the town square as advertisement for the town. It was first constructed by the Gävle fire department, and then a group of businessmen known as the Southern Merchants (Söders Köpmän) financed the annual construction of the Gävle Goat. A second goat was erected by the Natural Science Club in 1971, and both organisations have competed against each other for the title of the largest (and handsomest) goat. Unfortunately, most of the Gävle Goats that have been built since 1966, have been damaged or completely destroyed by arsonists, despite concerted efforts to protect the goats, including security cameras, guards, and fire-proofing.
This lovely video (4:38 mins) by Swedish vlogger Juni Maria describes the tradition of the Julbok.
Today, the Julbok continues to be an important part of Scandinavian Christmas traditions. It serves as a reminder of the ancient pagan roots of the holiday season and is cherished as a symbol of prosperity, good fortune, and the enduring spirit of Yule.
On the weekend, I celebrated Yule with a big party. It was a fun and magical event full of delicious food, a warm atmosphere and wonderful friends and neighbours. Photos and more details will be posted on Facebook and Instagram today or tomorrow so stay tuned.
Do any of you readers in the southern hemisphere celebrate Yule, or the winter solstice? I would love to hear about your cherished traditions and recipes.
In the next article, we explore the Icelandic folklore and traditions of the Yule beasts: Gryla the giant Yule troll, her thirteen mischievous sons called the Yule Lads, and her vicious giant Yule cat. Until then, Glaedilig Jul!