In yet another edition of slightlyterrifying Christmas traditions , it ’s Julebukking – Norway ’s marginally fresh take onKrampus . Sharing roots inNorse mythologyand paganism , both Krampus and Julebukking see a goatly entity visit your house around Christmas , but the two have quite different intent .
Similar to fob - or - treating on Halloween , the act ofJulebukkingsees a group of rogue in fancy - dress costume bend up to your front threshold demanding delicacy – or , in the 20th - century versions , alcohol . Usually occurring between Christmas and New Year ’s , variation of Julebukking from different communities has conduct to some rather different activities .
In some variations , the group would carry a butt head doorway to threshold , some would sing for their confect , and others would disguise their voice and bind around until you guessed who was under the costume . In at least one pas seul of Julebukking , whoever serve the door must rapidly don their own goat - fit and unite the kin group on their adventure .
The meaning of stooge imagery in Julebukking stems from the fabulous NorwegianJulebukk , or “ Yule dollar ” , a small gift - stand fauna that reckon like a laughingstock . The tale of the Julebukk originated in Viking prison term when infidel idolize Thor , whose chariot was pulled by the two goat Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr .
During pagan solemnization , the Julebukk , someone trim in goat peel and gestate a butt headspring , would enter the political party and at some point in the evening pretend to besacrificedand “ die ” , before retrovert back to life-time after Thor resuscitate them .
As Christianity became more prolific across Europe , the Julebukk goat step by step start to take the shape of the hellion and was quickly proscribe by the church . In reply , the somewhat more jovial Julebukking custom was shape .
When Julebukking was insert to the US by Norwegian and German immigrants , it was further influenced by Christianity , with singing in exchange for alcohol becoming the most outstanding form of celebration . The1930s and 1940s , however , saw many communities abandon the alcoholic drink - led festivities due to a apogee of increased mobility , fearfulness of strangers , and decreased access to alcohol due to prohibition .
While the tradition has mostly disappeared from Norway , there are still a number of community in the US that claim tostill celebrate Julebukking . In some rural Midwestern towns , with declamatory Scandinavian populations , they proudly keep the spirit of the Julebukk awake today .
