Jöölboom
The Jöölboom ( Sylt Frisian ) or Kenkenbuum ( Föhrer and Amrumer Frisian ) is a variant of the Christmas tree that is widespread in North Frisia in northwestern Schleswig-Holstein . It is also known as the Friesenbaum , in particular the Frisian Christmas tree , Sylter Friesenbaum or Föhrer Bogen . A Jöölboom consists of a small wooden frame in which a wreath of green branches is integrated. The frame is decorated with figures made from salt dough inside the wreath . These figures, known as Kenkentjüch , each represent a pig, a cow, a sheep, a horse, a rooster, a fish as well as a sailing ship and a mill. At the foot of the trunk, the figure of Adam and Eve stands under an (apple) tree with snake. The images all have a symbolic meaning. In addition to the dough figures, natural products such as apples, raisins and prunes were also used as decorations. After the advent of the advent wreath , it became generally accepted that four candles are attached to the frame, which are lit one after the other before Christmas Eve , like those of an advent wreath .
The variant of the Jöölboom known today has probably only existed since the middle of the 19th century. Presumably the wooden arch of the Jöölboom was only provided with boxwood or ivy at this time . The custom of decorating the Jöölboom with Kenkentjüch is much older. Setting up a Jöölboome is still common today on the North Frisian Islands and Halligen and in parts of the North Frisian mainland. The Jöölboom usually finds its place at the window or on a table in the living room. The Jöölboom is also known as Kenkenbuum , Kinkenbuum or Jülbuum in the various North Frisian dialects . The expression Kenken (also Kinken or Känken ) is used in most North Frisian dialects for Santa Claus . Etymologically, the word is derived from child and stood for the Christ child . The term Jööl ( Fering and Öömrang Jul , Mooring Jül ) describes Christmas in North Frisian as well as in the neighboring Scandinavian-speaking area . It could be related to the Nordic word hjul for wheel, but it could also be derived from the Latin word joculus for joke or fun.
literature
- Paul Selk, Alfred Kamphausen : Midwinter and Christmas in Schleswig-Holstein. A folklore representation. Westholsteinische Verlagsanstalt Boyens & Co., Heide 1972, ISBN 3804201156 , p. 31 as well as illustrations 15, 23, 24.
Web links
- Petra Schellen, “Schweinchen am Baum” , taz, December 13, 2008: Interview with Antje Arfsten from the Nordfriisk Instituut about Frisian customs around Christmas time.
- Do-it-yourself "Frisian temple tree", p. 19
- Commercially produced and decorated "Sylt Friesenbaum" with wooden figures ( Memento from December 5, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
- Special exhibition Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte “The Christmas Tree with a Difference”, from November 30, 2014 ( Memento from December 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
- The "Record Yule Tree in Utersum" (Föhr Island) in the Guinness Book at Der Insel-Bote , November 26, 2015
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b The Jöölboom. State government of Schleswig-Holstein, accessed on October 16, 2016 .
- ↑ a b c d en koon friisk ~ en kan friisk ~ en kon friisk ~ en kuon friisk - December 2002 newsletter of the Nordfriisk Instituut on the Frisian language, history and culture. (PDF; 84 kB) Nordfriisk Instituut, accessed on December 25, 2010 .
- ↑ The Frisian "Jul". Slesvigland 4/2007, PDF file, accessed December 25, 2010 .