St. Knuts Day
The St. Knut's Day ( Swedish tjugondedag jul or tjugondag Knut ; Norwegian dag St. Knuts or tyvendedags jul ; Finnish nuutinpäivä ) is the 20th and last day of the Christmas season in Sweden , Norway and Finland and is on January 13 celebrated.
In large parts of Christianity, the Christmas season lasts thirteen days. It begins on Christmas Day (December 25th) and ends on the Day of the Three Kings (January 6th). In Sweden, Norway and Finland, however, the Christmas season lasts for twenty days and does not end until January 13th. In the Catholic liturgy of Christmas Circle enough (to the liturgical reform in the 1960s) to Candlemas on February 2, and on January 13 as the Octave of Epiphany of Jesus' baptism was thought. Today the Christmas festival cycle lasts until the feast of Jesus' baptism on the Sunday after the Three Kings.
tradition
On this day the candles and decorations are traditionally removed from the Christmas trees . This can take place in a celebratory setting that ends in the pillage of the leftover sweets that were decorated with the trees ( julgransplundring ). This can be a festive highlight, especially for the children. The trees are then removed from the apartment and disposed of.
history
The day is named after Canute IV. The saint , King of Denmark . Some sources claim that King Canute IV ordered the Christmas season to be extended to 20 days and that is why the day is called that. Other sources claim that Canute IV died that day in 1086 .
Knutsbock
In rural Finland , Knutstag was celebrated on January 13th with parades in which a masked Knutsbock ( Finnish nuuttipukki ), often in a wake, moved from house to house, until the post-war period . This figure was wrapped in animal skins, masked beyond recognition and usually also horned. As a kind of early anti-Santa Claus with pre-Christian, pagan roots, the Knutsbock was above all terrifying; He didn't hand out presents, but cheekily used everything that was left in the house from the Christmas feast - not least alcoholic beverages. This mummery has almost completely disappeared in Finland. What remains of this custom is not least the name (part) "-pukki", Bock, because Finnish Santa Claus is called "joulupukki" (literally: "Christmas Bock", not: "-mann"; cf. Old Norse: Jul / Winter solstice festival). The Finnish “ joulupukki ” today is a good-natured, grandfather figure who follows the world-famous Santa Claus representations: white beard, a little pot-bellied, dressed in red and with a pointed cap .
Commercialization
The Swedish furniture company Ikea has been using St. Knuts Day as an opportunity for a post-Christmas advertising campaign for several years. In the commercials , the festival is called "Knut" ("Ikea celebrates Knut").
New customs
In Germany, a Christmas tree burning with the sale of grilled food, tea and mulled wine is often organized by the volunteer fire brigade or with the support of local associations.
Individual evidence
- ↑ 3rd Ruhlander Knutfest on the homepage of the Ruhland Office, accessed on January 25, 2018
- ↑ Knutfest from 2003-2017 , accessed on January 25, 2018