St. Knut's Day

The St. Knut Day, Swedish jul tjugondedag or tjugondag Knut, Norwegian St. Knuts dag or tyvendedags jul, Finnish nuutinpäivä is the 20th and last day of the Christmas season in Sweden, Norway and Finland and is celebrated on January 13.

In large parts of Christianity, the Christmas season lasts thirteen days. It starts on the first Christmas Day ( December 25th) and ends on the day of the Three Kings ( January 6). In Sweden, Norway and Finland the Christmas season lasts a full twenty days and will end on January 13. In the Catholic liturgy was to liturgical reform Presentation of the Lord (February 2 ) as the end of the Christmas season.

Tradition

On this day the candles and jewelry are removed from the traditional Christmas trees. This can take place in a formal ceremony, in the sack of the leftover candy, with which the trees were decorated ends ( julgransplundring ). Especially for the kids that can be a festive climax again. Then the trees are removed from the home and disposed of.

History

The day is named after Knut the Holy IV, King of Denmark. Some sources claim that King Canute IV gave the order to extend the Christmas period to 20 days and that the day is therefore called so. Other sources claim Knut IV died on this day in 1086. This is contradicted, that the Catholic Church celebrates his memory on July 10.

Knut Bock

In rural Finland Knutstag was committed on 13 January due to relocation, in which a masked Knut Bock (Finnish nuuttipukki ), often moved in the wake, from house to house until well into the postwar period. This figure was wrapped in furs, masked beyond recognition and even horned in general. As a kind of earlier anti - Santa Claus with pre-Christian, pagan roots of Knut buck was especially frightening; he distributed any gifts, but made ​​use of bold in everything that was left in the house from Christmas Dinner - not least of alcoholic beverages. This masquerade is now almost completely disappeared in Finland. What is left is from this tradition but not least the name ( nsteil ) " pukki " Bock, because the Finnish Santa Claus is " joulupukki " called (literally: "Christmas buck ", not " - man "; cf. Old Norse: Jul / Winter solstice festival). The Finnish " joulupukki " is today the day a good-natured, grandfatherly figure who follows the world famous Santa Claus representations: white beard, a little paunchy, dressed in red and with a pointed cap.

Commercialization

The Swedish furniture company Ikea takes the St. Knut - day for several years each year for the nachweihnachtliche advertising campaign on the occasion. In the commercials, the hard " Knut " is called ( "Ikea is celebrating Knut ").

  • Christmas
  • Festivals and Customs (Sweden)
  • Festivals and Customs (Norway )
  • Memorial, celebration or action in January
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