Thorláksmessa

Torlaksmesse or Thorlakmesse also great fair and Sjursmesse, and in Icelandic: Þorláksmessa on Tollaksmessa Faroese, Swedish and Norwegian as well as on Lilla Julafton or Lille julaften ( in German: small Christmas or Vorweihnachtsfest ), is a Scandinavian Christmas tradition which is a day Christmas is celebrated on December 23 in Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and since the 18th century in Sweden.

History

In memory of the Icelandic bishop Thorlak Thorhallson ( Thorlákur Þórhallsson ) ( 1133-1193 ), his feast is celebrated on December 23 as a small Christmas or Vorweihnachtsfest every year.

The day is named after the Icelandic bishop Thorlak, which was even then worshiped in Iceland in the western and northern Norway as a saint. Of his death, December 23, was then explained in the year at the Althing in Iceland for his holiday, which commemorates him since then, which developed the current Torlaksmessfeiertag. A papal confirmation of the canonization did not take place. On January 14, 1984 Pope John Paul II Thorlak Thorhallson confirmed as patron saint of Iceland.

The Torlaksmesse originated from a mixture of formerly pagan customs and the then newly recruiting Christianity in Scandinavia. By cleaning and cleaning before Christmas, it was thought to be able to expel evil spirits and powers from his personal environment. According to tradition it was believed earlier, even if there was a rush to Torlaksmesstag, one could expect that it also be light measurement, ie on 2 February of next year, stormed. In the Norwegian parts of the country Trøndelag and Nordland, the day is referred to as Sjursmesse.

Customs

On Torlaksmesstag ( Tollesmessdagen ) you prepare a clean house and a fresh bed of straw as a bed, and now a freshly made ​​bed. Furthermore, it washes and prepares neat, clean clothes for the big Christmas party. It is common in Scandinavia, to make these preparations until late into the night. The Torlaksmesstag is still used to clean the house or the apartment thoroughly and prepare for Christmas. So it is also true within the family last Christmas preparations, such as the baking of Christmas cookies and Mr. layers of Christmas dinner, the festive decorating the home and the Christmas tree. In Iceland, it is still common, but also partly in the Faroe Islands and Norway, to this day, which is also the last day ( fasting before Christmas ) before Christmas, to eat a special fish dish.