I bet you were worried I was MIA since I haven't posted in a while... or if we're fb friends you've may have noticed things have been rough for me lately. Well things are getting better and I am writing this post in good humor and an attempt at humor. If you know me you'll get it. I wish I was an amazing comedian, but generally I'm just your average bear. Although like most people, I have my moments. Today my 3 month old found me hilarious! Glad I could make someone laugh out loud.
Today in Sweden it is Tjugondag Knut or St. Knut's Day. It can also be referred to as Tjugondag Jul or Twentieth Day Yule, twenty days after Christmas. There is a historic story behind the day of course, and I'll share a glib of what I've learned, but that is not why I'm sharing this, I'm sharing it because of the current followed traditions that Swedes share.
The history of St. Knut's Day is actually Danish, which I find funny because the only two countries that supposedly celebrate the day are Sweden and Finland, well and there are possible parts of Norway. Anyway a Danish Duke or King was murdered by his cousin for his title, a civil war broke out, and Knut was later Sainted. The thing is this all took place originally on January 7th in the 1100s but the celebratory day later moved to January 13th.
Today's tradition is the ridding of Christmas in the country. This means that everyone has to throw out their Christmas trees and put their decorations away until next Christmas. Apparently at baby cafe/ children's group (one of my next topics) today they are having a little tree throwing out party. I'm not exactly sure what they do with all these trees, but I guess I'll have to ask. At the party there will be candy, as well as singing and dancing around the tree. Sounds like a good time to me and a good excuse to clean or pack up one's decor. I'm sure they'll have fika too.
Some people will use the tree as fire wood, but unless you live in a house, you are not likely to have a fireplace. I told Anton I thought it was barbaric for Swedes to use all these real trees for Christmas, what's wrong with a fake tree that you can put up every year? I know the smell, look, and feel of a real Christmas tree is different, but I thought it was a perfectly good waste of a tree that can stay in the ground and create oxygen for me to continue existing. Anton's family is pescatarian, meaning they only eat fish, seafood, and eggs in the form of "animal" protein. They recycle, have compost, heck his dad has a beehive, and they harvest the apple tree in their yard. They are resourceful people who seemingly like to reduce their waste and impact on the planet, a cause I am so for. So I was perplexed as to how they could have a real Christmas tree every year. Until Anton explained it to me. His parent's house is heated by firewood, they do not have a central heating system (which I knew), so using the tree as firewood afterward works out fairly darn well. So in my book that seems reasonable. But think of how many people just throw their trees outside not to be properly reused?! What a waste I say! Anyway today's goal is to wrap up the season until next time. Looks like Anton and I have some Christmas packing to do!
You may now may ask what the historical significance has to do with the current traditions. To that I say, I have no idea and if someone could really explain it to me that would be great! I mean how do you get from the death of a Dane to singing and dancing around a Christmas tree before you throw it out? And why is there candy? What kind of candy anyway? I mean why not candy, but still, it doesn't seem to make complete sense. The only real link I have heard is that there is a saying that goes, "Knut drives Christmas out". I guess that explains it all somehow. I like to think the purpose of this day is another way for Swedes to celebrate the holiday season longer since they don't generally make a big fuss about Halloween and do not have a Thanksgiving.
In a future post soon I would like to share additions and corrections to past posts. I would also like to answer questions people have asked me too, so if you have a question, feel free to share it, or if you are curious about a specific topic, let me know. I am most likely happy to oblige. Also I would like to add photos to my blog to make things more colorful, so I am hoping to make that happen within the week. Thanks for reading :)
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