Saturday, January 13, 2024

Tjugondag Knut

 In Sweden the 20th day after Christmas (January 13th) is St Knut’s Day. Knut Day is a traditional festival celebrated to recognize the official end of the Christmas season. If you want to greet someone today you can say: Tjugondag Knut körs julen ut (On Knut’s 20th day, Christmas is driven out) and Tjugondag Knut kastas granen ut (On Knut’s 20th day, the Christmas tree is thrown out).


In the Old Farmer’s Almanac it is said that “King Knut asked children for help to drive out Christmas.” In the old Swedish agrarian society, children would run from farm to farm to “call out Christmas,” meaning they would “call out” that Christmas had ended and ask for food and drink.


A Knut’s party or Knut’s dance (Swedish: Julgransplundring, literally: “Christmas tree plundering”) is also known as “Dancing out Christmas” (Dansa ut julen) or “Throw out the Tree” (Kasta ut granen).


A lot of the St Knut’s Day traditions were at their most popular in the years after the Second World War but they haven’t totally died out by any means. During the 20th century, the Knut’s party became mainly associated with children and candy.


In families there is often a party mainly for children when the Christmas decorations are taken down. Parties are also common in schools, churches and other places. In many towns, the illumination of the public Christmas tree is switched off, accompanied by an outdoor Knut’s dance for the community.


Party activities involve singing and dancing around the Christmas tree, “looting” the tree of ornamental candy and apples, smashing the gingerbread house into pieces .

Source: https://ingebretsens-blog.com/st-knuts-day-time-to-toss-a-tree/

https://youtu.be/9uYuhVpQCmM?si=7opes1lQoNRu-AGD music


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