Tjugondag Knut

- Knut's name day falls on the 20th day of Christmas, Jan. 13, when

there is one song that is sung as you dance around the tree or "plunder" it::

 

Nu är glada julen slut,slut,slut.

Julegranen bäres ut ,ut,ut.

Men till nästa jul igen,

kommer han vår gamle vän,

för det har han lovat.

 

in English:

 

Now is the merry Christmas over, over over

The Christmas tree is carried out, out, out

But for next Christmas again

he is coming back our old friend

because that’s what he's promised.

 

Knut was/is a rather festive day. At least up until 50 years ago. Children liked it a lot as the tree was often decorated with candy (candy canes, sugar decorations and smällkarameller/crackers with hidden bits of candy). All Christmas they had to look at these sweets without eating it, but on Knut all decorations were taken down and the candy could be eaten. That is called julgransplundring (Christmas tree looting).

 

As we no longer have much candy in the trees and few people want to eat old candy, it’s not as big as it used to be. Some still see it as a festive day and invite kids over for a kids party were they hand out candy. There are also some different local traditions.

 

So, today, here the process is almost done. ;-)

13/366

P.S. The tree did not go up until December 20, so I'm not really tired of it yet. ;-)

Done