St. Knut's Day in Sweden
Description:
This day is considered the end of Christmas in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, as indicated by the well-known saying “Tjugondag Knut kor julen ut” (Christmas is thrown out on Knut’s day), as well as its numerous variations: “Tjugondag Knut kastas julen ut” (Christmas is thrown out on Knut’s day), “Tjugondag Knut sopas julen ut” (Christmas is swept out on Knut’s day) and finally: “Tjugondag Knuts julen dans is born on Knuts day”.
The last two proverbs are associated with the custom of throwing out Christmas trees on this day and organizing folk festivals.
In different regions of Sweden, the feast of St. Knut is celebrated in different ways. The most interesting activity in the areas of southern Sweden. They made a life-size stuffed man of straw (“knutgubbe”), put on his clothes, imperceptibly put to the door of a neighbor and made noise in the street. When an unsuspecting neighbor opened the door, the effigy fell into his arms. The stuffed man was usually clutched with a note with the words: “The whip has come, Christmas has been banished, do not let him stand, throw again to the neighbor.” The joker should be caught and put on tumaks or strip naked and dress up in the tear of a stuffed person. If this was successful, then the joker had a hard time the next year - no girl agreed to dance with him.
If you could not catch a joker, you should throw the stuffed one to another neighbor. By the end of the night, the effigy “was left with a nose” and then the whole village laughed at him.
The celebration of St. Knut's Day usually ended with a song: "Slut pa julen och slut pa ljusen / Och slut pa brannvinet i alla husen!" (There is no Christmas or fire in candles, no vodka in all houses!)