Day 08 #BBR4WRITES good morning all I'm still playing with microfiction and formatting for my Advent Activities.
Although I wasted hours through the night researching Christmas. folklore particularly animals and the Julbocken (YOOL~boh~k~en) the Scandinavian Yule Goat along with the little sprite Tomte the pair around long before Santa and his reindeer.
The Tomte was a guardian of the homestead particularly farms and their animals and the families and children. He wore grey clothes and a pointy red hat. Over the years he became the gift giver at yuletide. Until of course the jolly fat red guy became commercialised.
The goat appears to have possibly originated long before, from the Norse gods particularly Thor who rode through the heavens on a chariot pulled by two goats. Their names were Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr (Teeth Nasher and Teeth Grinder). Apparently they were slaughtered for meat for feasts for the gods. Yet from the bones they were brought back to life to go through the whole thing again. Poor little buggers.
It is also said that Scandinavian men would don the skins of goats and go Julbukking (trick or treating) visiting homes demanding Christmas gifts.
Today the Yule Goat is a popular Christmas decoration originated from the last straw of the harvest thought to hold the magic of protection and good luck for the homes and the next years crops.
Giant straw effigies are created in many areas of Scandinavia but they are almost always destroyed by arson or vandalised and burnt down. Made from straw and bright red ribbons. 🌲📖✍️
Check out https://thewickedgriffin.com/the-yule-goat
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