Julebukking

 by Kathy Anderson

Thor, the Norwegian mythology god of thunder, strength and protection rode through the sky in a chariot pulled by goats. Yes, goats! The symbol of the goat became a holdover as the Norwegians moved from Paganism to Christianity from about 980 AD through 1150 AD and later. During this transition, goatskins would masquerade people as they “traveled” from home to home during Yule, the Christmas season, when they tried to fool their neighbors about their identity. Hence, the tradition of julebukking, or Christmas goat fooling, was born.

 

As years passed, this “fooling” took on the form of a game as the neighbors had to guess who their visitors were. Masks and costumes of many kinds, not just goats, became part of the fun. The hosts were expected to serve the guests holiday goodies, and sometimes even a spirited beverage or two, until they could identify the intruders. As more time passed, Christmas caroling added to the fun and the hosts would even sometimes join their friends and travel as part of the fun to the next house. For many years, Norwegians would carry on this tradition during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

Norwegians who immigrated to this area from the 1850s through the 1920s brought this tradition with them. Today, another way to explain julebukking would be to compare it to a form of Christmas “trick-or-treating” but for grownups only. The alcoholic element to this event would define the parameters for age groups.

 

To this day in Scandinavian countries, goats are still a strong Christmas symbol, appearing as straw Christmas ornaments to hang on the tree or perhaps as patterns in the Christmas table linens even though few people still go julebukking. There are some folks in the Westby area who can still tell you tales of their own fun as julebukkers. My parents went julebukking when they moved back to Westby in 1991 after Dad retired. They went for several years to visit their friends and relatives, hunching over to appear shorter, disguising their voices or perhaps remaining silent when they thought they would be too easily recognized. The costumes were very primitive but the fun lasted well past the experience. My dad would always laugh when he retold the story of surprising someone. It was easier for them than most to go unrecognized because they weren’t expected, having been gone from Westby for 40 years.

 

Christmas is a time of traditions for friends and families, some carried on since before anyone can remember and others started anew as additions come to families and circles of friends. The Westby Area Historical Society hopes that you look back to your happiest Christmas occasions and bring those traditions to your celebration this year. 

Twins, Catherine Johnson Schlicht (l) and Christine Johnson Anderson (r) with Catherine's
husband, Walter, went to see Aunt Olga Blihovde Dreves when they were julebukking..