{"id":272,"date":"2009-12-03T04:34:36","date_gmt":"2009-12-03T08:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/?p=272"},"modified":"2009-12-03T04:34:36","modified_gmt":"2009-12-03T08:34:36","slug":"julbocken-%e2%80%93-sweden%e2%80%99s-christmas-goat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/swedish\/julbocken-%e2%80%93-sweden%e2%80%99s-christmas-goat\/","title":{"rendered":"Julbocken \u2013 Sweden\u2019s Christmas Goat"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have lived in Sweden for over two years now as an adult. I speak the language fluently. I work here. I even have Swedish citizenship. <\/span>That doesn\u2019t help; I am still not used to the idea of Julbocken. <\/span>The Christmas Goat.<\/p>\n

Julbocken is known in two forms. <\/span>The first being the large straw version that is built every year in the city of G\u00e4vle (he also come in smaller straw versions as Christmas decorations). <\/span>Every year there is a race against time before it burns down. <\/span>Turns out that an oversized straw goat is an inviting target for arsonists. <\/span>If you\u2019re interested, you can follow the G\u00e4vle Christmas Goat via live webcam<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is also Julbocken on the Swedish island of Gotland. <\/span>It is this Christmas Goat that I am most familiar with.<\/p>\n

As a child I spent a couple of Christmases on the island of Gotland visiting cousins. <\/span>This means that I wasn\u2019t all that familiar with the Christmas traditions on the Swedish island. <\/span>Instead of Jultomten, the Swedish Santa Claus, coming to the houses, Julbocken came. <\/span>Julbocken is a large goat that brings presents to children. <\/span>He is also the most frightening Christmas related character I can think of and could very well lead to nightmares. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is said that Julbocken can trace its origins back to the Scandinavian myths of Thor and his goats. <\/span>Whether that is true or not is irrelevant, because as a small child, goat-like creatures walking on their hind legs and about the size of my uncle meant\u00a0I wasn\u2019t thinking about the mythological origins of the Christmas tradition. <\/span>Especially when out from the cold a large gray and black goat braying and neighing and making whatever goat noises imaginable bursts through the door. <\/span>Despite having presents, it is a horrible experience the first time. <\/span><\/p>\n

In case you are under the age of ten and reading this, please stop now. <\/span>What I am about to say may crush your young childhood reality. <\/span>Julbocken was my uncle. He is a good man. <\/span>A kind man. <\/span>But as Julbocken, he epitomized the fear that Thor\u2019s goats were surely meant to impart on anyone willing to listen.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a while since I\u2019ve seen Julbocken, today I try to stick to the small straw versions which I hang on my Christmas tree. <\/span>It makes for a much better night\u2019s sleep. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have lived in Sweden for over two years now as an adult. I speak the language fluently. I work here. I even have Swedish citizenship. That doesn\u2019t help; I am still not used to the idea of Julbocken. The Christmas Goat. Julbocken is known in two forms. The first being the large straw version…<\/p>\n

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