Jultide Doings

Hi All,

Everyone who knows me knows that I love the winter. The season of rest surrounded by billions of crystals if the snow is good. I love the Jul season with its extremes of light and dark, ice and fire, need for company and desire for isolation. I have been celebrating Winter Solstice with performance ritual as Kari Tauring and Friends since 1999!

Join us December 21 at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater for this year's celebration.

About Winter in the Northlands - On the Primstav calendar, the Winter Side begins on October 14 and its symbol is a mitten. Summer work contracts are up and people might find work on a farm for the winter. The first Old Norse moon or month of Winter is called Slaughter Mon

h. Then comes the first of two Jultide Moons.

Ylir or Jolnir is one of Odin's names. Odin means The Spirit and Jol means Joy. So in this month we must be ready to welcome the spirit of joyfulness into our homes and farms. Rituals for cleaning with juniper water, baking and brewing, and making new clothing lead up to a long stretch of time off work. Only essential things like filling the wood box and doing dishes are done during this stretch of time. Visiting one another, singing, dancing, masquerading, and feasting occupied this month, and spilled into the second month called bone marrow sucking month. Oath taking and gift giving were done in this second month.

Even during the Middle Ages, Norwegian peasants expected to have between twelve and twenty days of "vacation." Kathleen Stokker's "Keeping Christmas" shares immigrant letters back to Norway, in shock that Americans might not even get Chritmas Eve or Day off of work. There was no time to visit one another. Capitalism breaks community every time. What can we do to bring back the true meaning of Jultide: A time to share resources, strengthen community bonds, make sure that everyone is cared for? And isn't this the true meaning of Christmas as well?

Jultrefest at Tapestry Folkdance Center explores this history, revitalizes traditional song dances, and brings us together in joy!

Jultrefest - Christmas Tree Festival used to happen in homes and the broader community. Jultrefest includes a song, dance, a play or other program, and the joining of hands to dance in circles around the evergreen brought in for just this purpose. There is food, drink, toasting or prayers. Presents may be given by the host to those in attendance.

In 2025 we are gathering first at Tapestry Folkdance Center for a series of workshops on Jultrefest. Then gather there on December 14 for the big Jultrefest and social dance! Class participants will lead everyone in the traditional Jultrefest. Then our friends from the Danish American Center will come to play music and lead traditional Danish squares, mixers, and quadrilles!

Bring a friend and/or a plate of cookies and join us there!

Hear all about it from the Wake Up with Fox 9 Crew here in Minneapolis!