Heidi Is your Christmas tree still up? In Britain, most of us will have taken down our festive decorations long before the start of the new year. However, if you’re following Swedish tradition, the real time to finally pack away the tinsel and baubles is January 13th.
The Swedes have been marking the official close of the Christmas season twenty days after Christmas Day since the 17th century. This day is known as Tjugondedag jul or Tjugondag Knut – which translates to Knut’s Day (Knutsdagen).
The Christmas Tree Plundering: Julgransplundring
Since the 19th century, Knut’s Day has been the moment for taking down the Christmas tree. This is no solemn occasion, though; it’s a celebratory event called Julgransplundring (literally, “Christmas tree plundering”).
The tradition involves dancing around the tree, playing games, and stripping the tree of its decorations. Crucially, any edible treats hung on the tree – such as caramel sweets (smällkaramäller) and gingerbread biscuits (pepparkakor) – are finally given to the children. Once the tree has been well and truly “plundered,” it is then disposed of. You can even attend one of these traditional Julgransplundring events at the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm.
Who was Knut?
So, who is the Knut that gives the day its name? The day is named after the Danish Duke Knut Lavard, who was murdered on January 7th, 1131. Coincidentally, this was the day after the thirteenth day of Christmas – the original end of the festive period.
Knut was later made a saint, and as is customary, his saint’s day was established on the anniversary of his death. Although the event of his murder is tied to January 7th, the custom of celebrating Knut’s Day in Sweden with carnival-like festivities has moved over the years.
In the late 17th century, the Christmas period was extended by a week to include an octave – an eight-day post-celebration period common for major church feasts. This shift meant Knut’s Day moved back a week, settling on January 13th.
A Nordic Tradition
Alongside Sweden, Knut’s Day is also celebrated in Finland and parts of Norway. The classic Swedish saying summarises the whole tradition: “Knut driver julen ut” (Knut drives Christmas out). A more modern, light-hearted variation has also emerged: “Knut kastas granen ut” (On Knut, the fir tree is thrown out).
Do you usually take your decorations down on Twelfth Night (January 5th/6th) or do you prefer to keep them up a bit longer?
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