Julemanden
{{Short description|Danish Christmas figure}}
{{refimprove|date=May 2014}}
{{Lang|da|Julemanden}} ({{langx|fo|Jólamaður}} {{IPA|fo|ˈjɔuːlaˌmɛaːvʊɹ|}}, {{langx|kl|Juulimaaq}}) is the Christmas gift-bringer in modern Danish culture, the equivalent of Father Christmas or Santa Claus. {{Lang|da|Julemanden}} can be directly translated as "The Yule Man" or "The Christmas Man".[https://archive.today/20140503023136/http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/12/19/3608463_part-of-the-magic-of-christmas.html Santa Claus, in Rock Hill, talks about his favorite duties] Herald Online. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2014 {{Lang|da|Julemanden}} is often illustrated as a short, bearded man dressed in gray clothes and a red hat.[http://cphpost.dk/news/who-is-julemanden.316.html Who is ... Julemanden?] The Copenhagen Post. Victoria Steffensen. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2014 He is said to bring presents on Christmas Eve (December 24), coming to houses either by foot or by sleigh, and often wears fur to keep him warm.
History
The roots of {{Lang|da|Julemanden}} reach into Danish folklore and mythology.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/9745580/A-merry-and-bright-Christmas-and-as-joyfully-eccentric-as-ever.html A merry and bright Christmas – and as joyfully eccentric as ever] The Telegraph UK. Judith Woods. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2014 However, the character is a relatively new phenomenon in Denmark, appearing some time after World War II (1939–1945).
Until then, there was {{Lang|da|nissefar}}, {{Lang|da|nissekongen}} or {{Lang|da|julenissen}} – a character with some resemblance to the modern {{Lang|da|julemand}}. This tradition can be traced back centuries, when people believed in {{Lang|da|nisser}} (elves, leprechauns, spirits or mystical entities rarely or never seen directly).[http://magazine.magix.com/en/traditional-nordic-christmas-danish-julemanden-and-nisserne/ Christmas Traditions: Nordic Rituals and Fables of Denmark] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616013809/http://magazine.magix.com/en/traditional-nordic-christmas-danish-julemanden-and-nisserne/ |date=2014-06-16 }} Magix Magazine. 26 December 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2014 Local folklore dictated the expected actions of the {{Lang|da|nisser}}, which could be moody creatures resulting in all kinds of fortunes or even disasters.
The role of the {{Lang|da|julenisse}} was to bring good fortune to the family and to achieve this, he would have to be treated well especially around {{Lang|da|jul}} (Yule, in December). This was achieved by feeding him, traditionally with some form of porridge (now rice porridge).[http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20111219/ISLAND/712199989 So many children, so little time, how do you do it Santa? ] The Royal Gazette. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2014 Traditionally, the porridge was to be placed in the household attic as this was said to be the place where the {{Lang|da|nisse}} supposedly lived and if the {{Lang|da|nisse}} was satisfied with the meal he would bring good fortune to the household in the coming year.
The {{Lang|da|julenisse}} is still, however, "celebrated" and he acts as a stand-in for {{Lang|da|julemanden}} in early December, to entertain the childish mind, bring small gifts and sometimes plays tricks on the household, kindergarten etc. where such "creatures" can prosper.
In popular culture
The gift-giving {{Lang|da|nisse}} that became {{Lang|da|nissekongen}} seems to have drawn influences from the American Santa, when American culture began making an impact in Denmark,[https://archive.today/20140503023202/http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/pyschology-handling-the-santa-dilemma/article_fe0bb4f1-e08a-5990-83c7-6e7f5f781263.html?mode=jqm Psychology: Handling the Santa dilemma] Capital Gazette. Scott Smith. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2014 but rather than outright copying him, local traditions were tweaked, eventually resulting in a Father Christmas-type character with only traces of the original {{Lang|da|nisse}} and in some respects indistinguishable from Santa.[http://www.indobase.com/holidays/christmas/characters/julemanden.html Julemanden is the Danish version of the Father Christmas] Indobase Christmas. Retrieved 3 May 2014
In an attempt to attract more than 800,000 tourists, the Tivoli theme park in Copenhagen replaced their {{Lang|da|julemanden}} display to that of its Russian counterpart, Father Frost, in 2011.[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/russia-and-former-soviet-union/denmarks-tivoli-invests-in-russian-christmas-113344.html Denmark’s Tivoli invests in Russian Christmas] KyivPost. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2014
Postal address
In Denmark a special postal address is used by Post Danmark for children who want to write to {{Lang|da|julemanden}}:
:{{mono|Rensdyrvej 1}}
:{{mono|Postboks 2412}}
:{{mono|1566 København V}}
{{Lang|da|Rensdyrvej}} translates as 'Reindeer Way', while the PO Box number 2412 is a reference to 24 December.[http://www.fyens.dk/IndlandFyn/Post-Danmark-lover-svar-fra-julemanden/artikel/1374059 Post Danmark lover svar fra julemanden], Fyns Amts Avis, 26 November 2009
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130415081141/http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/resources/news-and-press/news-archive/660-santa-our-arctic-colleague Santa, our Arctic colleague]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140729004423/http://voices.yahoo.com/christmas-history-traditions-different-cultures-11064.html Christmas History and Traditions of Different Cultures]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140319051726/http://scandinaviancentre.org/denmark/danish-christmas-fireside-2-2/4407/ Danish Christmas by the Fireside]
{{Christmas}}