Julotta
{{Short description|Christmas Day morning church service}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Julotta
|type = Christianity
|image = Julotta.jpg
|imagesize = 200px
|caption = Candle and julotta programme
|official_name =
|nickname =
|observedby = Church of Sweden and other Christian denominations
|litcolor =
|longtype =
|significance =
|begins =
|ends =
|date = 25 December
|scheduling = same day each year
|duration = 1 day
|frequency = annual
|celebrations =
|observances =
|relatedto =
}}
A {{Lang|sv|julotta}} ({{Lang|sv|Jul}}: 'Yule; Christmas', {{Lang|sv|otta}}: 'dawn') is a Swedish term for the matins on Christmas Day, 25 December, that celebrates the nativity of Jesus Christ.{{cite news|url=http://www.dt.se/dalarna/rattvik/extremt-tidig-julotta-lockar|title=Extremt tidig julotta lockar|publisher=Dalarna tidning|language=Swedish|first=Mats |last=Laggar|date=22 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091142/https://www.dt.se/dalarna/rattvik/extremt-tidig-julotta-lockar |archive-date=16 December 2017}}
Observance
The service is held every 25 December early on Christmas morning – at 7 a.m. in most church buildings, but in some churches it is celebrated at 10 a.m., or as early as 4 a.m. During previous centuries, most {{Lang|sv|julotta}}s were held at 4 a.m. Traditionally, the service should end before, or at the time of, dawn: hence the word {{Lang|sv|otta}} is the time just before dawn. After {{Lang|sv|julotta}}, Swedish people race to get home first from the church. The winner is believed to harvest the most bountiful crops for the year ahead.{{cite web |last=Lilja |first=Agneta |url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Traditions/Celebrating-the-Swedish-way/Christmas/ |title=Christmas |website=Sweden.se |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506093133/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Traditions/Celebrating-the-Swedish-way/Christmas |archive-date=6 May 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://articles.aberdeennews.com/2008-12-14/news/26410086_1_christmas-eve-augustana-lutheran-church-three-other-churches |title=Langford churches carries on early-morning Julotta tradition |work=American News |date=14 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822121725/http://articles.aberdeennews.com/2008-12-14/news/26410086_1_christmas-eve-augustana-lutheran-church-three-other-churches |archive-date=22 August 2016}}
Historically in the Church of Sweden the clergy was obliged not only to say the high mass but also matins ({{langx|sv|ottesång}}) and evensong ({{langx|sv|aftonsång}}); today only the evensong of Christmas remain but has been liturgically changed since and can now be the main service of Christmas Day, wherefore many parishes have no mid-morning high mass on Christmas Day.
History
{{Lang|sv|Julotta}} was traditionally the most popular service in the Church of Sweden but the Midnight Mass on 24 December has become more popular. People who hardly attended church regularly in the rest of the year often attended the {{Lang|sv|julotta}} but they tend to go to the Midnight Mass or the Advent Sunday service.{{Clarify|date=December 2022}}
The decline of {{Lang|sv|julotta}} in favour of the Midnight Mass began in Sweden during the 1970s.{{cite news|url=http://www.dagen.se/livsstil/midnattsmassa-eller-julotta-1.120775|title=Midnattsmässa eller julotta|publisher=Dagen|language=Swedish|author=Josefin Lilja|date=16 December 2011|accessdate=15 December 2011 |url-access=subscription}}
In 1979 5.35% of Church of Sweden members attended their parish church on Christmas Day, but by 1988, the number had decreased to 3.76%.{{cite web|url=http://www.dn.se/arkiv/stockholm/julhelgens-massor|title=Julhelgens mässor|publisher=Dagens nyheter|language=Swedish|author=Martin Stugart|date=24 December 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310105139/https://www.dn.se/arkiv/stockholm/julhelgens-massor |archive-date=10 March 2016}}
Swedish immigrants spread the festivity to different countries.{{cite web |last=Olsen |first=Dan |date=24 December 2009 |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/12/24/christmas_performers |title=Christmas Eve a busy night for church performers |website=MPR News}}{{cite web |last=Tomlin |first=Gary |date=25 December 2011 |url=http://www.galesburg.com/news/x1980200200/Julotta-a-cross-cultural-Christmas-tradition |title=Julotta: A cross cultural Christmas tradition |work=Galesburg.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629081943/http://www.galesburg.com/news/x1980200200/Julotta-a-cross-cultural-Christmas-tradition |archive-date=29 June 2013}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_coNTTVS8 Excerpt from a Julotta service held in Alabama], YouTube
{{Christianity in Sweden}}