Julotta
| Julotta | |
|---|---|
|
Candle and julotta programme | |
| Observed by | Church of Sweden and other Christian denominations |
| Date | 25 December |
| Next time | 25 December 2016 |
| Frequency | annual |
The Julotta is a Swedish service that celebrates the time of birth of Jesus Christ. Jul means Christmas, otta is the time which is slightly before dawn. The service is held every December 25 early on Christmas morning; at 7 AM in most churches,[1] but in some churches it is celebrated at 10 AM, or as early as 4 AM. During previous decades, most Julottas were held at 4 AM. Traditionally, the service should end before, or at the time of, dawn: hence the word otta is the time just before dawn. Historically clergy was obliged not only to say the high mass but also mattins (ottesång) and evensong (aftonsång); today only the ottesång 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.
It was the most popular service in the earlier days [2] but now the Midnight Mass on December 24 has become more popular. People who hardly visited the church regularly in the rest of the year often visited the Julotta [3] but they tend to go to the Midnight Mass or the service of Advent Sunday.
Historical Significance
Swedish immigrants spread the festivity[4] to different countries.[5] The earliest recorded history of Julotta service in the United States of America was held in Strombeck Church in Minnesota in 1883.[6] After Julotta, Swedish people race to get home first from the church. The winner is believed to harvest the most bountiful crops [7] for the year ahead.
References
- ↑ Christmas from the Official gateway to Sweden Retrieved 30 May 2013
- ↑ Christmas service draws a shrinking congregation from Seattle Post Intelligence Retrieved 30 May 2013
- ↑ Langford churches carries on early-morning Julotta tradition Retrieved 30 May 2013
- ↑ Christmas Eve a busy night for church performers at MPR News Retrieved 30 May 2013
- ↑ Julotta: A cross cultural Christmas Tradition Retrieved 30 May 2013
- ↑ A Comparative Relationship Analysis of Swedish Traditions in the US Rural Midwest and Sweden by Barry Peterson Retrieved 30 May 2013
- ↑ Christmas in Sweden from The Local: Sweden’s News in English Retrieved 30 May 2013
External links
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- Excerpt from a Julotta Service celebrated over 100 years by Swedish immigrants to America
- Julotta service scheduled in Bishop Hill
- Julotta for the Swedish American Museum