December 13, 2022

 

 

For our 13th yule calendar surprise, we have some old yule beliefs and charms from Finland. I wonder if they still work these days? You can try and find out!

Yule beliefs from Finland

 

There are many traditions related to yule – not least yule baths, a tradition we have probably mentioned a dozen times already in this calendar. In many cultures, the winter solstice has been a very important event, so there are many traditions and beliefs tied to it. Here are some “charms” that the Finnish people have done on yule back in the old days, charms that bring you luck in some form in the new year.

 

-          On yule, one should bring some grains for the wild birds, so that they would not eat the harvest in the new year. A fair trade-off, so that people would get some grains themselves from the harvest!

-          On yule morning, folks would ride to the church. The one person manages to steal the riding whip from someone else will get good luck with horses next year! Also, if you bring your friendly “stable elf” (the spirit taking care of your horses) something on the Boxing Day, this will bring you horse luck too.

-          On yule eve, if you sleep with your boots on, the snakes won’t bite you in the next summer.

-          If the master of the house gets drunk on yule eve, the crops will grow well in the next summer. But if he drinks too much and passes out because of that, the crops will be beaten down, so better be careful there!

-          During yule, straws would be spread on the floor, but if folks rolled around in them, the crops would be beaten down in the summer too.

-          If the doors of the drying barn were left open for the whole yule eve/night, the next harvest would be a plentiful one.

-          If one wished for a good barley harvest, they should bring a “booze sacrifice” for the deceased. They want to have some fun too, of course!

-          In Finland, folks have a yule bath in the sauna and smack themselves with birch twigs (that have leaves on, fortunately). If many leaves remain on your skin after the smacking, you will get a rich partner. If the leaves on the skin are broken into pieces, the future partner will seem rich, but is actually penniless. If there are no leaves left on your skin, your future partner will be penniless.

-          If you are single, you should open all drawers & dresser doors in your house with your left hand. In the night, you will see your future partner close them all (in your dreams, that is).

 

 

Translated from source: https://www.stadissa.fi/paikat/2990/joulun-taikoja-tapoja-ja-uskomuksia