Peering at the Past – Nordic Nighttime Escapades of the Past (and Present?)

Julebukking, part three

Kathleen Stokker, author of “Keeping Christmas; Juletide Traditions in Norway and the New Land” discovered that Norwegian-heritage settlements in the Midwest United States had widely engaged in julebukking (pronounced “YEW-luh-booking”), also known as “Christmas Fooling.”

At the time, Stokker was not aware of any julebukking in her hometown of Decorah, Iowa, renown as it was for celebrating its Norwegian heritage. But in nearby, Spring Grove, Minn., julebukking was still common. She was among three Iowans invited to take part in an evening of julebukking in 1985. “Costumed to give no clue of our identities, eight if us set out, switching off our car lights as we entered the driveway of the first farm to heighten the surprise of our arrival and to prevent the car’s identity from giving away ours. Before going inside, we ran around knocking on windows, making menacing faces and wild noises. when we tramped into the house, snowy boots and all, without waiting to be invited.”

The residents were surprised, but pleased to be targeted. Family members of all ages knew how to carry out their obligation of identifying the intruders. They tried to get them to speak, hoping to recognize their voices, all the while “poking and prodding and sometimes making rather provocative gestures and comments” in an effort to identify those behind the masks.

After identities had been correctly guessed, masks came off, wine and plates of treats were enjoyed by all. Most of the victims went off to obtain their own costumes and disguises – as was the custom – in order to join the intruders as they went off for the next visit. By 9:30, the group had increased to 15. Making their final stop at 10:30, the man of the house was already in bed asleep. But once awakened by his wife, he joined in the fun as well.

Judy (Rud) Bratland was about age 12 when julebukkers first visited her home farm a few miles south of Spring Grove. Longtime Caledonia resident Lee Grippen was about the same age in the mid-1950s when first experiencing a julebukker visit while staying with his great grandparents in Lindstrom Valley near Durand, Wis. Later in life, Grippen became a dedicated julebukker – in three states, no less.

During one julebukking visit to the farm of Andy and Doris Kjome, when it came time for refreshments, Andy disappeared into another room while Doris placed a chair on which she could stand and reach above a cupboard. She brought down a bottle of brandy while her husband re-entered the room with his bottle of brandy. Apparently, neither was aware of the other’s hidden liquid.

Some years later, their daughter Mary (Kjome) Zaffke and husband Lane Zaffke were living in that same farmhouse, when having been tipped off that julebukkers were coming, plotted their own yuletide deception. Their children were conveniently absent, sent off to Grandmother Doris in town for the evening. Meanwhile, Mary and Lane donned their own disguises and waited for the julebukkers to come up the driveway. They sneaked out the back door and joined the visitors as they got out of their vehicles, who unaware that their number had increased by two, entered the house to surprise the residents. A thorough search of the premises failed to find the Zaffke couple anywhere. Eventually, Mary and Lane removed their masks, informing their masked compatriots that they actually were at home after all – pretending to search for themselves.

These Nordic costumed escapades were cloaked by the darkness of night, sometimes late at night. One julebukker told of standing at the foot of the bed of a sleeping couple at 3 a.m.

The tradition involved those in close-knit groups, mostly with Norwegian heritage. Everyone in a certain neighborhood might be visited or only selected families.

However, Stokker learned that not all Spring Grove residents approved, especially non-Norwegians. A late 19th century article by Frank Bartholomew appeared in the January 11, 1894 edition of the Spring Grove newspaper with the headline, “Stop It.”

Bartholomew wrote, “During the holiday season it is a common custom among our young sports to put on false faces and all the outlandish toggery to be had and make the rounds of the village – and sometimes a part of the country – during the evening hours, calling on residences and other places of habitation, regardless of the wishes or condition if the inmates. This they call “Jule Buk” or perhaps more appropriate, “Christmas Fools.”

“On last Friday evening, some of the characters called at the residence of station agent D. B. Moore and they may be very thankful if they escape the penalty of their folly. As Mr. and Mrs. Moore were expecting friends that evening, Mrs. Moore answered the knock at the door and was so horrified and frightened at the unexpected sight of hideous faces that she was only able to give one scream and instantly overcome with nervous prostration. She was so badly frightened that a physician had to be called. As a rule, these parties are composed of good boys – and we are sorry to say sometimes girls – who start out for an evening of innocent fun and amusement, little thinking of the possible injury their thoughtlessness may inflict upon others, to say nothing of the risk they are taking themselves.”

Bartholomew then relates the story a few miles south in Iowa, where three julebukkers enter a house to find a mother holding her ill eight-year-old daughter, who was so frightened “that she went into spasms and before a doctor could be secured, she was a corpse.” The young men were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to the penitentiary.

Bartholomew continues with another tragedy where two julebukkers visited an uncle, who having been alerted about burglaries, grabbed his gun and shot his two nephews. The article concludes with a warning, “Don’t do it anymore. It is not only silly and dangerous, but a direct violation of the law.”

However, 131 years later, some believe julebukking still persists around Spring Grove.