Christmas Cross

The Christmas Cross

by Kaj Granlund Visiting Ostrobothnia-especially the Lappfjärd region during Christmastime-you will notice a very special Christmas illumination. Outside in the yards there is a high pole at least 10-12 meters, with a large, carved wooden decoration. The height of the decoration, painted black, is between 1.7- 2.5 meters. The decoration in the Lappfjärd area is illuminated with at least 8-11 lamps in green and red, while in the north, it is decorated and illuminated in other ways.

This tradition is said to be a reminiscent of the Roman Catholic time, which is true, but some roots go even further back into pagan times. This pagan thread had to do with fertility. A Swedish tradition, such poles have been raised along Finland’s coastline at certain occasions. They are of the same “family” of fertility symbols as the Åland midsummer pole and the wedding pole, created by cutting big trees, removing the branches and bark, except for the green top. These wedding poles are raised in the yard where the nuptials take place to assure that the young couple would be able to have a family with many children.

During the cold and dark winters people wanted to be sure of a good harvest in the summer and raised these high poles with some green branches, however, in the Christian tradition, it was also referring to the new life that the birth of Christ brought to the earth.

Previously, raising the “julkors” or Christmas cross was a part of the Swedish culture along the coasts of Finland, but only in the Lappfjärd region have the crosses continued through time. Other parishes in the south of Ostrobothnia have revived their own traditions and they can now be seen in at least Sideby, Lappfjärd, Tjöck, Närpes, Övermark, Pörtom and Korsnäs. Also, being a typical rural tradition you will find them in the city of Kristinestad as well.

In the early days, the raising of the Christmas cross was a sign that Christmas had begun. Men went from house to house to help to raise the pole. In every house the men had to get some “strengthening” which meant they could be rather drunk as they reached the last house, sometimes so drunk they weren’t able to do anything at the last farm, a bad omen for the coming harvest. Nowadays, the raising is done by machines.

The higher the pole, the better the seeds would grow the following summer. The recent tradition says the raising of the pole is to happen on December 24, but earlier, Christmas started already at St. Thomas Day (December 21) so one can also find the raising of the cross on St. Thomas day. The pole is to be illuminated until January 6, but is not to be taken down until the last day before Lent, called “fettisdag”. The cross is to face the church and not the main road as many have it today.

Every parish or town could have its own unique cross design. The most common nowadays is the one called the Lappfjärd cross. Originally, there were a variety of designs that were used in Lappfjärd. The more skilled the men were, the more they decorated the cross. They are painted black, but north of Lappfjärd they are painted in brighter colors. With electricity the one or two candles were changed to lamps.

The symbols

The big quadrate in the middle (or sometimes, as in Sideby, a circle) represents the sun and the life that arises with the sun. The new life starts in Jesus who is the sun of the earth. The small things on each side of the quadrate, called “skedar” (spoons), are the sun beams. They are also said to symbolize the apostles that brought the light of Christ to the peoples of the earth. The arms form a cross in reference to the cross of Christ. At the end of the crossing arms there are green branches of juniper indicating the new growth coming in the summer, and also the new life that Christ brought us. The red lamps probably refer to the passion of Christ and the green lamps to life. Raising the Chris mas cross is akin to a prayer for blessing of the house and family during Christmas time and for the days to come.

A new turn

This tradition was about to die during the 1960s but then many began to make small Christmas crosses to be kept inside by the window. This tradition grew enormously and in almost every house today you will see these crosses. There has also been a revival of the old outdoor cross and now it appears this old tradition will remain. The small crosses are available in local electrical stores, and the large outdoor crosses can also be purchased, unless you make your own. There are courses for making Christmas crosses.

Where do you come from?

If I visit a city in Finland or Sweden during Christmastime and notice a small cross in a window, I understand that this person or family has roots like my own. Christmas crosses have become a sign of common roots.

This article was first published in the The Quarterly, Volume 14 , Number 4.