The Pagan Heart
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December 2004 Issue
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Inspiration Speaks The Jule-nissen, Joulupukki, Tompte and Ukko
Winter wrapped tight about the village, coating it with a light dusting of fresh snow. The figure of Kai, bundled tight within his jacket, appeared over the crest and trudged down the slope towards home. His cottage, cloaked in its white mantle, waited below - the warm glow of the lanterns peeping through the curtains. Kai smiled, and patted his pocket, feeling the small bulge of the chocolate within, then reached out and pushed open the gate. As he stomped his feet on the porch, shaking loose the snow, his daughter opened the door and beckoned him inside. "Did you get it, Papa?" Anja whispered, darting a glance back into the room behind her. Kai patted his pocket again and nodded. She burst into a fit of girlish giggles and tugged him through the doorway. Behind her Helvi waited, a grin on her face. She bussed him soundly on both cheeks and slipped his jacket off and to hang it from its hook. Anja helped her, her small fingers sliding across the pocket before she turned aside and closed the door. Taking Helvi's hand, Hans walked over to the fireplace to warm up. The wave of heat was welcome and he sighed and turned his back to the flames, feeling his muscles relax. About him the room shone. Clean and tidy, and decorated with fir branches and cones, it looked welcoming and smelt delightful. The scent of fresh baking mingled with the pine sap. Atop the table rested a bristling crown of holly branches - the brilliant ruby berries glowing against the green. Beside it lay a small platter of acorns, carefully preserved from the autumn. As he watched, an acorn tumbled from the pile, across the table, fell to the floor and rolled away. With a soft cry, Anja scurried after it but it vanished beneath a heavy chest by the fireplace. She reached beneath it but couldn't locate the acorn. As she sat back on her heels, a frown marring her creamy brow, Kai heard muttering from the corners of the room and saw something small and red whisk past the fireplace. Before he could see it clearly, it vanished behind a chair. The Jule-nisser, their house-gnome, was up and waiting. "Anja, leave it." "But we need it for the alter." Helvi added, "The Jule-nisser is awake. He'll find it for us. Come, let's go and have our dinner. Soon it will be time for the baelfires, and we will be warmer for the food." Slowly, Anja stood and followed them into the kitchen, dusting off her red skirts. As Helvi moved about gathering a light meal of bread and cheese, Kai boiled some water and made a fresh pot of porridge. While it cooked he poured out a mug of mead and set it to warm by the fire. When the oats were ready, he stirred in a large dollop of cream and held the bowl while Anja drizzled fresh honey over it. Gathering up the mead he took them back into the main room and laid them by the fire. Anja, having followed him in, collected the packet of chocolate and brought it over. Her clear young voice rang out as she sang: "Jule-nisser, Jule-nisser,
Helvi collected their jackets and passed them around, pausing to ensure Anja's was done up properly. Then, without a backward glance, they left, pulling the door tightly behind them. The sound of laughter followed them out into the snow. Anja raced ahead, through the gate and down the slope towards the centre of town. Her parents walked along behind at a more leisurely pace. "We are so fortunate," mused Helvi. "Hanna has had naught but trouble this past year. Her Jule-nisser is not happy, and it shows." "Feed them, respect them, cherish them - that's what my mother always said. Maybe Hanna brings trouble upon herself?" "Kai! This is not the night to be thinking such things. It is a night for joy." He remained silent, drawing her close enough to wrap his arm about her shoulders. "You are right. It is a beautiful night - as it should be for the Solstice celebrations. Look - they've lit the fire." Ahead of them, in the village common, a huge bonfire burned brightly, the flames leaping high into the dark night sky. People gathered about it, some dancing, some singing and some simply watching. Off to one side a group of children, Anja among them, surged about in some obscure game. As Helvi and Kai neared, voices rang out in welcome. Laughing, they joined their friends. Later, as the fire burned low, they collected Anja from where she lay curled in a nest of blankets, made their farewells and headed home, weary but happy. "Papa?" "Yes?" "Have they been to our house yet, do you think?" Anja's sleepy voice drifted off as she dozed a moment. "Ukko and the Joulupukki, I mean." Kai chuckled. "No, I don't think so - Ukko comes after we go to sleep." "Oh." Her voice quivered, and she buried her head into his shoulder. "Anja? What's wrong?" "Papa, I don't want Ukko to come tonight." Helvi met his startled gaze with concern. Hans paused to shift Anja about to he could look at her. She avoided his eyes "Anja? Tell your Papa and me what is wrong. Why don't you want Ukko visiting? He brings you presents." "Only for the good children, Papa. The naughty ones get coal, and he chases them with his switch. I don't want him to chase me." Helvi's eyes widened, and she bit her lip, before turning aside and hurrying ahead. Kai sighed, and gave Anja an extra hug. "You haven't been naughty." "Yes I have. I called Janna names, and I wouldn't eat my dinner, and I didn't clean my room, and I yelled at the Jule-nisser when he put my books away and I couldn't find them, and I lied to Mama, and--" "--Enough. Anja, those were naughty yes. But they're little things. Ukko chases the really, really naughty people. Like Fredrik who burnt down his Papa's barn. Or Camilla who pushed her Mama into the pond last week and ran away. Not little girls who don't tidy up their rooms." "Are you sure?" "Very." As he answered, he stepped into the house. "Look. The Jule-nisser has left us gifts." While they had been gone, the Jule-nisser had indeed been busy. Delicate woven wreaths and garlands of straw decked the windows and doorways. A small straw king sat on the holly wreath while a woman and baby rested among the acorns. On Anja's stool lay a beautiful straw goat wrapped about with red ribbon - the straw-Joulupukki. Beside it lay a straw man - Ukko. Anja struggled free of his arms and ran to pick it up. Kai said, "If the Jule-nisser wants to give you a present, then Ukko will too - after all it was the house-gnome you threw the pillow at, not Ukko. Did you thank him?" She shook her head. "Thank you, Jule-nisser. I love my goat and my Ukko." "It's past time for bed. Go wash up and get ready. Your Mama and I will be up soon." As their daughter headed upstairs, clutching her toys, Hans kissed his wife. "Solstice blessings, heart of my heart." She smiled back at him. "And may the coming year bring you joy. Now off to bed with you too, or Ukko will bring nothing but coal for you." As they lay curled up in their bed, Kai heard a clattering upon the porch and the bleating of a goat as Ukko arrived, riding Joulupukki. Helvi's hand squeezed his - even now she still got excited. Below, the door opened and the god stepped inside. A hearty chuckle echoed up as Ukko found the meal of sweet porridge and mead awaiting him. The lighter tones of the Jule-nisser were barely audible, but Kai heard him offering the god some of his chocolate, and smiled to himself. |
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