Swedish Pagan/Christian Holiday (Christmas) Decoration: "Julbock"

The is a Swedish Christmas holiday decoration, called a "julbock", Swedish for yule goat. The julbock is often found under the Yule tree or Christmas tree. Large versions of this decoration are frequently erected in towns and cities around Christmas time.

The julbock originally represented the goat that was slaughtered during the Germanic pagan festival of Yule. In pagan times, straw figures were made from the last sheaves of grain to provide a winter home for the spirit of the grain. The straw figures were ploughed into the first furrow in spring, releasing the spirit to live once again in the growing grain.

The Christian faith is based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus or Christ. Jesus, (7–2 BC/BCE – 30–36 AD/CE), is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christian denominations venerate him as God the Son.

The principal sources of information regarding Jesus are the four canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels declare that Jesus was a Jew born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea. At the age of 30, he began to preach throughout Palestine, which was then under Roman rule. The gospels describe miracles that Jesus performed such as raising the dead.

Most critical historians agree that Jesus was a Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer. He was crucified in Jerusalem, on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire. Christians believe that Jesus then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, from which he will return.
Source:
Source Citation (MLA 7th Edition) "Jesus Christ." Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2010. 297. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 July 2013. Document URL http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX1796500200&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus
“Yule-Goat.” Recent Exhibit: Take a Look: Peoples of the North Finland, Scandinavia, Scotland, Ireland & French Canada. Peterborough, New Hampshire. Miraposa Museum and World Cultural Center. 30 Jun 2013. Document URL: http://www.mariposamuseum.org/peoples_of_the_north.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_Goat "Sweden through the Year." Sweden. New York: DK Publishing, 2011. 26-29. Eyewitness Travel. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 20 May 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX2129400010&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w