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Joulupukki (Finnish:[ˈjou̯luˌpukːi]) is aFinnishChristmas figure. The namejoulupukki literally means'Christmas goat' or'Yule goat' inFinnish; the wordpukki comes from the Old Swedish wordbukker, acognate of English "buck", meaning'billy-goat'. An oldNordic folk tradition, the figure is now often conflated withSanta Claus.[1]
The Finnish Father ChristmasJoulupukki (literally "Christmas goat") appears connected with the Scandinavianjulebukk, not the "Yule goat" as such, but rather the ritual theatrics of men dressed up in costume rowdily going around villages (seeJulebukking).[2] Thus an older dictionary glosses Finnishjoulu-ukko (lit. "Yule's old man") as Swedishjulebock.[3]
Today, in some parts ofFinland,the folk custom persists of persons performing in goat costume in return for leftover Christmas food. The performer traditionally is an older man, who is called a "nuuttipukki [fi]".[4]
In Finland in its modern incarnation, inspired by the international Santa Claus figure, he usually wears warm red robbers, but with a broad band of blue near the fur, uses a walking stick, and travels in asleigh pulled by a number ofreindeer (which do not fly, unlike Santa Claus' team).[citation needed] InLapland, he rides in apulkka, rather than a sleigh. The popular holiday song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", in its Finnish translation,Petteri Punakuono, has led to Rudolph's general acceptance in Finland as Joulupukki's lead reindeer. Joulupukki is often mentioned as having a wife,Joulumuori (lit. 'Old Lady Christmas'), but tradition says little of her.
Popular radio programs from the year 1927 onwards probably had great influence in reformatting the concept with the Santa-like costume, reindeer andKorvatunturi as his dwelling place. Because there really are reindeer in Finland, andFinns live up North, the popular American story took root in Finland very quickly.
Finland's Joulupukki receives over 500,000 letters from over 200 countries every year. Most letters come from Poland, Italy, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.[5]
Joulupukki is a prominent character inRare Exports, a film based on the award-winning shorts byJalmari Helander.
