Yule tree #1 - Blekinge 1890
Sold in collaboration with Alarūnō.
Traditional wooden candle holder. The model is inspired by the 'Yule tree' collected by the museum curator Gustaf Quiding in the 1890s. The origin most likely is from Blekinge province, Sweden but exact location is unknown.
The candle holder got four black horses in the bottom and a raven at the top, symbolising the communion through the worlds of Yggdrasill via the raging Wild Hunt!
Made in Sweden.
Painted by Wurmaz in colours close to the original model.
20 branch sticks
Height: 59 cm
Comes with four high quality Swedish made white candles in 100% stearin (NO palm oil nor petroleum based paraffin wax!).
Apples NOT included!
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ABOUT 'YULE TREES'!
The 'Yule tree' (Swedish julträd) is a distinctive wooden candle holder with its roots in southern Sweden, particularly entrenched in the traditions of Blekinge province. These decorative pieces consist of a turned pole serving as a stem, adorned with attached sticks resembling branches, where various treats such as apples were suspended. Yule trees often feature embellishments like horses, birds, and occasionally flowers and leaves. A common addition at the top is a bird, frequently a rooster. While the tradition of Yule trees can be definitively traced back to the 1870s, it is likely much older. Yule trees likely evolved as a fusion of 'apple sticks' (Swedish äpplastakar) and 'Odin candlesticks' (Swedish Odenstakar), both known since at least the 1700s. 'Apple sticks' comprise a central pole with sticks for holding apples, lacking candle holders. 'Odin candlesticks' boast a distinctive design with horses (sometimes with riders) and a carved central stem. Named after the god Odin, their use in Sweden extends from the province of Skåne in the south to the province of Värmland in the north. But there are examples also found in Norway and Denmark.
By delving into surviving folklore, we can gain valuable insights into the interpretation and symbolism of 'Yule trees,' exploring their potential pagan connotations. The imagery strongly evokes associations with the Norse tradition's world tree, Yggdrasill. Considering the potential connections between Yule traditions and ancestral worship, especially during the darkest period when the boundary between the realms of the living and the dead is thinnest, parallels can be drawn to the wild hunt, a spectral procession haunting stormy winter nights. The tree serves as a symbol of communion, with the treats adorning its branches representing offerings made in communion with deceased ancestors. The horses and bird symbols not only mirror the creatures present in the tumultuous host but also serve as psychopomps, aiding in communication and facilitating journeys to the underworld for communion with the departed. It's worth noting that the leader of the wild hunt is often associated with Odin, but we should also remember the tradition of 'the traveling of Lussi' (Swedish Lussefärden), where the leader is said to be the demonic female entity called Lussi (possibly developed from the female ruler of the Norse underworld, Hel).
