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Burdick church celebrates Julotta

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

The Swedish Lutheran Church at Burdick continues a yearly Christmas tradition begun in "the old country" hundreds of years ago.

Julotta, a Swedish word meaning, "Christmas early morning songs," is celebrated early on Christmas Day, preferably before daylight.

According to Lee Remy, a lifetime area resident and church member, the first Julottas celebrated by the early Swedish settlers began at 4 a.m.

Like other pioneers, one charter member, Albert Olson, who lived east of Lincolnville, got up at 2 a.m. to harness the horses for the family's buggy ride to church.

Remy said after World War II the service was changed to 6 a.m. More recently, it was changed to 7 p.m.

The church sanctuary is decorated with wreaths and garlands for the special celebration, and candles are mounted along the aisles.

The service begins with a candle-lighting ceremony in which the flame is passed from one worshiper to the next, creating a unity of spirit.

A reading of the Christmas story and a short sermon by the pastor are followed by singing of traditional Christmas carols.

The service ends with congregants singing a common Swedish hymn, "When Christmas Morn is Dawning."

As worshipers depart, a new day of hope and rejoicing has begun.

Tom Nelson has attended Julotta most of his life. He liked it when the service began before daylight.

"To me that was the perfect time. The sun was coming up as the service ended," he said. "I think the tradition is wonderful."

According to Remy, in Sweden celebrations originally continued for a week.

Early on Christmas Day, villagers put candles in the windows of their homes and walked to church through the white, sometimes deep, snow in a spirit of reverence and joy.

Dec. 26 was known as the second day of Christmas. People went to church to hear a long reading of St. Stephen's sermon.

Christians may recall that Stephen was the first Christian martyr. He was stoned after giving an impassioned speech, recorded in the Bible in Acts 7.

The Roman Catholic church later made him a saint, and the Feast of Stephen was set on Dec. 26. Being so close to Christmas, it became known as the second day of Christmas.

A children's program at the Burdick church originally was presented on the "second day of Christmas." In later years, it has been incorporated into the Julotta worship service.

Although the tradition has died out in many places, Julotta is celebrated throughout the country in various churches. In larger cities like Chicago, it has become somewhat of a tourist attraction. Sometimes break-fast is served afterward.

The State of Illinois sponsors a Julotta service in a restored Swedish church at a historic site.

Burdick Swedish Lutheran Church is a member of the American Lutheran Synod. It is located two miles west and one-half mile north of Burdick.

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