Traditional julebukk mask from Valdres. Photo: Valdresmusea
Fear as a teacher
One aspect of the Norwegian mumming traditions is the will to harness fear. The rituals are formative and help build character. Being scared in a safe setting teaches the children to master their fear, and hopefully keep their calm and do the right thing when a real frightening situation occurs. Another part of it is of course to teach them obedience so they perform their chores without risking their lives with thoughtless curiosity and mischief. That is, to keep them from ending up in frightening situations in the first place. To keep them safe.
I should perhaps use past tense, because our mumming traditions are almost dead. Almost no adults are part of it any more, which is sad. It is mostly children who do it nowadays - if it is done at all. And, if an adult is present, it is only to supervise the children, and not to give the children in the houses they go to a healthy scare.
