In the old days, Norwegian householders would carry “Christmas hay”, or julehalm, into the house and spread it on the floor of the front room. On Christmas Eve the master and his servants would sleep there together, partly for mutual support on that night of the year when demonic forces outside were at their strongest and partly in remembrance of the baby Jesus and his bed in the hay-filled manger. The custom was also observed in Sweden in the belief that the beds should be left empty for the spirits of the family dead who had returned for the holiday. Food would be left on the tableAfter three nights the “hayday” period ended and all returned to their own beds.
The tradition of decorating with straw for Christmas is also very old. Goats of straw are a favourite in all Scandinavia as are stars, geometric patterns, and mobiles hanging from the ceiling.