Another lovely Scandinavian Christmas tradition is the julenek, a sheaf of oats (sometimes wheat) that is hung on a tree or pole as a Christmas treat for the birds. It is believed to be good luck if birds eat from the julenek, as this means farming will be good in the coming year. Juleneks also have a practical use: when the ground and all vegetation are covered in snow, and food is scarce, they can be the only source of food for many small birds, and therefore crucial for their survival throughout the cold winter months. You will see julenek for sale on street corners all over Norway in the weeks before Christmas, and hanging in gardens and farmyards everywhere.