When is danish christmas

We actually have a guide to some of the more popular contemporary Danish Christmas songs here. Unlike other countries, presents are not unwrapped in a chaotic frenzy. This is when it turns into a theatrical exercise as the person blessed with a certain gift is expected to show sincere gratitude.

And remember: Everyone is staring. Theatrical exercises aside, Danes are very fussy about returning gifts. Actually, the real shopping craze happens between December 27 and 30 where Danes get rid of their sex toys, shirts and woollen socks. The challenge is choosing the candle on the Christmas tree which will burn out as the last one.

See our picks for Top 10 ways to celebrate Danish Christmas. Like us on Facebook for features, guides and tips on upcoming events. University Post is the critical, independent newspaper for students and employees of University of Copenhagen and anyone else who wishes to read it.

Read more about it here. Despite his size — half the height of a full-grown man —, the tomte is known to have immense strength. How else would he get all the tasks done in an evening as the farmer slept on? However, the tomte is also a stickler for rules and manners. All he asks in return is for a bowl of porridge with a pat of butter on top. The fey folk may decide to infuse more vigor into a particularly handsome and healthy steed, or perhaps even braid its mane and tail.

In Greenland, there lives a man known as the Julemanden who gives gifts to the children of Denmark every December He is especially fond of risengrod, a native delicacy which is essentially rice pudding with cinnamon sugar and with a slice of butter. He is also assisted by nisse, the Danish counterpart of elves…so goes the story from a Danish folklore. Julemanden is roughly translated as the Yule Man or the Christmas Man.

His story became popular only after World War II. The influence drawn from the American Santa is quite evident although its image became nearer to the qualities of Father Christmas through time.

The character is tied to the very roots of Danish folklore and mythology. For all intents and purposes, the Julemanden looks like Santa Claus or Father Christmas and so we have to ask why a different name was chosen. When countries adopt a practice of another, they usually try to make them their own starting from the name.

That is exactly how traditions are formed — by creating some new ideas or by adopting an existing one and modifying them to agree with cultural beliefs and practices. This is the practice of leaving a garland of Danish flags to the fir tree of every home. He also plays the band and sings Christmas songs with the crowd. There is one beer that has managed to make its presence felt in the Danish market especially during the Christmas holidays.

In fact, its annual arrival is very much anticipated as early as November. It is welcomed no less with a special day called the J-Day. Many associate this beer to the advertisement where Santa wears blue clothing instead of the very familiar red suit. It was actually a commercial made for the regular Tuborg Pilsner but it became so popular that it was eventually used for the Christmas beer with the blue and white mark as well. The J-Day tradition of annually welcoming the comeback of the Tuborg Christmas beer started in This day of celebration is observed during the first Friday of November.

The start of the festive season is marked by Carslberg employees going around cafes and bars handing out free beer to guests as they sing a traditional Tuborg Christmas brew song. The day dedicated to this Christmas beer has become so well-known in the country that J-Day is actually found in the Danish dictionary.

This dark-golden beer is a result of mixing three beers. It has the aroma of caramel, grain, liquorice, and blackcurrant. It stands out among the many beers offered to the Danish market. Carslberg holds the advantage of dominating the beer market in Denmark especially since its buy-out of of main competitor, Tuborg. The place to remember is Horsens Christmas Town. There are lots of things to buy here such as wooden toys, felt hats, burnt almonds, art works and Christmas decors.

Some families will also offer a Danish advent calendar to children, where they can open a door to get gifts or candy each day. Trees in Denmark are more traditional than they are elsewhere in the world, with plenty of natural tones.

One common addition is the use of real candles which seems dangerous , or fake candles on the tree. Virtually every square in Copenhagen will have its own Christmas market leading up to Christmas. These markets often include stalls packed with hand-made gifts, so you can stock up for the season. You can also find a lot of delicious holiday snacks too.

One of the most important Christmas traditions in Denmark is setting the table. Most people will sit down on Christmas Eve between 6 and 8pm to eat their Christmas lunch, and the table needs to be decorated to perfection.

This often means using plenty of tablecloths, ribbons, flowers, and candles to bring the space to life. These are much more popular than the fairy lights we know elsewhere in the world.

This is where Danes visit the flagship store of Royal Copenhagen to see their tables decorated by well-known locals. Father Christmas is a little different in Denmark compared to elsewhere in the world. Presents are brought in for children on the 24 th of December which have been delivered by Julemanden.

Instead, after the Christmas lunch, a member of the family dresses up in traditional red robes to hand out the goods. Similar to Sweden, Denmark bypasses the early morning wakeup call from excited children on Christmas morning, by handing out gifts the night before. St Lucia and the Lucia celebration on the 13 th of December are better-known in Sweden, but Lucia is also pretty common in Denmark too. The St Lucia celebrations are similar to the kinds of Christmas nativities and plays we see in other parts of the world.

Children look forward to taking part in the parade throughout their local area, and one special girl gets to play Lucia each year. On Christmas Eve, before you open your presents, and after you eat the Danish Christmas food , the family joins hands and walks around the Christmas tree.

While the tradition usually involves singing Christmas hymns as you walk around the fir, many families have adopted more fun and popular songs over the year. According to Danish stories, walking around the tree gives Santa Claus time to pop in and deliver his gifts. At Christmas, it accompanies Aquavit , the standard Danish snaps, as a go-to drink for celebration.

While kids drink hot chocolate, the adults stock up on warm spicy punch for a giggly Christmas Eve. There are tons of other delicious drinks available for those who prefer to stay sober. The Danish Christmas tree and its decorations are a huge deal in Denmark. Danish Christmas tree decorations are scarce, as the candles are the most important feature. What about Father Christmas? What do you eat for Christmas in Denmark?

Chris Tonnesen - Copenhagen Media Center. Who is the lady with the candles in her hair? Brittany Overgaard - Frilandsmuseet. More about winter in Denmark. Embrace the Danish Winter like the Danes. Shop at the best Christmas markets in Denmark. The Danish winter wonderland.