Denmark is a country full of traditions, especially when it concerns CHRISTMAS TIME! Despite its small size, from one region to another, traditions can be really different. By the way, this is my favorite season here, since it was the very first time I’ve visited this lovely country. I live in the southwest part of Denmark, in a little town called Nordborg. Nordborg is located on the island of Als.
Christmas time here it’s really a HUGE thing. Kids go baking the traditional Danish småkager (cookies, the ones you can buy in the blue cans?) with their grandmas, all around the place you hear people talking about Christmas trees and the famous Julefrokost ( a kind of lunch/dinner in the best Danish style).
(http://www.umkhaloodie.com/day-4-xmas-in-denmark/?shared=email&msg=fail)
On Christmas Eve, most of the Danes go to the Service at Church. The churches in Denmark are a real work of art. A lot of History in every single piece of the place. After the service, we usually go to our family’s house for some singing time, a delicious dinner and the fabulous presents exchange, where one gets a present from every other family member.
Dinner time: the well-known turkey is served and garnished with brune kartofler (caramelized potatoes), rødkål (red cabbage), brun savs (brown sauce)and kogte kartofler (cooked potatoes). For dessert, risalamande med kirsebær savs, which is a rice pudding with warm cherry sauce. Inside the dessert there’s a whole almond hidden. The lucky person who finds it wins a small gift from the host of the party. After all the eating, people gather in the room where the Christmas tree and all the presents are. You’re allowed to get a present and give to someone else, but never the one addressed to you. Curiosity: you don’t thank the person who gave you the present until all the presents are given and unwrapped. To close the night, the småkager are served along with coffee or tea. In Denmark, Christmas is celebrated with family. On the other hand, New Year is allowed to be celebrated with friends.
I hope you all enjoyed knowing a little bit more about Christmas here in Denmark.
Merry Christmas or Glædelig jul!
Taísa Lima
(Former student of Foreign Languages: English/Spanish, now living in Denmark)
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