Over time, J-day has become a Danish Christmas tradition celebrated in bars and pubs around the country. 6. There will be an abundant selection of Danish Christmas decorations, gifts, and Danish food and drink. (P.S. Danish Christmas - with Grundtvig. A candle is lit every Sunday until Christmas Eve. And it's vital that we do it too, because it's supposed to bring bad luck for the entire new year if you forget to jump at midnight. Nowadays we're so used to being updated constantly. According to legend, Nisse is a gnome that lives in old farmhouses and wears gray woolen clothes, a red bonnet and stockings, and white clogs. The first Julekalender was shown on TV in Denmark in 1962. Weird Danish Christmas traditions Advent Calendar. Traditionally, she also serves her parents saffron buns and coffee or mulled wine. 5. Nowadays we're so used to being updated constantly. The calendars are filled with chocolate or candy and given to children to enjoy throughout the month of December during the countdown to Christmas. Advent Wreath Danish Christmas begins with the advent wreath. China. This magical time of year is one of the best seasons to visit Denmark, which has many unique and interesting traditions. The two main Danish TV channels DR and TV2 both show different versions of Julekalender each year. One of the most traditional ways to celebrate ones high school graduation is hard not to miss. This light snack is followed by a rice pudding topped with cherry sauce, and where the main goal of eating is to get the portion that contain a whole almond (the winner will get a present!). Scandinavian Classic Baking Recipes. Jul (), the Danish Jule and Christmas, is celebrated throughout December starting either at the beginning of Advent or on December 1 with a variety of traditions. Christmas is a magical holiday, especially for children. She invited me over for lunch to tell me all about it. Now we've already mentioned having candles on our Christmas trees, but we have a few more traditions that (literally) light up our Christmas season. If you forget this important piece of information, you're more Danish that you think.). Danes are famous for our ability to create hygge and Christmas is a season where we go all-in with lights, great food, delicious cookies, alcohol, gifts and even TV-shows. Feared and hyped; as the social event, the Christmas Lunch is definitely a … And that all sounds lovely right? Love is all around. Non-Christian Alternatives. For many, the Christmas season kicks off in Denmark with the delivery of the first julebryg, or Christmas beer. When I was young, I always looked forward to celebrating with my maternal grandparents, who incorporated traditions from their Danish heritage into our festivities. If you plan to spend New Year's Eve in Denmark, don't be alarmed when you see Danes standing on chairs just before midnight. Christmas and the way it is celebrated in Denmark has a long history. We have a rather whimsical wedding tradition in Denmark that when the groom is out of the reception room, the guests hurry to kiss the bride - and vice versa (the female guests tend to freshen up their lipstick before kissing the groom). We sing songs such as Midsommervisen by Holger Drachmann, listen to the live band that usually play at our public events, and treat ourselves to some snacks and drinks. Overall the Christmas lunches are the party-like celebrations, drowned in alcohol and inappropriate flirting to counter-weight all of the cute and cozy family traditions. smørrebrød and snaps) are the stars of the show. Danish Holidays & Traditions Danes are a happy people. We do single shaming a bit differently (some might say extreme) in Denmark. On Christmas Eve, Danes typically have a Christmas dinner of duck or goose, red cabbage, and caramelized potatoes. J-day was introduced by the Danish brewery Tuborg in 1990 to launch that year's Christmas beer and has since become a Danish tradition that more or less kicks off the Christmas season in Denmark. J-Dag: The beginning of the Christmas season in Denmark. Typically, the wreath is made out of fine spruce twigs, and are decorated with a variety of things. This magical time of year is one of the best seasons to visit Denmark, which has many unique and interesting traditions.A holiday visit will teach you a lot about the culture from how to say "Merry Christmas" in Danish (Glaedelig Jul) to new traditions and the splendor of Danish Christmas markets. It was a way to ward off witches in the Middle Ages. Trying some of the delicious buns at Fastelavn (Fastelavnsboller), 2. As in other Scandinavian countries, Danes mark the feast day of St. Lucia on December 13. In the Middle Ages, after the Danes had been Christianized, catholic traditions mingled with the old Nordic ones especially in the cities, and the custom of candles was adopted. When visiting Denmark during the holiday season, don't miss out on the opportunity to see the Copenhagen's traditional celebrations at Tivoli Gardens. In February, we celebrate Fastelavn which is a mix of Halloween and carnival. On Christmas Eve in Denmark, many families leave a bowl of rice pudding or porridge for him so that he is friendly to them and keeps his jokes within limits. So where does the witch burning come into the picture? Christmas Eve is traditionally regarded as a festive day, on which the Danes celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you read on, we'll tell you all about our weird Danish traditions that make perfect sense to us. 10 Traditional Danish Christmas Treats One of the most essential aspects of travel for us is the connection to those around you. 4 easy ways you can get a taste of our traditions, 12 weird traditions that only make sense to Danes, 1. J-Day is a uniquely Danish tradition dedicated to the country’s specially spiced Christmas brew. J-dag (i.e. In our brewery-packed country, it's only natural that we serve pancakes made with beer! A holiday visit will teach you a lot about the culture from how to say "Merry Christmas" in Danish (Glaedelig Jul) to new traditions and the splendor of Danish Christmas markets. The Julekalender is the advent calendar in Denmark. Traditionally, dinner is served at 6pm and it takes days to prepare it. Anyhow, we have a never-ending list of traditions when it comes to the Christmas season, so we'll introduce you to a few of them. There are a lot of different rules of what to write and cut into the caps, and if you stop one of the graduates they're usually more than willing to explain them all to you. J-day) is an abbreviation for julebrygsdag (Christmas Brew Day). It's similar to a piñata, though in stead of sweets we traditionally had a black cat inside the barrel. After 11 months, we're finally allowed to break out the old family recipes for our baked goods such as brunkager and klejner. Even before the birth of Christ, the concept was known in the Nordic countries and some of the customs of Christmas has been carried into our time. United States of America. 1. J-day was introduced by the Danish brewery Tuborg in 1990 to launch that year's Christmas beer and has since become a Danish tradition that more or less kicks off the Christmas season in Denmark. The Danes have a lot of habits and traditions regarding the Christmas holidays. (Sounds familiar?). Whether at school or at work, it's tradition that the birthday child brings sweets or cake. J-dag (i.e. See more ideas about danish christmas, christmas traditions, scandinavian christmas. As an added little fun fact that always seem to freak people out: we use candles (yes real ones with flames and everything) on our trees. How is a Danish Christmas different from an American Christmas? Christmas Eve, Juleaften, the main event of Jul, is celebrated on the evening of December 24, the evening before the two Christmas holidays, December 25 and 26th. For instance, our advent calendar candle used for counting down the days until Christmas Eve, and celebrating Saint Lucia's Day on December 13 with processions (which you can experience all over the country). When shopping the Christmas markets in Denmark, these little gnomes make great souvenirs. (He probably could've used some anger management...), Come December, the days are at their shortest and darkest (in mid-December, we only about seven hours of sunshine per day). If we happen to be single on our 25th birthday, we're dragged into the street by our friends who'll cover us in cinnamon. One of the main Christmas characters in Denmark is a mischievous elf named Nisse. Of course, Santa will be there to pose for photographs with the children. Discover the traditions, feasts, decorations and songs that that make celebrating Christmas in Denmark so unique: Danish Christmas Markets. Our Easter letters (or gækkebreve as we call them) are something truly Danish. Egypt. ? We're so pancake-mad that we have a cartoon character, Rasmus Klump, who eats almost nothing else, and there is a special variety of pancakes, filled with cream and sprinkled with almonds, that is traditionally served to guests at Copenhagen City Hall. This rice pudding contains one whole almond, and whoever finds it wins an extra treat. Once every one has chosen a carol to sing, we unwrap our present. Dec 29, 2019 - Explore Eileen Jaremy's board "Danish Christmas traditions" on Pinterest. It […] If you find yourself in Denmark during the last week of June, you'll most likely run into a bunch of teenagers wearing our iconic student cap. But you'll notice that there are certain occasions and times of the year where time seem to stand still, and we celebrate like it's 1549. Adults typically drink Akvavit with their Christmas meal, which is very alcoholic aperitif popular throughout Scandinavia. Danish pancakes are a culinary tradition everyone can enjoy. When Christmas Eve arrives, give it your all. Even the city buses stop running between 17.30-22.00 so … On June 23rd, we celebrate Midsummer by gathering around a bonfire up and down the country. Whether you’re from The United States or France, Canada or Denmark, chances are food is a […] (But don't worry! Let's just quickly clarify that it's a doll, not a real witch (we're not that crazy! 12 weird traditions that only make sense to Danes. First of all, we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December (Christmas Eve) with our loved ones where we eat a mouth-watering meal of roast pork and duck, boiled potatoes, red cabbage and gravy. But you'll notice that there are certain occasions and times of the year where time seem to stand still, and we celebrate like it's 1549. Another pre-Christmas tradition, markets pop up all over the country selling handmade crafts... Julefrokost. Many Danish traditions are based around the Christian calendar, with Christmas, Easter and St. John’s Eve (at the end of June) being some of the most important and typically spent together with family. Treat yourself to our seasonal delicacies at our Christmas markets. Nowadays we've switched out the cat for the sweets and simply decorated the barrel with a cut-out version of a black cat). In 2009 the Danish … Christmas traditions often highlight the merging of Danish and American customs. Just take a look at it here: The 10 best Danish Christmas foods. But the geese betrayed him by flying away, and Martin got his revenge by claiming that every family should feast on a goose on Saint Martin's Eve. She was a third-century martyr who brought food to Christians in hiding. (Forget the lottery, these letters are high risk, high reward!) J-day) is an abbreviation for julebrygsdag (Christmas Brew Day). It’s A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Furthermore, we attend a range of Christmas lunches with friends, colleagues, and family throughout December, where some of our most iconic and traditional dishes (i.e. Every country has their own traditions that are cherished and make their country feel special in a world where American tradition tends to overpower. A Danish Christmas Dinner is a Gr8 theme for a party around the holidays. The Danish word for the Christmas holiday is Jul, from the Old Norse jól, the term for "midwinter", itself cognate with the English word, yule. These teens have just graduated high school, and for the following week the white caps seem to be everywhere you go. Christmas in Denmark is filled with traditions beginning with Advent and the countdown to Christmas. CHRISTMAS CALENDARS. 2. During the last weekend in June, the streets are filled with large, decorated trucks in which the graduates stop by each of their classmates' houses for something to eat and drink. On the 10th of November, we celebrate Saint Martin's Eve (Mortensaften) by treating ourselves to a scrumptious dinner of a roast goose (originally... nowadays roast ducks are more commonly used), potatoes, and gravy. Joining the celebrations on Saint John's Eve, 4. A nice, sumptuous Christmas dinner for example. It is important to keep your countries traditions alive, especially if you don’t live there anymore, like my mom. ... anymore). Every year in Christmas the Danish television channel DR presents a special Christmas show that starts on the 1st of December and lasts until Christmas Eve. On Christmas day Danes dance around the christmas tree singing songs with their family before opening some gifts. You can easily join in the festivities, but it might be good to remember that these Christmas beers have a higher percentage of alcohol than regular pilsners. Lord knows I love food, and December is by no means an exception when it comes to yummy Danish Christmas Foods.Every family have their own traditions for Christmas Eve, and while some eat pork roast or chicken, others prefer duck or goose.Most food on this list is general for Danes, but there are a few family dishes as well. Thus, the winter celebration has a special place within our culture - even for our Viking ancestors who gathered for the festivities where they ate good food, drank beer and exchanged gifts. Christmas Eve traditions for the Danes can vary. Christmas, one of the grandest holidays celebrated worldwide, is a representation of bringing loved ones together in celebration. The text itself has to rhyme, and the sender signs the letter by spelling out its name in dots, so the recipient has to guess who sent the letter. 3. This 24-episode show aired for the first time in 1962 but it became such a success that became a tradition that lasts until nowadays. I’m not a huge fan of Danish food in general, but our Christmas food…. At the start of the Christmas season, four weeks before Christmas Day, Danes light the traditional Advent wreath, which has four candles. The Advent calendar or candle is a longstanding tradition. Christmas Traditions‎ > ‎ Denmark. One episode is shown each day in December with the last one being aired on Christmas Eve. Midwinter celebrations were an important part of Scandinavian culture since prehistoric times, and the term was retained to refer to "Christmas" after Christianization. DANISH CHRISTMAS DINNER. Danish Christmas Traditions Christmas is always a special time of year - but last year brought a overwhelming sense of gratefulness and endearing moments. So, coming from a country (New Zealand) which has a more ‘afslappet’ (relaxed) approach to Christmas traditions, the Danish Christmas season continues to enchant me. ScandiKitchen Christmas: Recipes and traditions from Scandinavia. The wreath features four candles, with owners lighting one every Sunday for the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. Danish cupcakes, called aebleskiver, are traditional breakfast items on Christmas morning, while Christmas Day lunch is usually cold cuts and different types of fish. Candles along with food and money were given to poor people as charity. Christmas in Scandinavia: Traditions, Events, and Foods, 48 Hours in Copenhagen: The Ultimate Itinerary, Christmas Activities and Festivities in the Greater Phoenix Area, Have a Rockin' Christmas in New Orleans This Holiday Season, 18 Places to Spend Your Christmas Vacation With Kids, The Top 24 Things to Do in Denmark During the Winter, Learn How to Celebrate St. Lucia Day in Scandinavia, Celebrate Christmas Italian Styles at These City Events. Hint: it's food. On Christmas night, families gather around the tree to exchange presents and sing carols. If you read on, we'll tell you all about our weird Danish traditions that make perfect sense to us. The park will be a spectacle covered in Christmas lights and filled more than a thousand Christmas trees. Terri Mapes specializes in giving first-time Scandinavia visitors practical tips for their travels. Denmark. Danish Christmas Traditions are Full of Hygge. Perhaps the allure of the sunshine, beaches and BBQ’s successfully distracts New Zealanders at this time of the year and traditions become more folklore than law. (Though you might also say it's not exactly good luck if you end up falling on your face as you try to jump off the chair - not that any of us have ever tried anything so embarrassing...). The wreath has four candles and one candle is lit every Sunday of December […] Mexico. We guess it's a way of sharing the happiness and joy of being the birthday kid. December 1-24, it’s not hard to get children out of their beds in the morning. The Christmas ‘Lunch’. You might ask how we dare mix fire and trees, but the answer is simple: hygge. On Christmas Eve ( Julaften ) Danish immigrants would have the most important feast of the year. Today I’m showing you 10 Danish Christmas Traditions that I have learned since living here. Julekalender (christmas calendar) is a television series with 24 episodes. Now you might think that when it's your birthday, you're entitled to be the one getting cake, but that's not how we do in Denmark. Danish Christmas traditions are associated with joy, cosiness and delicious food, and Christmas Eve – the 24th of December – is certainly no exception. If he is mistaken, he has to buy the sender one. This food and drink orgy is supplemented by fun party games and sometimes costumes. Christmas Traditions. After dinner, we'll head in to the living room to dance around the Christmas tree while we sing carols. What all of this leads up to, the climax of this most festive month, is the 24th, Danish Christmas Eve. Keep in mind that the days in December are rather short, and by Danish standards, darkness equals candles. This Danish Christmas tradition … Every country has its own tradition for kicking off the Christmas traditions, with the Danish doing this with the Advent wreath. Tod… (Trust us, you don't want to miss out on æbleskiver!). There are even special Christmas beers and gløgg - a cup of warmed wine mixed with brandy and dried fruit. If you are new to Denmark and planning on spending Christmas with the Danes, take a moment to reflect on this quick overview of some of the best known Danish Christmas traditions. He immediately referred me to his mom, Ulla, who was thrilled to spend time with me and teach me about Danish Christmas traditions. Children often have the job of blowing out the candle before it burns down toKeep Reading It can also be called ‘gift calendar’ because instead of little chocolates the calendar have 24 small gifts. In Denmark, great attention is paid to traditions, customs and festivals. It's not because we're drunk (though we might be), it's simply an old tradition that we jump into the new year as the clock strikes 12. First off, Here are our top 3 Danish Christmas cookbooks to help bring some hygge to your kitchen: 1. As part of the celebration, the eldest girl in each family portrays St. Lucia, putting on a white robe in the morning wearing a crown of candles–which sometimes are really lit! Many visitors are drawn to the holiday cheer of the Christmas season in Denmark. Danish Christmas is celebrated in the evening on December 24, and the country virtually shuts down. Children dress up in costumes and hit the cat out of the barrel. J-day falls on the first Friday of November every year, and starts at 8:59 PM. #danishchristmastraditions #christmasindenmark #danishcultureHi! If you ask me, dinner is the best thing about Christmas. Counting down to Christmas. Christmas is a time when Nisse can have his fun. And this is particularly true when we attend weddings. They are very personal as cut in a variety of patterns. We also usually serve them with ice cream, berries, sugar and jam. Brazil. It all has to do with some French bloke (Martin) who hid in a flock of geese to avoid being named bishop. Grundtvig's first distinctive hymn is the Christmas hymn " Deilig er den Himmel blaa " ( 1811; Glorious Is the Blue Sky ). We wander through Christmas markets with a glass of mulled wine (gløgg) and a plate of at least three æbleskiver. Scandinavian Gatherings: 70 Simple Recipes & Crafts for Everyday Celebrations. The candle has 24 markings and is lit every day from December 1 to Christmas Day. Sitemap. Many visitors are drawn to the holiday cheer of the Christmas season in Denmark. Because food is a big reason why we're always counting down to Christmas season. The main part of the holiday celebration in Denmark begins on December 23, with a meal that includes cinnamon rice pudding known as grod. Afterward, the dessert is usually a lighter rice pudding with whipped cream and chopped almonds. Why do we do this you might ask? Children are a big part of Christmas celebrations in Denmark, as much as they are in the United States and they also have a mythical creature keeping an eye on their behavior. France. I'm Kelly, an American in Denmark. Throughout the party, there's a lot of kissing going on - and it's not only between the happy couple. If the recipient guesses correctly, he will receive a chocolate Easter egg. Christmas is a big deal in Denmark, you will notice tons of decorations and lights all over Danish cities. In this early stage he often used hymns from the Reformation as his source of inspiration. The decorations are simple, the food delicious, and hygge is a real thing! And we can expect the same treatment if we're still single and unmarried by the time we turn 30, though the cinnamon is then replaced by black pepper.