Christmas in Denmark
© Britt Koch Franczek-Pedersen
Christmas in Denmark, as in most other countries, starts in the end of November when the stores and little shops start displaying their Christmas present sales, put up decorations to put us in the right spirit, send out wonderfully scented smells and play Christmas music over the radio. But I for one love this! I am a big Christmas lover.... I love the romance of this season, I love the joy and all the smiling kids with great expectation for the Day, I love writing Christmas cards, wrapping the presents, baking cookies, lighting candles everywhere, singning along to the old-fashioned Christmas tunes and drink a cup of hot cocoa all wrapped up in blankets. Of course, now living in Arizona, USA the hot cocoa and the blankets are not being used all that often anymore.... But in Denmark I clearly remember thsoe times, and it would be even better if it would start snowing, take on your warmest clothes and go for a long walk in the new fine snow. Listening to the crisp sound as you walk through the piles and the fresh air biting you nose and your cheeks...
Of course the part where you go Christmas shopping can be a stressful affair, and often I would go out with hopes of finding just the right presents having put the entire day aside for just having fun and enjoying myself, but as always I would find myself running away screaming not being able to get home to my peaceful house fast enough.... But if you are prepared for this stress and for being pushed around but thousands of other Christmas shopping people it can be a rather nice experience as well. Walking down the pedestrian street in Copenhagen, enjoing a cup of Glogg on a brake, eating roasted chestnuts from one of the street sellers, etc. But it takes a lot of patience being out for hours and hours...
In my family we start celebrating already on December 23. The day we call 'Lille Juleaften' (Little Christmas Day). We get together with family and friends and decorate the tree,- even making many of the decorations ourselves. We eat apple dumplings
, drink Glogg (warm red wine with spices and raisins and almonds), listen to Christmas music, maybe even sing, eat Christmas goodies such as marzipan, nougat and Christmas cookies as Pebbernoedder
.
Christmas Day, which for Danes is on the 24th (we celebrate Christmas on the night of the 24th) I take my grandmother to church where we hear about the Christmas Gospel and afterwards we go home and start getting dressed for the big evening. On our way to my parents' place we stop by the graveyard where we put down flowers and candles for our deceased relatives. This place comes to live this one day a year. So many people come here with candles etc and it's a very pretty sight.....
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