Until 1770, the Christmas holidays in Denmark included the 2nd day of Christmas and Epiphany on 6 January (celebrated on the eve of 5 January). Afterwards, only the 1st and 2nd Christmas Days are holidays, and 6 January is now a celebration day. We wish you a merry Christmas, Denmark.
The first Christmas tree in Copenhagen was lit in Ny Kongensgade in 1811. Christmas trees became popular among the middle class from about 1820, and hence spread to all levels of society.
Jul
Jul, the Danish Jule and Christmas, is celebrated throughout December, starting either at the beginning of Advent or on 1 December, with a variety of traditions. Christmas Eve, Juleaften, the main event of Jul, is celebrated on the evening of 24 December, the evening before the two Christmas holidays, 25 and 26 December. Celebrating on the eve before Christmas is also used for most other holidays in Denmark.
Some people in Denmark give and receive extra Advent presents on the four Sundays of Advent.
Christmas in Denmark centers on Christmas Eve (December 24th), featuring a large family dinner with traditional dishes like roast duck or pork and caramelized potatoes. The traditional dessert is risalamande, a cold rice pudding with whipped cream, vanilla, almonds, and cherry sauce. A single whole almond is hidden in the pudding, and the person who finds it wins a small gift (mandelgave).
After the meal, families dance and sing around the Christmas tree before opening presents. The celebration is a culmination of a festive season that often includes Advent calendars, Christmas markets, and holiday parties.
Old Norse tradition
Jul is originally an ancient Old Norse tradition related to the Germanic Yule celebration of Northern Europe, but was mixed with the overlapping Christian tradition of Christmas when Denmark was Christianized during the 11th century. The traditions related to Jul have evolved over the centuries, with many pagan practices still carried on today. In the 19th century, the tradition of bringing a Christmas tree into the home was gradually introduced, inspired by Germany.
Kalenderlys
Different types of Advent candles and calendars are popular in Denmark. A Kalenderlys (calendar candle) is an Advent candle, and most people have one. A Pakkekalender (gift calendar) is also a fun way to count down to Christmas Eve. There are 24 small gifts for the children in the calendar, one for each day until Christmas Eve.
Julekalender
Julekalender (Christmas calendar) is a television series with 24 episodes. One episode is shown each day in December, with the last airing on Christmas Eve. The first Julekalender was shown on Danish TV in 1962. The two main Danish TV channels, DR and TV2, both show different versions of Julekalender each year. The stories in the Julekalender typically follow a similar storyline: someone tries to ruin Christmas, and the main characters save it!
As in Norway and Sweden, the 1958 Disney special “From All of Us to All of You” airs on TV in the afternoon on Christmas Eve.
Church visits
In Denmark, there is a tradition of going to Church on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, the 24th. The text is Luke 2, but since the 24th is not an official Christmas holiday, there was no official ritual for that day until recently.
Most churches have Christmas services on both official Christmas holidays, 25 and 26 December, with well-defined rituals.
Going to church on Christmas Eve has become very popular. The services on 24 December are the most heavily attended of the year in some areas, with around a third of the population attending. There are no statistics of attendants at services in Denmark.
Charity
You can also support Julemærkefonden when you send Christmas Cards in Denmark. Every year, a set of Christmas stamps/stickers/seals called julemærket is sold in December to help raise money for the charity. You use a standard postage stamp as well, the julemærket stickers make the post look more Christmassy! You can find out more about julemærket on https://www.julemaerket.dk.
Christmas markets
Many enjoy visiting Christmas markets to buy gifts, decorations, and food like gløgg (mulled wine).
Christmas lunches
Throughout the Yule period, a range of Yule dinners or lunches is arranged. Before 24 December, most workplaces, unions, schools, football teams, or extended groups of friends arrange a Julefrokost (Yule Lunch), but sometimes they are delayed until January. This typically involves plenty of food and alcohol, and often takes place on a Friday or Saturday night.
Two out of three working Norwegians are invited to an Office Christmas party, but not everyone looks forward to the annual tradition.
Christmas Hearts
Another popular Christmas decoration in Denmark is ‘Julehjerter’, woven Christmas hearts which are traditionally made from red and white paper. Julehjerter typically feature a chequered board pattern and usually have a handle/loop at the top so they can be hung on the Christmas tree. They can also be opened and used as a little basket for goodies!
No one is sure when the custom of making Julehjerter started. The oldest known Julehjerter were made by the famous author Hans Christian Andersen in 1860, and one of his Julehjerter is on display at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark.
Christmas cookies and baking
Baking traditional Christmas cookies is an everyday activity in the lead-up to the holiday.
Christmas confectionery and sweet treats
Throughout December, various confectionery, fruits, cakes, beverages, and other Christmas sweet treats are widely available on the streets, in shops, cafés, and homes. This includes nuts (mostly hazelnut, walnut, and almond), dried fruits (apricots, figs and raisins), oranges, clementines, mandarins, pigeon apples, brændte mandler (sugarglazed almonds), glazed apples on a stick, pancakes, æbleskiver, pebernødder, klejner, brunkager , and other types of småkager (Danish cookies), gløgg of various recipes, and a variety of marzipan treats, some of which include chocolate and Danish nougat.
Christmas decorations
Homes and offices are adorned with handmade paper hearts, stars, and flags.
Christmas vacation
Because of the high concentration of holidays at the end of December, it is possible to have a vacation between Christmas and New Year without missing many days at work. This holiday is usually named “Juleferie” or Yule Vacation, and is generally considered to be in the date range from 24 December until approximately 1 January.
Merry Christmas in Denmark, compiled by Tor Kjolberg