Christmas in Denmark is celebrated with fun and
great enthusiasm. The holiday season of Christmas is, in fact, the
longest and the most popular in the country. As the holiday season
approaches, the days become shorter. The glowing Christmas lights in
the streets and houses dispel the gloom of the never-ending twilight
of winter. There are only few hours of dim light during winter in
Denmark. Hence, lighted candles are found everywhere during
Christmas in Denmark. Schools, homes and churches burn innumerous
candles to steer clear the darkness. In Denmark, the practice of
lighting candles is, in fact, an old tradition, which is much older
than Christmas. Denmark is one of the few countries in the world
where Christmas is celebrated with such a burst of light. Read on to
know more about the customs for celebration of Christmas in Denmark.
Advent, the fourth Sunday before Christmas, is an important day
during Christmas celebrations in Denmark. Special services are
conducted in Danish churches to celebrate Advent. A beautiful Advent
wreath made of evergreen boughs holding four tall red or white
Advent candles is hung above or placed as the centerpiece in Danish
households to celebrate Advent. The beginning of Christmas
celebrations in Denmark is marked by lighting an Advent wreath
candle on the first Sunday of Advent. One more candle is lit on the
second Sunday of Advent, together with the first candle and on the
following Sunday, the third Advent candle is lit. All the four
candles are lit together on the last Sunday before Christmas.
Most of the Danish families put out their Christmas or Advent
calendars on the first of December. There is something unique about
the Advent calendars- it is the presence of small doors or windows
on the calendar. The countdown for Christmas in Denmark begins on
the first of December. Each day before Christmas is counted by
opening one of the 24 numbered windows or doors present in the
Advent calendar. Behind each door/window on the calendar, there is a
treasured symbol of the holiday season such as toys, candles,
cookies and so on. These Advent calendars either are purchased from
the stores or are homemade. Homemade advent calendars include hooks
in place of windows or doors. The tiny packages hung from each hook
are unwrapped on each of the 24 days before Christmas. These tiny
packages often contain small Christmas gifts such as toys, candies,
or wrapped chocolates.
Sharing of holiday cheers with family, friends and neighbors and
exchange of Christmas gifts with them is an important aspect of
celebration of Christmas in Denmark. The Danish believe that a
Christmas visitor who leaves the house without being fed may carry
away the Christmas spirit. Hence, the visitors during Christmas in Denmark are given sumptuous treats of freshly baked Christmas
goodies and the family's good cheers are shared with them. The
Danish women are busy all the time in kitchen during the Christmas
season. The kitchen in every Danish household buzzes with activities
of cooking and is filled with the aroma of sweets, spices in the
weeks before Christmas.
Christmas Eve is called as 'Juleaften' in Denmark. It is
an important day during the festive season of Christmas in Denmark.
In fact, Christmas Eve is the busiest day in the country. Christmas
Eve is generally a private affair in Denmark. It is a get together
of family members, close relatives and friends and grand parents. On
Christmas Eve, the Christmas tree is decorated, the Christmas gifts
are wrapped, and every household is tidied up. The parents in Danish
households decorate the Christmas tree beautifully, with bright
papers, homemade wooden and straw ornaments. A huge pile of
Christmas gifts is left beneath the Christmas tree and the gifts are
exchanged with all the family members and close friends. The
Christmas tree is lit up before the dinner when they sing carols and
hymns.
The Christmas feast is in the midnight of Christmas Eve. Danish
enjoy partying all through the night before Christmas. Traditional
prune-stuffed roast goose, fried pastries, red cabbage, and
cinnamon-laced rice pudding called Grod are served in the Christmas
feast. December 25 and December 26 are holidays in Denmark. They are
called as Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day. Both these days
are celebrated with fun and fervor, with family and friends. The
holiday season of Christmas in Denmark is a time for social get
together, great fun and feasting!
Christmas in Denmark is
celebrated with fun and enthusiasm. Read this article to know more
about the celebration of Christmas in Denmark.