How the Danish Celebrate Christmas

Most Danes are Christians and therefore, celebrate most Western Christmas traditions and festivities. The Danish celebrate Christmas mostly on the day before; Christmas Eve.

The Christmas Eve (called Juleaften in Danish) dinner is initiated with the special Danish rice pudding with a magical almond at its center. Whichever family members that finds the almond receives a prize. After the pudding, the family eats prune-stuffed roast goose accompanied by red cabbage and seasoned potatoes. For dessert, they feast on variegated selections of cakes.

The Christmas plate is a very famous Danish tradition that is comprised of the aristocratic giving fruits and biscuits as Christmas gifts to their servants on fancy plates. The plates soon became collectable pieces among the Danes and are still received today as gifts from family to family.

Christmas in Denmark has many Nordic traditions, including those of elves wandering around. It is said that special elf named Nisse comes out to play from the old farmhouses in the countryside and enjoys playing pranks on people. Nisse wears a red bonnet and stockings, gray wool clothes, and white clogs. On Christmas Eve, as Americans leave out milk and cookies for Santa Claus to munch on, the Danes leave out a bowl of porridge or rice pudding for Nisse. It is said families do so he won't became too rebellious with his pranks. For the most part, he is known to be a gentle creature that fares especially well with children.

December 1^st is the day Danish children receive and open their Christmas calendar. The calendars are made of paper with 24 small windows with small gifts behind them. Every day as the days go by, the change the date and take out the gift, which usually chocolate.

Like the Swiss tradition, children are not allowed to see the Christmas tree until after the Christmas Eve dinner. The parents secretly decorate the tree with homemade decorations such as: straw, bright colored paper, and pieces of wood. On Christmas Eve, the candles on the trees are lighted and carols are sung around the tree as well as typical Danish dances.

Every Sunday during the Advent, or the month of December, family and friends gather to light the candles of the Advent crown. A special alcoholic drink is consumed by adults consisting of red win, raisins, and spices. Children drink a sweeter, nonalcoholic version of the juice. Everyone eats small cakes made of batter topped with sugary icing.

In Denmark, the biggest occasion and event of the year is Christmas Eve; Juleaften. The Julenisse, Christmas elves, are fed rice pudding and families place plates with seeds outdoors for the birds to feed on.