Christmas is coming

Danish Christmas Traditions

A Danish flag on a pine tree - Photo: Paul Hanaoka

Denmark is almost entirely surrounded by water, this makes for a lush climate and beautiful coastlines, but it also makes it possible to live in relative isolation to your neighboring countries. Maybe this isolation is the reason that Danes have developed many unusual and unique traditions throughout history. Whatever the reason may be, the Danish Christmas brings heritage a plenty. In last year's Christmas edition of the newsletter, we described some of these traditions and this year we will continue that practice.

Below are some of the interesting parts of Danish Christmas that we didn't cover last time. Some parts might even be unknown to Danes, so read on to become learned in the more obscure parts of Danish Christmas.

Pepper Cookies

Or "peberkager" as they are called in Danish, are a staple of Danish Christmas and the shelves of the supermarkets during the period. These cookies come in many different shapes and sizes and are now traditionally eaten during the Christmas period. The shelves of the supermarkets and bakeries are filled with these different iterations such as "brunkager" (Brown cakes), "honninghjerter" (Honey hearts) and "pebernødder" (Pepper nuts).

You might have guessed that the common denominator between these different types of cookies would be pepper. That is, however, completely wrong, so wrong in fact that they all share the trait of not having any pepper present at all. Even traditional recipes of the cookie rarely contained pepper. How does that make sense, you may ask. The answer to that question, lies in a Danish idiom, an idiom of which the meaning has long been changed. "At pebre", meaning "to pepper" now refers to adding pepper to something (as would seem logical). However, once upon a time this sentence was used to describe the process of seasoning food in general, giving it a sharp taste. A reason for this rather unhandy figure of speech may lie in the fact that pepper was an expensive commodity in medieval times. Maybe the reason lies in a farmer's dreams of wealth and prosperity, dreams of pepper.

Advent Wreath

Although not an exclusively Danish tradition, you will find an advent wreath in many homes throughout Denmark. Originally a German tradition, the wreath came to Denmark around the first world war and has become a Christmas mainstay in Denmark. The wreath has 4 lights symbolizing the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas. On each of the 4 Sundays a candle is lit and for each passing week the amount of "hygge" is turned up all over the country.

The word advent means "arrival" in Latin and refers to the arrival of Jesus Christ, "adventus Domini". Although popular, the advent wreath isn't the used natural lighting during December. The "kalenderlys" - calendar candle takes that prize. You can read more about it in our first guide to Danish Christmas.

Sankta Lucia

Ask a Dane to hum the melody of Sankta Lucia, and they will most likely be able to. Every year on the 13th of December, schoolkids all over the country will dress up in white gowns and fetch a lit candle. Then they will walk in a long line with rhythmic steps while singing a song for the saint Lucy. The first Danish Santa Lucia parade was walked in 1943 in Silkeborg, and since the tradition has become an integral part of celebrating Christmas in the Danish schools.

A Christmas Market - Photo: Toa Heftiba

Every year around this time, Danish cities will turn from winter gloom to Christmas glance. Not only will the streets be decorated with lights that illuminate the streets in cozy Christmas lights. This time of year, also marks the arrival of the Christmas markets. From November onwards, you can experience Danish Christmas markets in all sizes and durations. Some are small and are only there for a day, and some are large and last from now till Christmas.

The markets of Zealand

Zealand is filled with different Christmas markets. From the rooftop of a building to inside a museum. The Christmas markets of Zealand offer different experiences. Below we will describe two of them. If you want to see region specific Christmas markets, you can click the buttons below.

Christmas in a knife factory

Every year an old knife factory in Raadvad on the outskirts of Copenhagen opens the doors to a Christmas market filled with art, ceramics, design and crafts. Go there, not only for the market, but also for the beautiful surroundings that Raadvad offers. The market will be open during the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December from 11:00 to 16:00

Christmas in a free town

From the 7th to the 20th of December, the free town of Christiania in Copenhagen organizes a Christmas market in The Grey Hall. This tradition has gone on since the 70's and there will be plenty of stalls with both beautiful and unconventional themes. They will be open from 12:00 to 20:00.

The markets of Funen

On the island of Funen and its surrounding smaller islands you can experience true Christmas hygge. Visit Fyn have made a thorough guide that collects these markets on a list of pure joy. Check it out by clicking the button below.

The markets of Jutland

On the Jutland peninsula there are of course also plenty of opportunities to taste some gløgg or some æbleskiver. Every region of Jutland has unique things to offer and below you can check them out.

The Danish (Christmas) Language

Speaking Danish - Photo: Miguel Prego

The Danish language is filled with unique words and phrases. Some of them are nice to know during Christmas and will come in handy this next coming month. Check some of them out below.

• Nisse - With Christmas decorations comes the nisse. Now a ubiquitous part of Danish Christmas, the nisse is part of Nordic folklore and was seen as a protective house god that could help out on the farm. If you treated them badly however, they could become vengeful and dangerous. Different versions of the nisse can be found throughout the different nations in Scandinavia. Although the nisse has roots all the way back in the 14th century, the tradition of the Christmas nisse has only been around since the middle of the 18-hundreds. Now the nisse is almost exclusively linked to Christmas.

• Gløgg/Glögg - Hot, spiced wine. If you decide to visit a Christmas market, you will most definitely encounter a stand selling gløgg. Spiced wine isn't a Danish phenomenon, as it has been drunk by people since antique Greece. There are many different versions of it in Europe. The German Glühwein, the French Vin Chaud and the English Mulled wine. The Danish version usually contains slivers of almond and raisins. Typically, it is also sweeter and stronger than its counterparts.

• Risalamande - A dish that sounds French but is as Danish as Christmas dishes come. When the Danes have stuffed their bellies full of delicious Christmas food, the only thing there is room for is Risalamande. Through a Christmas miracle, the Danes have gotten an extra stomach, exclusively made for Risalamande. Almost solely eaten on Christmas eve, Risalamande is the culmination of the Christmas dinner. It is typically served with warm cherry sauce and one whole almond, which you need to make sure not to eat.

• Mandelgave - Connected to the Risalamande, this gave - present in English - is given to the lucky person who receives a portion of Risalamande with the one whole almond in it. Presenting this whole almond to the rest of the table means that you will be the one to receive the mandelgave - the almond present. As the present does not have a designated receiver, it will often be a generic present like a box of chocolate or wine.

• Pakkeleg - The Present game. This game is a relatively young Danish tradition. There is no formal history of its inception, but people seem to remember that the game entered the Danish Christmas tradition sometime during 1980's. Pakkeleg is in essence a game of dice. Although different families have different sets of rules, usually rolling a 6, means that you will get to take a present from another participant. The presents involved are usually small, and some of them might even be bought to tease the recipient. Not all families play this game, but those that do have a fun time.

Free Danish Classes

As a general rule, you are entitled to free Danish education for a period of up to 5 years from your arrival to Denmark. To read more about this opportunity, click the button below.

The Danish Tax System

Is filing your preliminary income assessment an overwhelming experience? Or do you not even know what it is? Not to worry! Join our free online Q&A and get familiar with the Danish tax system.

It's time to review your preliminary income assessment and make your final adjustments - but fear not, because the Danish Tax Agency are here to help you out and answer any questions you may have about your preliminary income assessment or just taxes in general.

The Danish tax system online Q&A will be held live on December 4, from 17:00-18:30.

Prepare for the live Q&A by watching a prerecorded video on the Danish tax system in English - Watch the video.

Sign up for the Q&A by clicking a button below.

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