Advent in Denmark

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.The Christmas holiday in Denmark spans Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (24 December to 26 December).

On the four Sundays before Christmas, the season of Advent, candles are lit on an Advent wreath – one candle on the first Sunday, two on the second, and so on. It is also common to light candles that have twenty-four markers on them, one for each day in December until Christmas Eve. Danish flats are often decorated with miniature versions of Santa’s little helpers, small dwarfs called “nisse”.

Friends meet to cut out the small "nisse" dwarfs and to make the traditional red-and-white Danish Christmas hearts (Julehjerte). The homes get heavily decorated with the "nisse", the Christmas hearts, many other Christmas decorations and not to forget candles. Tons and tons of candles. The whole set-up is of course aimed at increasing "hygge", the Danish coziness.

In any book shop you can buy "nisse" sets and sets for making Christmas hearts. The sets have explanations on how to braid the Christmas hearts. You can make the braiding into a real challenge depending on how many stripes your Christmas hearts have.
Try it out, it is great fun. You'll feel thrown back into your childhood days, when you were making small gifts for your parents.

Find out more about the Danish traditions for the Christmas time

• Æbleskiver and gløgg
• Christmas lunches
• Christmas markets
• Christmas cards
• Wish lists
• Gift exchange practice
• Christmas Eve
• End-of season sales
• New Year's Eve
• Three Kings day

Remember to check also the resource section for your life in Denmark to find important information which will help you to settle down faster and make more out of your stay.