Jul (Denmark)
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In Denmark, Jul is celebrated through all of December starting at either Advent or December 1 with a variaty of traditions. Christmas Eve Juleaftensdag is celebrated on December 24.
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[edit] Christmas Eve
An elaborate dinner is eaten with the family. Often consisting of roast pork, roast duck or roast goose with potatoes, red cabbage and plenty of brown sauce. For dessert rice pudding is served, traditionally with an almond hidden inside. The lucky finder of this almond is entitled to a small gift. The rice pudding desert is made with the remaining rice gruel from the previous evening. The rice meal on the 23rd is served with cinnamon, brown sugar and butter, much the same as oatmeal is usually eaten. It is eaten warm with a fruit drink. The remaining rice meal is keep overnight and chopped almonds (and one whole almond) are added. It is eaten cold as dessert on the 24th. After the meal is complete, the family gather around the Juletræ and sing Christmas songs and carols (the latter becoming less popular). Traditionally they would dance around the tree, but due to space constraints of modern homes, this often does not happen. When the singing is complete, the family will select one child to hand out the presents. They are opened and is followed by more snacks, candy, chips and sometimes the traditionally Gløgg.
[edit] Christmas Lunches
Throughout julen a range of Christmas dinners or lunches are arranged. Before December 24 every workplace, union, school, soccer team, or extended groups of friends arrange a julefrokost (Christmas lunch). This typically involves plenty of food and alcohol, and takes place on a Friday or Saturday night. After December 24, usually on 1st or 2nd day of Christmas, the extended families arrange a familiejulefrokost (family Christmas lunch). This usually involves more food, but less drinking, and takes place from noon until evening.
An average dane usually attends three to four julefrokoster and two familiejulefrokoster during Jul.
2nd Christmas Day lunch involves lots of beer and snaps (Danish snaps made from potato and other grains with a carroway and anise flavor). It begins with fish courses, open face sandwiches with herring and deep fried place filet with remoloade. Herring courses can include pickled herring and curried herrings on Danish flat whole grain bread. The fish course usually includes a smoked eel. Next will be a choice of pork tenderloin, roast beef with fried onion or perhaps meatballs (ground pork and beek) called frik-a-dilla. As the conversations wane, someone calls out "Skoal" to make a toast, and everyone stops eating to take a drink. Normally, everyone takes public transportation to the event, so that no one is driving a car home after this traditional lunch party.
[edit] Christmas Calendars
Denmark has adopted and expanded the German tradition of Advent calendars, here known as Christmas calendars to separate them from calendars marking the four Sundays of advents.
Many types of Christmas calendars are in use, but they all mark the days from December 1 until December 24. The traditional calendar is made of cardboard and contains either pictures or treats such as chocolate.
Another popular kind is the gavekalender (present calendar), they come in two kinds. One marking the 4 Sundays of advents (adventskalender), and one making all 24 days of Christmas, containing either 4 presents or 24 small presents.
A special Danish calendar tradition was started by DR in 1962, is sending TV shows with exactly 24 episodes, one broadcast each day of Christmas. The tradition has become very popular and every major network now has one or two TV calendars during Christmas. The tradition of TV calendars have later been adopted by the other Scandinavian countries.
[edit] Other traditions
Danish homes are decorated with kravlenisser (climbing nisse), which are cardboard cutouts of nisser which can be attached to paintings and bookshelves. This is a unique Danish trandition started in the early 20th century.
St. Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13.
