The old charming amusement park, Tivoli, in the heart of Copenhagen is beautifully decorated for Christmas. We had a magical night there surrounded by “snow”, pretty lanterns, lights, Christmas trees and ornaments everywhere. We bought Danish “aebleskiver” and “glögg” (hot spiced wine) from one of the many snow covered wooden pavilions and enjoyed it outside on cafe chairs with blankets wrapped around us. Does it get any more “hyggeligt”/cozy than this?
Here is a little sample of my Danish Christmas. The old streets of Copenhagen decorated with garlands, lights, hearts and stars. White hyacints and pine cones are important too. But lets not forget the mouth watering marzipan (almond paste) and nougat on coffee tables all around the country… I know bicycles aren’t exactly a Christmas thing but only in Denmark will you see a baby chair that matches the color of the mother’s bicycle! Says so much about the importance of bicycles and design to the Danes.
Today Danes celebrate that it is the first Sunday of Advent before Christmas Eve. They do this by turning on one candle in an Advent wreath of four candles because it is the first Sunday of Advent out of four. This is a wonderful excuse to get cozy with your family around the lighted Advent wreath and to let the Christmas hygge begin!
Most of us love the kind of Christmas we grew up with and of course I think that Danish Christmas is the best! There are so many cozy and old-fashioned Christmas traditions throughout the whole month of December in Denmark, many of them originating from old farm life. Like the Christmas gnomes (“nisser” in Danish) that used to tease farmers if they didn’t give them any rice porridge. To avoid nisse-mischief Danish farmers used to put a bowl of rice porridge topped with cinnamon and butter up in the hay loft for their own little gnome. To this day, Danes decorate their houses with little gnomes in December. Scandinavian Design Made By Trine & Angelica makes the cutest little Christmas gnomes and forest animals. Each little gnome has so much life and personality that they will definitely fill your Christmas with some good old mischief! The company is owned by a talented Swede and Dane living in America and they design and produce everything themselves. The gnomes cost between $25 and $55 and can be bought …
Happy as a Dane 