Jan 22nd 2020

Christmas is the festival of hearts in Denmark, a celebration of family when "hygge" is found in every inviting and comfortable living room. Discover the traditions, feasts, decorations and songs that make Danish Christmas traditions so unique!

Nisse the Mischievous Gnome

Kids are a big part of Christmas celebrations in Denmark. Like any other countries, children in Denmark also have a mythical creature keeping an eye on their behavior. According to Danish folklore, Nisse is a gnome that lives in old farmhouses and wears gray woolen clothes, a red bonnet and stockings, and white clogs. On Christmas Eve in Denmark, many families leave a bowl of rice pudding or porridge for Nisse so that he is friendly to them.

Christmas at Tivoli Gardens

During Christmas, this Danish theme park will be a spectacle covered in Christmas lights and filled with more than a hundred Christmas trees. The entire place is transformed into a winter wonderland with a lot of stalls selling glögg (the Danish version of mulled wine) and aebleskivers, a Danish dessert traditionally eaten during the Christmas season.

Walking Around the Christmas Tree

This Danish Christmas tradition is so adorable! After dinner on the 24th of December, Danish families will join hands, sing Christmas carols and walk around the Christmas tree. People say This tradition is meant to give Santa Claus extra time to deliver gifts. To set the mood for the occasion, the tree is also traditionally decorated with actual lighted candles.

Julefrokost, a Danish Christmas lunch

This Danish Christmas tradition typically involves plenty of foods and drinks that are served and enjoyed on weekends. The party starts with smoked salmon, shrimp, herring, deep-fried plaice filet with remoulade (condiment used to top off fish), and rugbrød (Danish whole grain bread). Every half an hour or so, someone calls out “SKÅL!” to make a toast, and everyone stands up to drink.

Aside from these unique Christmas traditions, Denmark is also famous for its traditional butter cookies. Small but sweet, Danisa Butter Cookies are absolutely delicious. The irresistibly buttery and delicious taste come from high-quality butter and other fine ingredients baked to crisp and rich perfection, making it a perfect companion for every festive season with the When travelling to Denmark, don’t forget to bring some of the delightful blue tins home and sharing this prestigious butter cookies with loved ones.

It’s always fascinating to learn about the traditions surrounding major holidays. So, take some inspiration from the above Christmas traditions and bring a little something special into the Christmas celebration at home!