Danes go crazy when it comes to Christmas... With a million strange traditions like dancing around the tree and putting rice porridge in the attic, they sure know how to celebrate the holiday season! There is 'hygge' all around and getting presents is far from the most fun part of it. Denmark is truly the world capital of Christmas!
It is common knowledge that if you don't place a bowl of rice porridge for the nisser in the attic,
there is no telling what they might do to make your life miserable.
Nisser
Danish Risalamande - Ris a l'amande
To complete the feast, we have a truly Danish invention - risalamande (it comes from the French ris a l'amande, and this makes it sound fancier) is half whipped cream, half boiled rice, with finely chopped almonds and topped with hot cherry sauce. Eating risalamande is not just a delicious experience, though, it is very much social. Because hidden in the big bowl of dessert is one whole almond.
Usually, when everybody has been served their bowl of risalamande, a silence spreads across the room. Eyes shift from person to person. It is more reminiscent of a poker game or a Western-style shootout than a Danish Christmas tradition. "Who has got the almond?" Whoever finds the almond gets a present after everyone if finished eating and will be the subject of comments about always being lucky (and, somehow, it does actually seem that some people are better at getting the almond than others.) Soon the silence is replaced by inquisitive questions: "You've got the almond, haven't you?", "You're hiding it, just like last year, aren't you?". The aim of the one who has found the almond is to hide it and deny having found it - in order to lure the others into eating everything in their bowl. It becomes a kind of perverted eating contest. Around Christmas time, eating a dessert turns into a hyggelig social activity in itself. Do you think it sounds delicious? You should taste it. Fortunately for our bodies, we only get to feast on these dishes once a year.
Usually, when everybody has been served their bowl of risalamande, a silence spreads across the room. Eyes shift from person to person. It is more reminiscent of a poker game or a Western-style shootout than a Danish Christmas tradition. "Who has got the almond?" Whoever finds the almond gets a present after everyone if finished eating and will be the subject of comments about always being lucky (and, somehow, it does actually seem that some people are better at getting the almond than others.) Soon the silence is replaced by inquisitive questions: "You've got the almond, haven't you?", "You're hiding it, just like last year, aren't you?". The aim of the one who has found the almond is to hide it and deny having found it - in order to lure the others into eating everything in their bowl. It becomes a kind of perverted eating contest. Around Christmas time, eating a dessert turns into a hyggelig social activity in itself. Do you think it sounds delicious? You should taste it. Fortunately for our bodies, we only get to feast on these dishes once a year.
- excerpt from "The Little Book of HYGGE" by Meik Wiking
Hygge
HYGGE
IS A FEELING YOU CANNOT TRANSLATE
Cozy, snuggly, relaxing...
What does Hygge mean to you?
IS A FEELING YOU CANNOT TRANSLATE
Cozy, snuggly, relaxing...
What does Hygge mean to you?
Here are a few books you may find interesting. They're all about hygge.
The Cozy Life by Danish-born BC author Pia Edberg
Meik Wiking has a new book out to compliment his Hygge Book: The Little Book of Lykke: The Danish Search for the World's Happiest People
Here is a website that is an introduction to hygge. The Danish Art of Coziness.
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Sankt Hans Midsummer Celebration
What is this strange tradition that the Danes have for burning a witch on Sankt Hans Midsummer's Eve? Here is part of the story:
Sankt Hans Aften takes its name from John the Baptist, who was born six months before Jesus. With Christmas celebrated on December 24th in Denmark, that puts John's birthday on June 24th. The tradition of celebrating the eve of his birthday with a bonfire dates back to the 1600's. According to legend, the summer solstice is a night imbued with evil, in which witches make their way to the Brocken in northern Germany. In Order to ward off those broomstick riding witches, Danes light a bonfire to keep the forces at bay. And if that weren't enough, the bonfires are topped with a witch figure which is set ablaze while the Danes eat, drink and make merry in recognition of summer's peak and associated with beautiful late sunsets. The Advent WreathThe Danes' Christmas begins with the Advent Wreath. Traditionally, the wreath is made of spruce cuttings, decorated with red berries and tree cones, white candles and red ribbons for hanging the wreath from the ceiling. Every Sunday a new candle is lit together with the one(s) already lit the previous Sunday. This means that all four candles - each one obviously shorter than the other(s) - are burning all together on the fourth Advent Sunday, Christmas Eve.
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Dancing around the tree on Christmas Eve
After dinner the tree is lit, and everyone joins hands and walks around the tree singing traditional Danish songs. A lot of people don't have enough space to tour around the tree. In that case, then it is fine to sit down, reflect and enjoy the spectacle. When the children have had quite enough of the singing (and that doesn't take very long) it is finally time for the unwrapping of gifts. Normally one of the children is chosen to find and deliver the presents one at a time. Then wait until the recipient has opened the gift and shown appreciation. It is up to the dealer to see that no one gets left alone during this long climax of Christmas. After the last present, it is time for fresh fruit, cookies, candy, coffee, and maybe a beer.
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