A Danish Christmas

According to Wikipedia, Jul ([juːˀl]), the Danish Christmas, is celebrated throughout December starting either at the beginning of Advent or on December 1 with a variety of traditions. Christmas Eve, Juleaften, the main event of Jul, is celebrated on evening of December 24, the evening before the two Christmas holidays, December 25 and 26th.

The family dinner consists of roast pork, duck, goose or stuffed turkey with caramelized potatoes, red cabbage and plenty of brown gravy. For dessert, risalamande, a cold rice pudding dish is served with a hot cherry sauce, traditionally with a whole almond hidden inside. The lucky finder of this almond is entitled to a small gift, which is traditionally a marzipan pig. In some families, it’s tradition that the rice pudding dessert is made with the remaining rice porridge from the previous evening, a meal served on the 23rd, Lillejuleaften (Little Yule Eve), with cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter. It is eaten warm with a fruit drink or sweet malt beer.

After dinner, the family will dance around the Juletræ and sing Christmas carols and hymns. Then presents are handed out by the children or in turn followed by snacks, candy, chips, and sometimes the traditional Gløgg.