Winter Holidays in Denmark: Danish Christmas and New Year’s Traditions
The winter holidays are an important part of Danish culture, and you’ll see everyone celebrating Christmas and partying on New Year’s Eve like there’s no tomorrow.
Winter holidays in Denmark are basically a long season of candlelight, food, family gatherings and traditions that build toward one big night: December 24, or Juleaften.
From candlelit Advent traditions to singing around the Christmas tree and literally jumping into the new year, there’s so much to love (and learn) about Danish holiday culture.
But before you book your flight, let me give you the insider’s scoop on how the winter holidays are celebrated here.
The Danish Winter Holiday Season Timeline
As I said already, the main event in the country – as it usually happens throughout Europe – is not December 25, but December 24th. The Danish Christmas season builds through Advent, Christmas markets, television julekalendere, Lucia celebrations and a steady stream of Christmas gatherings before reaching its peak on Christmas Eve.
Here’s the complete timeline if you happen to be in Denmark in December:
Advent: Four Sundays before December 25, with Advent wreaths, candles and Christmas preparations.
December 1-24: Christmas calendars, including the famous Danish TV julekalender tradition.
December 13: Lucia celebrations and candlelit processions.
December 24: Juleaften, with Christmas dinner, risalamande, singing and dancing around the tree, followed by presents.
December 25-26: Family visits, more Christmas food and quieter celebrations.
December 31: The King’s New Year Address, dinner, champagne, kransekage, chair-jumping and fireworks.
That should already give you a better idea of what Danish holiday culture feels like. Now let’s look at the traditions in more detail!
How is Christmas celebrated in Denmark?
In Denmark, Christmas isn’t confined to a single day – it’s an entire season that kicks off with Advent.
Danes take this celebration to a whole new level, though, with their Julekalender (Christmas calendar) and Gavekalender (gift calendar), where tiny presents or treats are exchanged daily or on each Advent Sunday.
It’s usually parents or grandparents who present these gifts to kids, but there’s no stopping the adults from sharing. It’s becoming more and more common between partners and even at work.
Danish households may mark the season with an Advent wreath, with one candle lit on each Sunday, as well as other types of Christmas candles and calendars.
There’s also the calendar candle, or kalenderlys, marked with numbers leading up to Christmas Eve. It is used as a daily countdown, while chocolate calendars, gift calendars and other Advent calendars have become part of the modern Christmas season too.
To emphasize how important this Danish tradition is, most TV stations have their own Julekalendar series. It is a 24-episode Christmas special from day one to day 24 in December.
If you want to impress your Danish friends, make sure to read my article on how to say Merry Christmas in Danish.
Lucia Day on December 13
Another important date during the Danish Christmas season is December 13, Saint Lucia Day.
Lucia processions bring a different kind of atmosphere to December. Children and adults dressed in white walk in procession carrying the ever-present candles, with the person leading the group traditionally wearing a crown of candles.
In Denmark, Lucia processions can be seen in schools and local communities across the country. I think this is one of the most atmospheric Danish holiday traditions to experience in person.
Christmas Eve: A Feast Like No Other
By the time December 24th rolls around – Juleaften, as the Danes call it – families are ready to celebrate in style. The evening starts with a church service (if that’s your thing) and quickly transitions into a sumptuous dinner shared by the family.
Traditional Christmas dinner usually includes roast pork, duck, or goose, served with boiled potatoes, caramelized potatoes, red cabbage and brown gravy. Yummy!
After the main meal comes the risalamande (photo above), a traditional Danish dessert. Dig into the chilled rice pudding served with a warm cherry sauce reduction.
And here’s the twist – there’s a whole almond hidden in the bowl, and whoever finds it wins a small gift. (My advice? Chew carefully but confidently.)
The celebrations go well into the night with the singing of traditional Danish Christmas carols around the tree.
Expect a tall glass of gløgg, which is a traditional mulled wine, spiced to perfection and served with almonds and raisins that you need to fish out with a spoon as you chug along.
You might also find homemade ebelskivers, powdered sugar, and jam to go along with it on the side.
The Danish Father Christmas is Julemanden, literally “the Christmas Man.” He traditionally arrives on December 24 to hand out presents, and Danish versions of the tradition also include the nisse, mischievous little Christmas figures associated with Danish folklore.
Julefrokost: Denmark’s Christmas Feast
A julefrokost is a Christmas-season gathering centered on a large selection of cold and warm dishes. Danes traditionally hold them with colleagues, friends and family, and company julefrokoster are a particularly established part of Danish working life.
Despite the word frokost normally referring to lunch, these events frequently take place in the evening and usually, the main one takes place on December 25th (although dates can vary).
A typical julefrokost can bring out herring, fish, meat dishes, bread, salads, cheese and other classic Danish fare, with beer and snaps commonly accompanying the meal.
December 25 and 26 are generally quieter days spent visiting relatives and friends who weren’t part of the main Christmas Eve gathering.
New Year’s Eve in Denmark: Champagne, Cakes, and Chair-Jumping
Celebrating New Year in Denmark is also an exciting event. Yes, there are fireworks at the stroke of midnight, like everywhere else, but there’s much more to this celebration.
The evening traditionally begins around 6 PM, when Danes gather around the television or radio for the King’s New Year Address. The speech is broadcast live from the Royal Palace, and the tradition has been part of Danish New Year’s Eve for decades.
After that, the evening moves into dinner, drinks, games and parties.
At the stroke of midnight, Danes have a peculiar tradition: they climb onto chairs (or whatever elevated surface is nearby, with the bravest climbing up on tables) and jump into the new year.
It’s symbolic, of course – leaping forward into good luck and prosperity. Just be careful if you’ve had one too many glasses of champagne or gløgg; a wobbly landing could send you straight into next year’s blooper reel.
Expect the same sumptuous food to be prepared for New Year’s meals but the Kransekage is the icing on the cake here – literally.
This is the iconic Danish New Year’s Eve dessert which is a towering ring cake made of almond paste, sugar, and egg whites, stacked into a cone and drizzled with white icing and is served after midnight with champagne.
Then finally, we need to raise our glasses whenever we hear “Skål” and toast to good health and cheer during the holidays.
One small tip from me: make eye contact when you clink glasses. It’s a simple Danish drinking custom and makes the toast feel much more personal.
And this is how you enter the new year, which will hopefully be much better than the one before. At least this is my wish for you!
Modern Twists on Danish Holiday Traditions
While many traditions remain unchanged and they remain so for all the right reasons, some modern twists have made their way into Danish holiday celebrations, and I want to quickly mention them below.
- Sustainability: Many families now use eco-friendly decorations and buy locally sourced gifts.
- Digital Julekalenders: Some people have swapped physical Advent calendars for online versions, complete with interactive games and surprises.
- Fusion Foods: Traditional dishes are sometimes updated with global flavors, like spiced duck tacos or vegan risalamande.
Quick tips if you visit Denmark during the winter holidays
If you’re visiting Denmark during the winter holidays, here are a few tips to make the most of your experience:
- Visit Christmas Markets: Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens and Aarhus’ Old Town Christmas Market are must-sees.
- Dress Warm: The Danish winter is no joke. Layer up, and don’t forget a good pair of boots.
- Try Everything: From gløgg to kransekage, the holiday season is a foodie’s paradise. You will find some unique foods here, some only prepared during the cold season!
- Learn a Few Phrases: A heartfelt “Glædelig jul!” (Merry Christmas) or “Godt nytår!” (Happy New Year) goes a long way.
In love with Denmark already? Check out my articles sharing traditional Danish girl names or Danish boy names and their meanings, and prepare for living there by reading about salaries in Denmark, as well as the cost of living here.
Wrapping up
Danish winter holidays are a beautiful blend of tradition, warmth, and a touch of whimsy. Whether it’s finding the almond in your risalamande, singing around the tree, or leaping into the new year, there’s something uniquely magical about celebrating the season in Denmark.
What’s your favorite holiday tradition? If there’s something I missed, drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your thoughts. Until then, Glædelig jul og godt nytår!
If you’re passionate about the entire Nordic region, I have guides to winter celebrations in most of the countries here:
“Really cold winter” – this is relative – and true for people from the southern and western Europe, whereas, it would be rather normal or warm for central and eastern Europeans 🙂
Yes, that is true 🙂