Navidadades

Danish Christmas traditions: Denmark is the country of charming family Christmas traditions. A quaint or old fashioned Christmas is the term I would like to use, but not in a negative sense. I thinkthe Danes capture something in their Christmas celebrations that has been nearly lost in other parts of the world.

Time spent together especially around the holidays seems to be treasured inDenmark. The spirit of A Child's life at Christmas Time is captured in Danish Christmas traditions.
Baking Christmas cookies
Baking Christmas cookies is a family tradition that begins weeks beforeChristmas during the Advent season. Whether it is rolling, cutting, stirring, decorating, or nibbling; everyone takes part.

Gathering around the table with Grandma and Grandpa, and Mom and Dad to decoratethe burne kager (gingerbread cookies) is a tradition the youngest children especially enjoy. The dough was made several weeks earlier and stored in the refrigerator so that it's flavor would meldproperly. Danish butter cookies and peppernoder (peppernuts) are also favorites.

Plates of Christmas cookies are shared and passed between family and friends. It is said that if a visitor leaves yourhome in Denmark without being fed, he will carry away the Christmas spirit. So, of course, that just isn't allowed. Food is shared liberally with everyone, especially Christmas cookies.

Danes loveto decorate their homes for Christmas. Advent wreaths with their candles, Nissers (little gnome like elves), evergreen boughs, mistletoe, and holly are placed throughout the house. If a family livesin a rural area, the whole family sets out with the sled to find and cut their perfect juletrae (Christmas tree).

Danish Christmas ornament

Before that happens though, a special Danish Christmastradition occurs. A day is set apart. This day is called cut and paste day. Everyone, including the teenagers, sit down together and spend the day making and decorating homemade Christmas ornaments....