12 Unique Danish Christmas Traditions

If you’re searching for Danish Christmas traditions or an authentic Christmas experience, Denmark has so much to offer—enjoying traditional Christmas feasts, exploring Christmas markets, or partaking in unique customs like Julefrokost.

I’m living in Denmark and have celebrated Christmas here for many years. Luckily, my beloved colleague from the office also invited me to her home to celebrate Christmas. So, I have experienced Christmas like a local.

Here, I share the Danish Christmas traditions from the first event of J Day beer celebrations to Christmas Eve.

Ready to dive into the Christmas traditions in Denmark?

Let’s explore the timeless rituals to make the holiday season in Denmark truly special!

1. J Day

J Day is the first event to kickstart the Christmas season in Denmark. It is the day when Turborg (a part of Carlsberg) releases a limited edition of Christmas beer every year.

J Day is celebrated on the first Friday of November, kickstarting the Christmas season.

If you are visiting Denmark in early November, you should not miss celebrating J Day with the Danes. It is one of my favorite Christmas events and I always look forward to, it every year.

To know more details on how Danes celebrate J Day and how you can be a part of it, read the J Day in Denmark.

2. Danish Christmas Decorations

Just before the Advent starts, the family members go out to buy a real Christmas tree for the house. In Denmark, the Danes usually don’t use plastic trees.

Danes take immense care to decorate and light up. They love the DIY Christmas decor making everything from scratch. The families come together to make paper hearts and start decorating the tree. Even the kids are taught how to make one in school.

Juletræ or Danish Christmas trees are generally decorated with ornaments like

• Danish Christmas Candles (Danes use real candles instead of lights)
• Julestjerner (Stars) – on the top of the Christmas tree
• Julehjerter (Danish Christmas heart)
• Christmas baubles
• Nisse (Elf or Gnome)
• And of course, Danish Flags.

The traditional Danish Christmas decorations are simple and elegant, with a focus on white and gold lights, complemented by red to evoke the Christmas spirit. They typically prefer to avoid colorful displays, even on the streets.

Many streets in Copenhagen and other cities in Denmark are lit with sparkling festive lights. The Christmas markets, many restaurants, and houses are also lit.

Did you know? The ‘Julehjerte’ invented by H. C. Andersen was green and yellow, but during Christmas, it is always in the combinations of white and red or white and green.

3. Juletræ Lighting Ceremony

On the first Sunday of Advent December, a giant Christmas tree (Denmark’s largest Juletræ) is lit at the center of the Copenhagen City Hall or Rådhushaven.

The ceremony starts with a lively parade and festive Christmas music. As the sun sets, Julemanden (Santa Claus) climbs up the fire truck ladder, and with a countdown, he waves his wand setting on the lights from the top, instantly lighting up the Christmas tree.

The crowd erupts in cheers as a choir and orchestra fill the air with festive tunes through large speakers. Witnessing these Danish Christmas traditions always leaves me in awe of Danes truly lifting the Christmas spirit.

Light the Christmas tree event is also celebrated in the other prime cities of Aarhus and Odense in Denmark.

4. Jule Advent Candle

Kalenderlys or Jule Advent Candle is a key Danish Christmas tradition followed in every Danes household. The Danish Christmas candle or the countdown candle has 24 markings representing the days starting the first of December leading up to Christmas Eve.

Each day in December, a small section of the candle is burned until the next marking which usually takes about an hour.

The Advent Candle is placed close to an Advent wreath made of pine branches and four candles, each representing one of the four Sundays of Advent. They light an additional candle (1 of the 4) every passing Sunday.

While the Advent wreath with candles is common across many countries, the specific concept of a Kalenderlys or Jule Advent Candle is particularly Danish.

5. Julekalender TV Series

Julekalender or Christmas calendars TV series are a cherished entertainment among Danes of all ages.

The TV series Julekalender generally has 24 episodes, 15 minutes each, played from December 1 to 24, one every day until Christmas Eve. They have separate series for adults and kids.

The theme of the stories in the Julekalender is always related to Christmas, with someone trying to ruin Christmas and the hero or the main characters saving it!

The Julekalender was written and performed by De Nattergale, a group of 3 Danish comedy bands/ actors so famous that different versions were made in Norway and Finland.

Every Christmas, DR1 and TV2, two Danish Television companies release Julekalender. When one network airs the new Julekalender, the other network telecasts the old Julekalender.

Andersens Julehemmelighed and Pyrus are the other popular Julekalenders.

Christmas Calendars are an important part of Denmark traditions and everyone in the family enjoys watching them together.

6. Pakkekalender (Gift calendar) & Julegaver (Christmas Gifts)

Similar to Julekalender, Pakkekalender or the gift calendar contains 24 tiny presents in a single wrapped gift pack, each for one day until Christmas Eve. 

As you grow up, it elopes into Advent gifts consisting of 4 gifts for four Advent Sundays.

The presents are usually chocolate calendars, scratch card calendars for kids, and beer calendars for adults. Pakkekalnder is sold in all the supermarkets during the Christmas season in Denmark.

In addition to the Pakkekalender, the gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, unlike in the US where Christmas gifts are exchanged on the morning of Christmas Day. Remember? The big day is on 24th December in Denmark.

The presents in Denmark are always simple, fun, and useful. The Danes do not expect creative or impressive gifts as in the US. You don’t need to stress too much about finding the perfect gift.

The kids in Denmark love Lego blocks while the adults love Royal Copenhagen Christmas plates and a Juleøl (Christmas Beer). The Danes take pride in collecting and cherishing the royal plates.

For last-minute presents, head to Copenhagen Christmas markets. They boast a lot of handwoven mittens and socks, hand-carved wood and ceramics with traditional Danish patterns and designs, cute souvenirs, and more.

7. Danish Christmas Food & Julefrokost

Traditional Danish Christmas foods are special and are so good! I really love it.

You must absolutely taste the special Danish Christmas foods and drinks if you are visiting Denmark during the Christmas season. Some of my favorites are Æbleskiver, Gløgg, and Pebernødder.

The Christmas markets in Copenhagen that start in early November and end before Christmas sell varieties of Danish Christmas delicacies listed. You can also get them from restaurants across the country.

‘Julefrokost’, a Danish Christmas Lunch, is usually shared with loved ones. The meal often features a lot of roasted pork, duck or goose, caramelized potatoes, red cabbages, and ending with Risalamande, a Christmas dessert. And of course, plenty of drinking, often involving schnaps or aquavit.

Reserve a table at a restaurant in advance and the wholesome Danish Christmas lunch usually takes about 2-3 hours. It is one of the best things to do during Christmas in Copenhagen.

Tip: Watch the Danish movie ‘Julefrokosten’ (2009) highlighting the Danish Christmas lunch.

8. Mandelgave (Almond Present)

On Christmas Eve, the Christmas dessert called Risalamande, is served with hot cherry sauce. A whole almond is hidden while preparing the dish. The lucky person who gets the whole almond receives a present called Mandelgave or an almond present.

When I was invited by a Danish family, while Risalamande was served, everyone was curious and looked at each other with a grin excited to know who got the whole almond.

The small present is usually a toy for the kids or a common gift that everyone wants. It was fun and this Danish Christmas food tradition is still followed in all the houses in Denmark.

9. Santa Lucia Parade or Lucia I Kajak

On Saint Lucia Day, the Santa Lucia Parade or Lucia I Kajak tradition takes place in Copenhagen. Danish people are mostly not religious but Santa Lucia tradition is an exception and has been celebrated for years.

On the 13th of December every year, people wear white dresses and kayak through the canals of Copenhagen and sing carols.

I’ve followed these Danish Christmas traditions for many years, but I still remember how new and exciting it felt the first time. The Santa Lucia Parade was a different and memorable one!

To know more about how the Santa Lucia parade happens, at what time, and the location where exactly it takes place, check out our detailed blog on Saint Lucia Day in Denmark.

10. Disneys Juleshow Tradition in Denmark

On the 24th of December during Christmas Eve, at 16:00, Disney’s Christmas Special called Fra alle os til alle jer (From All of Us to All of You) is telecasted on the DR1 television channel for 45 minutes.

The same is telecasted every year in Denmark but at the end with a sneak peek of the upcoming Disney movie.

The show displays two shorts – Donald’s Snow Fight and Pluto’s Christmas Tree (English with Danish subtitles) and a few movie scenes from famous Disney films are played in Danish including Lady and the Tramp, Snow white and seven dwarfs, Bambi, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Aristocats, and Peter Pan.

Since Christmas is family time in Denmark, it is a Danish tradition to watch movies together at home. Since these special shows air every year, the Danes always look forward to watching them and never miss out!

11. Juleoptoget på Amagerbrogade (Christmas Procession on Amagerbrogade)

Juleoptoget på Amagerbrogade is the longest parade (over 1 Km) in Denmark. The annual event which was started in 1969 takes place every year on the fourth Saturday of November.

The procession starts from the corner of Gyldenrisvej and Amagerbrogade at 16:03 and ends at the Christmas Møllers Plads. The procession takes at least 2 hours from start to finish.

The streets are filled with Christmas garlands and bright lights! The parade includes people walking and riding on wheels. Over 1,000 participants join in with vintage cars, bicycles, marching bands, and more. You’ll find cheerleaders, firefighters, local sports club members, Santas, and also Disney and Star Wars characters, all celebrating with live music.

About 60,000 people gather to witness the Christmas parade event. Gear up, guys! It’s going to be packed out there!

12. Christmas Eve Celebrations

It’s Christmas Time!

In Denmark, the 24th, 25th, and 26th are mandatory holidays for everyone. All the shops and restaurants are closed across the entire country. It is “family time” during Christmas.

Jul or Christmas in Denmark is celebrated on the 24th of December, not on the 25th. The big day and all significant celebrations happen on Christmas Eve.

However, Christmas celebrations start in early November and go on until Christmas Eve. They have a longer Christmas season.

Denmark’s Christmas is more about tradition than religion. Danes spend their holidays with the close ones and people they love.

On Christmas Eve, the Danes, especially the kids, join hands together and dance around the Christmas tree, singing the popular Peter Fabers Christmas song – højt fra træets grønne top.

At home, the Christmas Eve celebrations start with chatting, cooking, watching special TV shows, Christmas tree dancing, exchanging gifts, and then a traditional Danish Christmas dinner with lots of food and drinks.

Did you know? Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Denmark

Danish Words to Know Related to Christmas

• Jul – Christmas
• Glædelig Jul – Merry Christmas
• Juletræ – Danish Christmas tree
• Julemanden – Christmas Man or Santa
• Julegaver – Christmas Gifts
• Julehygge – The cozy Christmas moments with family and friends
• Julekalender – Danish Christmas Calendar
• Juleøl – Danish Christmas Beer
• Julefrokost – Danish Christmas Lunch

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Danish Christmas Traditions

Danish Christmas traditions are a magical blend of hygge, festive vibes, and timeless rituals.

Whether it is dancing around the Christmas tree, singing Danish Christmas songs, or savoring delicious treats, Christmas traditions in Denmark are filled with joy and warmth making it a perfect place to experience the winter holidays.

Beyond the traditions, Denmark also offers many activities during Christmas time. Explore them to make the most of your holidays!