FAQ 5a: What is a Danish Christmas celebration like?

We will go over to Mette's mom's house sometime around noon on Wed, the 24th..we will have a light lunch...then put up and decorate the tree..

In mid-afternoon we are off to the little, local, 200+ year old, stone church for about an hour of candle lit service..about 99% of all Danes are members of the Danish Church (the Queen is the head). Well, 99% are members and about 97% go to church once a year, on Christmas eve...we will be there, not less than 30 minutes prior to service starting, and hope to get a seat...its cosy.

The duck will be in the oven when we leave for church..and, around 5PM church is over and around 7PM the roast duck, spiced red cabbage, white potatoes, and a specially prepared potato they call "sweet potatoes", and gravy will be ready..

The traditional dinner is followed by a desert made from cooked rice and whipped cream, with a rich cherry sauce...inside the bowl is ONE peeled almond...the person who finds it gets a prize (usually a box of chocolates which is then shared with the table mates...with brandy and coffee).

However, this family observes a very old family tradition and serves each a bowl of porridge before the meal...its a tradition from when "times were hard" and porridge was served first to try and make up for the skimpy Christmas "feast" which followed. The dish is quite enjoyable, being spiced up with a liberal sprinkling of cinnamon-sugar and a big wedge of fresh butter. Yummy for the tummy. Of course, there is an almond to keep all the guest eating until the pot is empty...

Someday I'll finish this tale, and include the part about dancing around the Christmas tree...and, they use REAL candles ON the tree...