My Christmas traditions

I come from a family that values traditions deeply, making Christmas one of the most important and cherished times of the year for me.

24th of December

I grew up in Denmark, where we celebrate Christmas on the evening of the 24th. For my twin sister and me, this day felt magical but also agonisingly long as children. We’d wake up excited and restless, counting down the hours until evening, which seemed to stretch endlessly. Our Christmas traditions revolve around the evening. That’s when we enjoy the Christmas meal and exchange presents.

25th of December

While the 25th is called Christmas Day, it has always been more relaxed and less significant for my family. As kids, it was the day we started counting down to the next Christmas, excitedly playing with the toys we’d unwrapped the night before. For us, it’s always been a cosy day to spend time together. It’s common for families in Denmark to use this day to visit relatives they didn’t celebrate Christmas Eve with. In my family, we have a special tradition: eating Christmas food leftovers on the 25th. When I was planning meals with my mom for my upcoming visit, she laughed and said, “Well, we know what we’re having that day!”

Food

For Christmas Eve, my family always makes duck, served with caramelised potatoes, brown sauce, red cabbage, and salted crisps. It’s honestly the best meal of the year. The smell of the duck roasting in the oven is the first sign that Christmas Eve has truly arrived.

For dessert, we have risalamande, a creamy, nutty rice pudding served cold with cherry sauce. But it’s more than just a dessert—it’s also a game. The dish contains chopped almonds, but there’s also one whole almond hidden inside (or more if there are many guests). Whoever finds the whole almond wins a prize. The trick is not to chew too quickly and accidentally destroy the almond! To make it more fun, we try to hide it when we find it, encouraging others to take more servings in the hopes they’ll stumble upon it. The almond prize is usually something small and edible, but can be anything.

Presents

In my family, we create wishlists to help each other find the perfect gifts, but we always try to keep the actual presents a surprise. No one is allowed to see the wrapped gifts until Christmas Eve when we bring them out and place them under the tree.

Christmas Eve

As evening approaches, the excitement builds. The food is cooking, and it’s time to start getting ready. In my family, Christmas Eve is a special occasion, so we dress up, do our hair and makeup. Once we’re ready, we gather the presents and arrange them under the tree.

Dinner is always a big event, and we usually eat a bit too much because it’s so delicious. After dinner, we clean up and move to the living room, where the Christmas tree stands.

One of our traditions is walking around the Christmas tree while holding hands and singing Christmas songs. Afterward, it’s time for presents. We take turns, starting with the youngest, who picks a gift at random without checking the tag. They read aloud who it’s for and from, then deliver it to the recipient, who opens it before the next present is chosen. This way, everyone gets to enjoy watching each gift being unwrapped. While we open presents, the table is filled with sweets and treats to keep the festive mood going.

Advent Calendar

Growing up, we had two types of advent calendars. One was the classic chocolate advent calendar that most people are familiar with—always exciting to open each day for a little treat. The other was a TV show advent calendar. Every year, a new Christmas-themed show with 24 episodes would air, with one episode released each day from December 1st until Christmas Eve.

My sister and I had a favorite called Pyrus. It was an older series, but we loved it so much that we would rewatch it during the holiday season.

Nisser

To explain one of my family’s December traditions, I need to tell you about nisser. Nisser are mythological creatures from Scandinavian folklore, often associated with Christmas. They’re small, elf-like beings with red hats and mischievous yet helpful personalities.

Starting from December 1st, my mom would hide little paper cutouts of nisse illustrations around the house—one for each day of the month. Every morning, my sister and I would wake up and race to find the day’s nisse. It was a simple but fun tradition that added so much excitement to the lead-up to Christmas.

St. Lucia Day

The 13th of December is St. Lucia Day, a tradition with roots in Scandinavian culture. It honours Saint Lucia, a Christian martyr. In Denmark, children dress in white robes, holding candles, and sing the traditional St. Lucia song.

When I was growing up, this was an annual event at the church near my school. I remember dressing up and walking and singing with my classmates. While I don’t celebrate it anymore, these memories remain a special part of my childhood.

Christmas has always been a time of joy, love, and cherished traditions for me. From the smell of duck roasting in the oven to the excitement of finding the hidden nisse each morning, these experiences have shaped my memories of the holiday season. Even now, as an adult, I find comfort and happiness in revisiting these traditions with my family, making each Christmas feel just as magical as the ones I remember from my childhood.