Danish Christmas words beyond hygge

Brooke Taylor Fossey’s tour of five Danish jul-time words that’ll take your Danish beyond hygge.

Images: IdaT - Pixabay

Text: Brooke Taylor Fossey

Danish Christmas (jul) is all about hygge. This little word has taken the world by storm, but is often commercialised abroad as home decor-focused: soft blankets, candles, and neutral colours. But in Denmark, hygge is a deeply ingrained philosophy of finding comfort, pleasure and connection in simple things. The emphasis is on togetherness with loved ones, and while the atmosphere helps create hygge, so do the people. Authentic, shared contentment embodies hygge, and it’s the perfect word to describe how Danes embrace winter. Here are five more jul-related Danish words to take your Danish language and lifestyle beyond hygge.

1. Julefrokost

The julefrokost, literally ‘Christmas lunch’ is a Danish institution. It’s not a single meal but a whole season phenomenon, as offices, clubs, families and groups of friends all host their own festive hours-long feasts throughout late November and even on into January (Danes’ calendars fill up fast!).

A julefrokost typically begins with open sandwiches (smørrebrød) and herring (sild), continues with roast pork (flæskesteg) or duck (and) and meatballs (frikadeller), and can include an enthusiastic amount of snaps and singing. They can range from angelic to raucous, and if you ask your coworkers, you may well hear tales from julefrokost gone by and that thing Lars in IT did after the snaps came out.

2. Nisse

Every Danish home with young kids has one new member in December: the nisse (elf). They have a mischievous smile and a reputation for causing trouble if ignored, but you will probably never meet them! Danes add a nissedør (elf door) to their homes along with any accessories their nisse might need, and at night, many nisser get into mischief while the kids are asleep.

Traditionally, Nissen lived in barns, looked after the animals, and ensured a good harvest, but in return, he expected a bowl of warm risengrød (rice porridge) each evening. Forget his porridge, and he might destroy the crops. Today, he might hide your shoes or colour your milk blue, and children still make sure he’s fed, just in case.

3. Pakkeleg

Forget calm gift exchanges, pakkeleg turns Danish Christmas into a full-contact sport. Players bring a wrapped present and set it in a central space. Each participant takes turns rolling dice, and different rules can apply depending on the group. The general idea is that every time you roll a six, you get to grab a gift until all gifts are distributed.

But that’s just round one. In round two, the timer starts for an unknown amount of time, and if a six is rolled, the player can steal a gift from another player. If one is rolled, you give one of your presents to someone else. If a two is rolled, you give a gift from one person to another. There are many variations, but chaos generally quickly ensues. It’s fast, funny, and slightly stressful!

4. Julehjerte

The julehjerte (Christmas heart) is a handmade paper ornament woven in two colours - usually red and white and hung on the Christmas tree, often filled with a traditional Christmas cookie, pebernødder (‘pepper nuts’). The tradition is said to have started with Hans Christian Andersen, who created one of the first hearts himself. You can find julehjerte patterns and instructional videos online, and if you want to take it to the next level try the julestjerne (Christmas star), a pattern that confounds even many Danes!

5. Risalamande

No Danish Christmas dinner is complete without risalamande, a creamy rice dessert served with warm cherry sauce. Hidden inside is a single whole almond amongst many slivered almonds, and the person who finds it wins a small prize (mandelgave literally ‘almond gift’).

Traditionally, risalamande was made from leftover risengrød and mixed with whipped cream and chopped almonds. Today, it’s one of Denmark’s most beloved Christmas dishes. and a jovial end to the meal. Some people keep the almond hidden in their mouth or on a napkin just to make their family members finish off all the risalamande!

Each of these words reveals something about Danish culture: playfulness, tradition, and a love of coming together (often over good food). So if you’re learning Danish, December is the perfect month to dive in. There’s a whole festive vocabulary waiting to be unwrapped, far beyond hygge.