The Night Before Christmas Eve

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Lesson Transcript

Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark, Lesson 19 - The Night Before Christmas Eve

Hello and welcome to the Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark Series at DanishClass101.com.

In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Danish holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 19, The Night Before Christmas Eve. In Danish, it’s called lillejuleaften.

The night before Christmas Eve can be considered a kind of build-up to Christmas Eve, which takes place the day after.

Some families have certain traditions for December 23rd, but many also use it to sort out the final preparations or to finish their Christmas shopping for the following evening.

In this lesson, you'll learn how Danes celebrate the night before Christmas Eve.

Now, before we go into more detail, do you know the answer to this question:

What were “cake tours” and why did Danes carry them out on the night before Christmas Eve?

If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.

If you get tired of looking at a decorated Christmas tree the entire month of December, you can, like many Danes, hold off on decorating the "Christmas tree", or juletræ, until the night before Christmas Eve — or even until Christmas Eve itself.

Some people, of course, have the tree decorated and ready on Dec. 1. However, by setting up your tree closer to Christmas, you can avoid the risk of a dry tree with fallen needles.

When it comes to food preparation, it can be a bit of a challenge to get all of the Christmas food finished at the same time on Christmas Eve—especially if you only have one oven available.

Therefore, many people roast the "duck", or and, the day before, as it can withstand being reheated better than a pork roast.

Some also have a tradition of eating "rice pudding," or risengrød, with cinnamon sugar and butter on the night before Christmas Eve. Most people boil large portions so there is enough to make the dessert for Christmas Eve, namely risalamande.

Traditions of the night before Christmas Eve vary widely, but many people will play "games," spil. It is both a pleasant activity you can do together with the family and a good way to make the remaining time pass, especially for youngsters, before it's finally December 24th.

Some families also play a prize game where you try to roll sixes with dice in order win a small prize. Usually, the presents are little things that do not necessarily have great value. After all, it's only the night before Christmas Eve!

According to old "superstition," or overtro, you always have to offer something if you receive a visit on December 23rd, whether day or night.

Now it's time to answer our quiz question:

What were “cake tours” and why did Danes carry them out on the night before Christmas Eve?

Cake tours were very similar to the trick-or-treating at Carnival or Halloween.

You walked around the neighborhood and sang a nursery rhyme outside people's doors to get Christmas cookies. Very few children probably know about the cake tours today, but they were once a great way to get additional holiday sweets.