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A MISCHIEVOUS ELF NAMED NISSE In terms of hygge, Christmas in Denmark is when it reaches its peak. So, buckle up, grab an advent candle an æbleskiver pan and look out for the arrival of an elf named Nisse.
PHOTOGRAPHS KERI BLOOMFIELD / ISTOCK PHOTO
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IF IT’S YOUR first Christmas in Denmark a few things will now slowly be dawning on you. The first being that the country goes a little gaga for twinkly lights and all things red and green at this time of the year. Starting on the 1st of November and steadily building steam right up until the 24th of December, welcome to Christmas in Denmark. You would have already noticed that the supermarkets have slowly been filled with a huge range of Christmas products including pallets of candles, craft clay, Christmas lights, bags of frozen æbleskiver (a cross between a doughnut and a pancake that you must try if you haven’t already) as well as bottles of gløgg. And napkins. Never underestimate the importance of a napkin in Denmark – one of the key indicators of knowing what season it is. Red, green and gold for Christmas. Purple, yellow and green for Easter. You may have also heard about the infamous Danish Julefrokost (Christmas lunch) held at most workplaces, where it is customary to get really drunk, kiss a colleague and photocopy your bottom although not necessarily in that order. And granted, possibly not at all workplaces. Booking any sort of social engagement during November and December has also now become even more diffi-
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TEXT KERI BLOOMFIELD
cult if not impossible with most people’s calendars filled with engagements and activities for the full 54 days before the 24th of December. And while most of the world also goes a little crazy this time of the year, the Danes I think, impressively take it to the next level.
THE DANISH CHRISTMAS NISSE My first Christmas in Denmark was a blur, a novelty. And due to the sensory overload in that year, I missed a few of the smaller things that happen at this time of the year. Things like the Danish Nisse, a type of pixie or gnome. A Christmas elf. A Danish Nisse is a mischievous, magical and mysterious type of a pixie that appears over the Christmas period. Sometimes playing tricks and often creating moments of magic, especially for children. If you look closely within the supermarket aisles, you’ll find your very own beginners Nisse house along with some miniature Nisse gifts that can help you create your own Nisse magic.
HOSTING YOUR OWN NISSE If you want to introduce a little bit of Nisse magic to your
home this Christmas then you first need to build a Nisse house. If you’re creative then you can build it yourself, if not, then you can buy the basic Nisse house at your local supermarket. This normally includes a miniature door, ladder and possibly a post-box. Install it on a window ledge of your choice, explaining to the little people in your life that during December this is where the Christmas Nisse lives and every night before Christmas they might come out and cause some mischief, or at the very least leave some ‘Nisse gifts’ outside their door. Then every morning in December when your children wake up, encourage them to check the Nisse house for any signs of mischief including if any new items have appeared outside the Nisse door. These little items can also be brought at a local supermarket. I found most of mine at Føtex. Although of course not every little item has to be something you’ve brought. A packet of raisins for a 3-year-old is just as exciting. Last year in our home, Nisse left a wide range of items including a bowl of rice porridge, a snowman, and a pair of boots. And only on the 24th of December did we ever actually see our Nisse. This year however, I have a feeling our Nisse is also going to take things up a notch with the mischief and magic factor set to double. Last year was merely the warm up. THE-INTL