Lifestyle
Feels like (busy) Christmas
20/12/2018
There are different ways to the feeling of Christmas groove. For me it is all about the festivities with the family. We have began to have our own Christmas traditions, because each year we start with traditional Danish pancakes - æbleskiver served with red jam and sugar powder. We visit the Christmas markets, the Christmas concert at the Royal Music Academy, see Lucia concert in the local church and Christmas market in Dragør, and see the Christmas table exhibition in Royal Copenhagen. And,certainly - there is no Christmas in Copenhagen without La Glace cake.
It is difficult to imagine that when I was a child in Latvia, Christmas was not celebrated in the Soviet Union. It was mentioned only in the religious connotation. Even a thought of having a party for Christmas would be unrealistic. The tradition of presents and Santa was kept, however, it was moved to the New Years' Eve. We held presents to each other, had a party dinner on the New Year's Eve instead.
In Denmark, it is truly the opposite, the party seems to start already at the end of November - schools, offices and whole corporations start celebrating by inviting to the events. This year is not different. My husbands company has made a beautiful event for the whole family , which we complemented by visiting to the Royal Copenhagen. My favorite table at Royal Copenhagen this year is definitely In the Name of Love by Marianne Eriksen Scott-Hansen,. Her handcraft is exuberant. The flowers are made in paper with exquisite sense for detail in blue, red and white. My eyes could not get enough of this beautiful work.
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Christmas market at Carlsberg Brewery has been the start for us this year. On the second Advent, my daughter's school arranged a Lucia Feast, which is another Christmas tradition, which was unknown to me before moving to Scandinavia. Saint Lucy's Day is celebrated on the 2nd Advent in honor of St.Lucy. She is 3rd century martyr, who according to the legend carried the food to the Christian hiding. She had lights attached to her wreath to make sure that she would carry as much food as possible in her hands to the people in the hiding. The day of St Lucy is celebrated in schools by singing. Dressed in white and with candles in the hands, kids walk along the school singing while the lights are switched off. The symbol of light through the dark times.
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The Royal Music Academy in Copenhagen has a wonderful tradition. Each year they invite to Christmas Concert, where the choir and the Academy orchestra are performing a family concert. This event is free but top quality, in fact, this year His Highness Prince of Denmark and Princess Mary and their four children were sitting just a few rows from us enjoying the concert.
To complement this aesthetic experience, a week later, I took my daughter over to Ny Carlsbergs Glyptotek art museum. This place is amazing collection of fine art. The regular exhibition is admission-free on Tuesdays and a beautiful place to spend an afternoon when it is too cold to walk outside.
To complement this aesthetic experience, a week later, I took my daughter over to Ny Carlsbergs Glyptotek art museum. This place is amazing collection of fine art. The regular exhibition is admission-free on Tuesdays and a beautiful place to spend an afternoon when it is too cold to walk outside.
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Just as in my childhoods New Year's celebrations, I associate winter ffestivitas with food - fine food, sweet food, food and cakes that you would not normally bring to the table, but wait for a special occasion to serve. My absolute must-have and must-to-visit, especially at Christmas time in Copenhagen is La Glace Confectionery. It calims to be the oldest confectionery in Denmark. The quality of their cakes are the best-known to me in Denmark for sure, and the decoration of their windows are just as elaborate as their confectionery.
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Merry Christmas!
