Santa Claus - Danish variation

Santa Claus

Christmas has it’s origin in the christian beliefs, and as Denmark is a christian country by culture, but many danes aren’t very religious, christmas has become more of a cultural tradition than a christian holiday in Denmark. With the danish christmas tradition comes the iconic“Santa Claus” (or in danish “Julemanden” which directly translated means “christmas man”).  

Who is santa claus?

According the danish tradition Santa Claus lives in Greenland with his wife, reindeers and a whole lot of elves. According to the American tradition, he lives on the North Pole, and in Finland they believe that he lives in their country.

The idea of his looks is different from country to country, but in Denmark we identify him as a big chubby man with a red suit, a huge white beard and a red hat.

He is the most well-known character among children, and is combined with anything nice and sweet. He’s the idea of christmas spirit in one person.

What does he do?

Throughout the year children work on their christmas “wish-list” where they write what they want for christmas. Santa’s elves work every day of the year on making presents for the nice kids, following the wishes on their lists. Santa has a list of all the children in the world, but only the nice kids will receive a present. All the naughty kids will be given a piece of coal, to remind them of their bad behaviour throughout the year.

Different from the American tradition, where Santa comes in the night between December 24th and 25th to put the presents under the tree for the children to find in the morning, in Denmark he comes to visit in the evening.

On the evening of December 24th children put out “rice pudding” with butter and cinnamon in front of their door, as to make Santa come visit. Different from the danish tradition that he doesn't get “rice pudding” but cookies and milk instead.

He flies around in his sled with his 8 reindeer, (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph) on christmas eve, and visits all the children of the world. He lands with his reindeers, eats the rice pudding and lays gifts for the good children instead. Usually parents tend to get help from friends, who will dress up as Santa, to entertain and visit their children and give them their presents.