Tis the Season! Jul time in Copenhagen

The concept of Hygge (pronounced “who-ga”) has been my favorite part of Danish culture. Hygge is a uniquely Danish concept and has no direct English translation.  It's a word that evokes coziness and intimacy, especially when relaxing with good friends or loved ones. It is a room lit by candles, a warm cup of gløgg (nordic hot wine), a blanket at the dinner table, a fireside conversation. During the winter, hygge is everywhere.  With less than six hours of sunlight and cold northern winds, hygge explains how the Danes get through the harsh Nordic winter.

Hygge plays a big part of the Danish celebration of Christmas.  The Danes LOVE Christmas and begin to celebrate at the start of November.  In Copenhagen, Christmas markets pop up on all the major squares, twinkle lights line even the smallest of side streets, Tivoli (Copenhagen’s amusement park) hosts a string of holiday performances, and gløgg and æbleskiver (a traditional sphere-shaped pancake) are served in all the cafes.  

(Christmas at Tivoli Amusement Park)

On November 1st, the city celebrates "J Day"—the annual launch of the Danish Christmas beer (julebryg). Carlsberg Brewery employees drive around to bars and cafes singing the traditional Tuborg Christmas Brew song and handing out free beer to guests to market the start of the season.  The Danes say that the first snowflakes falls over Denmark when the Christmas brew is launched.  

Then, on November 30th, families gather at Rådhuspladsen, the city hall, to cheer on Santa, or as the call him Julehjerter (the Yule Man), as he climbs the ladder to light the Christmas tree and officially announce the start of the holiday season. 

Dryehaven (the Deer Park) -- saw a heard of 60+ deer

Conditori La Glace-- famous patisserie

I could not have asked for a better note on which to end my semester in Copenhagen, nor could I have asked for a better four months here. I met wonderful friends, took meaningful courses, and experienced what has been called the happiest city in the world.   I'm sad to say goodbye to a city that I have grown to love so much, but the joy and cheer embodied in the Danish celebration of Christmas has made me excited to return home and to Ohio, where for nineteen years I have celebrated the holidays with family and friends.  We may not be in Denmark, but we can do hygge too!Thank you to all who have kept up with my blog. If you haven’t already, plan a trip to Copenhagen- and maybe bring me with you!

Lily 

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

-Terry Prachett