Taste & Experience Danish Christmas

I never thought I’d dance around a Christmas tree in a city square, but here we are after one of the other guests asked.

Copenhagen in December sparkles — not in a big, brash way like some capitals, but in the soft, golden kind of way that sneaks up on you. It’s in the warm light spilling from café windows, in the smell of cinnamon and roasted almonds curling through the streets, and in the way strangers seem… not like strangers.

When I booked the Christmas tour, I thought I was signing up to see some festive lights and maybe learn a Danish carol or two. What I got was something far more special — a walk through Danish culture wrapped in nostalgia, sweetness, and a surprising amount of mischief.

Our guide greeted us with the energy of someone who really loves Christmas — but in that grounded, Danish kind of way. No forced cheer. Just joy in the little things. She talked us through the idea of “Jul” — how ancient Viking traditions still echo in the way Danes celebrate today, and how Christmas in Denmark is as much about togetherness and quiet coziness as it is about food and festivities.

Speaking of food… have you ever tried an æbleskive? It’s like the child of a doughnut and a pancake, born on Christmas Eve, dusted in powdered sugar and served with jam. We had those, plus gingerbread hearts and a mug of steaming, spicy Gløgg — not your average mulled wine, but something more potent, more fragrant, more Danish.

We learned about the Christmas beer (Julebryg) with the scandalous reputation — and then we tried it. Let’s just say it’s not for the faint of heart, but it does make the pakke-spil game a lot more fun.

And yes, there was a moment where we swayed — awkwardly at first, then joyfully — around a decorated tree in one of Copenhagen’s prettiest corners. Our guide played a classic Danish holiday hit from her phone, and suddenly we weren’t tourists anymore. We were participants. Laughing. Singing. Celebrating.

By the time the tour ended, I understood something essential about Danish Christmas: it’s not about perfection or glitter or grand gestures. It’s about atmosphere. About letting yourself feel small and warm and welcome in a season that can sometimes feel too big.

I’ll carry that feeling with me through many Decembers to come.