Similar to other Scandinavian countries, the official start of the holiday season starts with the celebration of St. Lucia or the Lucia Bride on December 13th. St. Lucia was a Christian who lived during the 1st century in Rome. She was a Christian who would not give up her faith to marry an unbeliever and was tortured and killed by order of the Roman Emperor. Stories of her courage traveled throughout Europe by missionaries and she became known as Lucia Bride. Tradition says that the Lucia Bride would go out in the early morning to bring food and drink to the poor, while wearing white robes and a crown of light. This story is acted out by the eldest daughter playing the Lucia Bride and by her bringing her parents sweet saffron buns and some coffee, while dressed in a white gown with a crown of holly.
During the weeks following the day of St. Lucia, the streets and shops are elaborately decorated with greenery and red and white paper hearts, which are the Danish symbols for Christmas. Families decorate their homes with small trees, decorated with lights and hearts. The dinner table consists of red and white candles as well as Christmas hearts laid out everywhere. Warm dough balls and Christmas cookies are served all month long along with glasses of glogg or mulled wine.
Christmas is celebrated on the evening of December 24th in Denmark. Before sitting down to Christmas dinner, a small bowl of porridge must be left out for the "nisse," a small elf like creature that wears a red cape and is said to live in the attic. Doing this ensures peace and prosperity for the coming year. Dinner consists of roast pork, goose, or beef and dessert is always rice pudding with a hidden almond in it. Whoever gets the almond is said to have good luck through the New Year and will often receive a special gift. After dinner is served, the family gathers around the tree, sings carols and exchanges gifts. On Christmas Day, people visit family and friends, before returning home for a large lunch with a variety of different dishes.
