As December brings shorter days and deeper darkness to Denmark, Advent fills Danish homes with candles, evergreen wreaths, televised Christmas stories, seasonal baking and the unmistakable scent of æbleskiver and warm gløgg.
Four Sundays of candlelight
Advent in Denmark is observed over the four Sundays preceding Christmas and naturally lends itself to hygge: time shared with family or friends, comforting food and drink, and plenty of candlelight. At the centre of the celebration is the adventskrans, a wreath with four candles. One candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, followed by an additional candle on each subsequent Sunday, until all four illuminate the room shortly before Christmas. The traditional wreath is woven from evergreen branches, decorated with pinecones or berries and suspended with red ribbons, although contemporary Danish homes may instead use minimalist candle arrangements or Scandinavian-design candelabra.
Advent candles and calendars
Alongside the wreath, many Danish homes have a kalenderlys, a candle marked with the numbers 1 to 24 and burned a little each day from the beginning of December until Christmas Eve. Julekalendere are equally popular among children and adults, taking the form of calendars containing chocolates, small presents or daily activities. Denmark also has a particularly strong tradition of the tv-julekalender: broadcasters present a Christmas-themed series in 24 episodes, with one instalment shown each day from 1 to 24 December. These programmes often become shared national rituals, remembered and discussed long after the original broadcasts.
Christmas baking and seasonal treats
Advent is one of Denmark’s great baking seasons. Families prepare pebernødder, small spiced biscuits; vaniljekranse, crisp vanilla rings; brunkager, thin brown biscuits flavoured with Christmas spices; and klejner, pieces of dough twisted into their characteristic shape and fried. These treats accompany coffee, hot chocolate or gløgg during family gatherings and candlelit evenings. Christmas markets in Copenhagen, Odense and towns across the country bring the same flavours into streets and squares, alongside handmade decorations, gifts, festive lights and the smell of roasted almonds.
Æbleskiver: Denmark’s round Advent favourite
Æbleskiver are small spherical pancake puffs traditionally served warm with icing sugar and jam. Their name means “apple slices”, although most modern versions no longer contain the pieces of apple that originally gave them their name. They are cooked in a special æbleskiver pan with rounded indentations and turned while frying to create their familiar shape. For approximately one batch, use 300 g wheat flour, half a teaspoon of salt, two teaspoons of sugar, one teaspoon of ground cardamom, one teaspoon of baking soda, three eggs, 400 ml buttermilk and butter or oil for frying. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl; separate the eggs; combine the yolks with the buttermilk; stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients; whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold them gently into the batter; grease and heat the æbleskiver pan; fill each indentation and turn the æbleskiver as the batter begins to release from the sides; continue cooking until evenly golden, then serve with icing sugar, jam and gløgg. A knitting needle, skewer or fork can be used to turn them, while a takoyaki or similar round-hole pan may serve as an alternative when an æbleskiver pan is unavailable.
The æbleskiver recipe:
300g wheat flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
400ml buttermilk
Butter or oil for frying
Sequence:
1. Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl
2. Separate the yolks and whites of the eggs, and retain both
3. Stir the egg yolks and buttermilk together in a smaller bowl
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the larger bowl and stir well
5. Whip the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff
6. Fold the whipped egg whites in the batter carefully
7. Fry in the æbleskiver pan with a little butter/oil
8. When the batter starts letting go of the sides of the indentation in the pan, flip the æbleskiver and heat until they’re cooked through.
9. Serve with icing sugar and jam – and gløgg, of course!
Expert tip: use a knitting needle to flip the æbleskiver. If you don’t have an æbleskiver pan, try a blini pan.
Homemade Danish gløgg
Gløgg is the warming mulled drink that accompanies æbleskiver, Christmas markets and Advent gatherings throughout Denmark. For an ATN homemade version, use one bottle of red wine, 100 ml port, 50 ml blackcurrant cordial, 50–100 g sugar, 50 g almonds, 75 g raisins, the zest of one or two clementines or one orange, one cinnamon stick, six cloves, one star anise and a small piece of peeled fresh ginger. Place the spices in a tea bag or muslin pouch; pour half the wine into a saucepan and add 50 g sugar, the almonds, raisins, zest and spices; heat until nearly boiling, remove from the stove and leave to infuse for approximately 30 minutes; add the remaining wine and reheat without allowing it to boil; sweeten to taste, add the port and serve hot. Alcohol-free versions can be prepared using blackcurrant, apple or grape juice in place of wine and port.
ATN gløgg recipe:
1 bottle of red wine
100ml port
50ml blackcurrant cordial
50-100g sugar
50g almonds
75g raisins
Zest of 1-2 clementines or 1 orange
1 cinnamon stick
6 cloves
1 star anise
Small piece of fresh, peeled ginger
Sequence:
1. Place the spices in a tea bag
2. Pour half of the wine into a large saucepan and add 50ml sugar, along with the almonds, raisins, zest and the bag of spices
3. Cover and heat until nearly boiling. Remove from stove
4. Leave to stand for 30 mins, then add the rest of the red wine
5. Reheat the gløgg until nearly boiling. Add more sugar to taste
6. Add the port and serve hot
Lucia, generosity and light in the darkness
Although Saint Lucia is most closely associated with Sweden, Lucia processions on 13 December have become part of Danish Advent culture. Participants dressed in white carry candles and sing in schools, churches and community spaces, bringing symbolic light into the darkest part of the year. Advent is also a time for charitable collections, community events and assistance for people in need. Whether expressed through a traditional wreath, a television julekalender, homemade biscuits or an evening shared over æbleskiver and gløgg, Danish Advent is ultimately a celebration of warmth, generosity and togetherness before Christmas Eve.
Continue exploring Danish Christmas
For Christmas Eve traditions, Julemanden, dancing around the tree, risalamande and the Danish festive meal, read ATN’s complete guide to how to celebrate a Danish Christmas.
Suggested Online Sources
VisitDenmark – Danish Christmas traditions · Denmark.dk – Danish holidays and traditions · Denmark.dk – Danish Christmas recipes · Denmark.dk – Æbleskiver recipe · Denmark.dk – Gløgg recipe
