While there may not be the smell of freshly cut grass or long summer days that I normally relate to Christmas time, there is the smell of roasting sugar almonds throughout the streets of the town, short cosy winter days characterised by many candles being lit around the house each night and the special advent candles lit every Sunday. It is great to experience a cold Christmas like all of the ones in movies and stories.
In the month of December up until Christmas there is a tv program called 'Julekalendar' which shows one episode every night. Each year the series is a different Christmassy story, for example this year is called Tvillingerne og Julemanden and is about twins that are helping a man who they don't yet know is Santa to pretty much save Christmas. It is so 'hyggeligt' to sit down and watch it every night and follow the series.
In the evening on 29th November, the other exchange students in my town and myself attended the Christmas Parade in Viborg. We were given torches with real flame, then followed the parade walking around the town behind a band. At the end we came back to the main square in my town to watch the lights on the big Christmas tree be turned on for the first time this year.
After this, the other girls and I decided to go into Frellsen (a famous Danish confectionary shop) for a hot chocolate and flødeboller.
We walked up the Rundetårn (Round Tower) in Copenhagen. It was built by the King of Denmark in the 1630s, without stairs, so you walk up the tower on a big ramp that spirals around. There are stories in history about how they even took a horse and carriage up the tower.
Then we went into Tivoli, a famous, 170 year old theme park in Copenhagen. It was very beautifully decorated for Christmas, with so many trees, lights, elves and Christmas markets. We went on a couple of rides before eating dinner.
There was a weeping willow tree covered in lights so that every leaf was a light, it was incredibly beautiful!
The next day we saw Frederiksborg, a castle just out of Copenhagen that is almost 500 years old. It is probably my favourite castle that I have seen in Denmark.
The next day at school, Kelsey and I ran outside to take pictures and play in the snow. The Danes gave us some strange looks, but that didn't matter, we were both equally excited that there was snow!
On Friday 6th December, I went to my last school party in Denmark, which was a Christmas Party called Julebal (Christmas Ball).
On the Sunday, my host family and I made the first Christmas biscuits. We made some vanilla rings called Vanilje Kranse and small round cinnamon biscuits called Jødekager.
My Rotary Club had their Christmas break-up. First we went to a Christmas Church service at the very cute little church called Asmild Kirke. After this we had a traditional Danish Christmas dinner and celebrations. I was lucky to win a few prizes in the raffle, a scarf and some chocolates.
One afternoon, all the exchange students from my school got together at one girl's house and ate an early dinner. The two girls from Thailand cooked us traditional Thai food, it was delicious.
I made White Christmas for my host family. In my opinion it tasted really good, so I was glad that my host family thought so too.
I must admit that I am a bit disappointed that there is no chance of snow for Christmas. Apparently it is the warmest Christmas that Denmark has had in over 150 years. But I am still very much looking forward to Christmas!
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