I pinched this seasonal meme from
TrixieEgg Nog or Hot Chocolate?Chocolate every time. Egg nog isn’t really a Brit tradition although when I was a kid and we’d visit my grandparents for Christmas we’d be offered a ‘snowball’, a vile concoction of Advocaat and lemonade which we’d drink because it made us feel grown up. I’m not sure whether the other type of ‘snowball’ wouldn’t have tasted better!
Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree?Both! The tradition over here is that the tree isn’t decorated until Christmas eve. This is the time when the whole family gathers for the big dinner in the evening. After the meal, everyone is sent out of the room, and Santa leaves the presents under the tree before turning on the tree lights, turning off all the others, ringing a little bell and then legging it pretty quick before the children find him there. Strangely enough, there is always one senior member of the family who gets called away on urgent business just about the time Santa arrives.
Coloured lights on tree or white? Plain white. I was brought up with coloured lights on the tree but plain white is the Danish tradition. Some families even still have real candles in specially-weighted holders, which explains the rise in the number of house-fires in December.
When do you put your decorations up?We start on the first Sunday in Advent and carry on, time permitting, right up until Christmas eve.
What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?The traditional Danish Christmas dinner: Roast duck stuffed with prunes and apples, roast pork with cloves stuck in the crackling, caramel potatoes, red cabbage, roast potatoes and, yes, BRUSSELS SPROUTS! (Note to Trixie: If you don’t want yours, send them to me!)
Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Walking back from church after midnight mass on a biting cold frosty night and having hot soup and sausage rolls before going to bed and waking up to Christmas morning
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?Can’t remember. I’ve always been a pragmatist, so I played along with the whole Santa thing long after I twigged, for my parent’s sake.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?We open ALL our gifts on Christmas eve. See above.
How do you decorate your Christmas tree?Good question, because that’s what I’m going to do as soon as I’ve finished this. Normally the answer would be ‘I let the kids do it’ but as they are currently the other side of the globe and tucked up with their girlfriend respectively it’s down to me. Lights first, balls, nisser, tinsel, little etched brass snowflakes and such. Strings of little wrapped presents. Last of all the tree is covered with string upon string of Danish flags
Snow! Love it or Dread it?Love snow! For the first few days at least. It gets a bit tedious after it turns brown and slushy
Can you ice skate?I skate as well as I ski; i.e badly, but I haven’t broken any bones yet.
Do you remember your favourite gift?My Mum bought me my first guitar when I was about 14. I still have it. Then Heather bought me an even better one a few Christmases back.
What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?Over here we have a sort of very creamy rice pudding served with hot cherry sauce. It is filled with chopped almonds, plus just one whole almond. The person that gets the almond wins a prize.
What is your favorite tradition?I like a good old traditional carol service.
Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving?
Giving
What is your favorite Christmas Song?There are very many wonderful Christmas melodies which mean a great deal to me, but
this one in particular has a place very close to my heart…
Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yuck.
Ever recycled a Christmas present? Guilty
What are you doing this Christmas?Christmas eve is a public holiday, so we’re not working. After wrapping the last presents and, hopefully, getting in a little bit of ‘us’ time, we’re hoping to go to the church service at 3 o’clock before driving to Heather’s brother for dinner and presents. The in-laws and Heather’s other brother will be there as well. We’ll drive back home afterwards and Christmas day we’ll spend at home, relaxing. Just this evening, Heather asked son and self what we wanted to eat on Christmas day and the answers were variously: Beer, crisps, mince pies, Quality Street, sausage rolls, beer, penguin biscuits, more beer , cider, more crisps, rice pudding, more cider, more beer , even more crisps, Christmas cake, more beer, Baileys on the rocks, more Quality Street, peanuts, Pringles, more beer.
Boxing day we’re invited to Heather’s parents, as usual, for cold leftovers. And beer.