Danish Royal Family Christmas: 2003, 2004, 2006-2012

[Muhler]

Christmas is about to hit us in the face agian and I can sense that you are all wondering where the DRF are buying their Christmas presents.

Well, Annelise Weimann form Billed Bladet has sniffed up a few places where the various members are browsing for Christmas presents. - Female members that is! Because there is not one single word about where the menfolks may buy presents. Typical female-chauvanism if you ask me.

Mary has several times been observed in the (somewhat posh) department store of Magasin, in the store Zara and not least in Ikea. Apart from that she has plenty of opportunities to go shopping on her travels to Hong Kong and Beijing next month.

Our Marie shops locally and she is very familiar, it seems, with the shops in Southern Jutland. - Apart from that she is only a short drive away from Hamburg.

QMII has made her Christmas shopping a tradition for many years. She goes to London. (Harrods to be exact). And while there she visits friends and relatives in England. (And also the regiment in which she is honorary colonel. It was amalgamated some years back and can never remember the new name).

Queen Anne-Marie is frequently seen shopping in stores in Copenhagen, when she is visiting the family.

Benedikte shops in Germany, but also in Copenhagen, not to mention the other places where her travels take her.

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #50 2012.
Sådan bliver vores Jul - That's how our Christmas is going to be.
Written our Santa Claus in spe, Ulrik Ulriksen.

The DRF will go their seperate ways this Christmas.

M&F will stay at Amalienborg and Celebrate Christmas there. There will be visitors from Mary's family and it is presumed they will be John Donaldson and Susan Moody.

The Regent Couple will go to Marselisborg in Aarhus a few days before Christmas but on the 24th they will go down to Schackenborg and celebrate Christmas with Joachim and his family. - A number of our Marie's relatives are also invited. Felix and Nikolai will also spend Christmas there this year.

There will however be a family gettogether around Christmas. Whether that will take place at Schackenborg or Marselisborg (or perhaps Gråsten?) and when is not yet determined.

The article also wonders whether Mary and Marie have incorporated some traditions from their countries into the celebrations.
Just as it is speculated whether M&F will dance around the Christmas tree, which is not a tradition in the DRF but a must in practically all other Danish homes where Christmas is celebrated.

- So it would be interesting to learn about French and Australian traditions and what you may think Mary and Marie will introduce into their celebrations.

[NGalitzine]

Well I doubt Mary will be introducing Christmas on the beach or dinner off the BBQ, might be a tad cold in Denmark for that

[Muhler]

Well, you may not be so far off the mark as you thought.

It's popular for adults in particular to celebrate Christmas away from home. And "badelande" a kind of large covered recreational areas with tropical temperatures and swimming pools are, unsurprisingly, popular here in DK. - Also around Christmas - which is celebrated with a large communal dinner next to the pool. - While looking outside at the dark, cold winter landscape.

So perhaps not Christmas at the beach, but in swimwear or at least in T-shirts and next to water - yes. (We need a bikini-smiley).

[Archduchess Zelia]

I wonder why they have chosen to split up for the christmas.

I'd love to see Margrethe, Benedikte and Anne-Marie and their individual families meet-up for Christmas again. The last time that happened, I believe, was in 2005 or 2006 when Christian was still a baby. But then again, as most of them say, it's hard for so many people to find one christmas eve where they're all available.

[Roskilde]

Thanks for the translation, Muhler
I've only been waiting for this to happen I have since Mary's entry into the Danish royal family wondered if she doesn't misses her family at Christmas time.. Especially because Mary seems to be such a family person. And especially because Mary sees "her" family so rarely I wondered whether it could be great for her as well for C,I,V,J to celebrate Christmas with Mary's family and in this way keep Mary's family traditions alive too. I imagine that this will be the way to do it from now - that Frederik and Mary will celebrate Christmas with Frederik's family one year and with Mary's family the next year, with Frederik's family the next year again and so Mary's family the next next year, etc. That is how we do it in my family and I think in most Danish families. At least what I know of

[camelot23ca]

I think alternating Christmases between the two sides of a family is quite common, at least among the couples I know. Also I can see why Mary and Frederik, in particular, would want to stay in their own home, what with the four small kids. And it's nice that Mary's family will be around!

[ashelen]

just wondering if they get down to the the cooking, or the have their cheff and maids serving dinner.
I am not sure what it is for tradion in cooking in australie

[Roskilde]

Originally Posted by ashelen

I am not sure what it is for tradion in cooking in australie

BBQ, I think

[marta19pl]

The Queen will spend another Christmas with Joachim and his family...

A shame because I would like to see the pictures of Queen with her grandchildren - Mary and Frederik's children :/

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by marta19pl

The Queen will spend another Christmas with Joachim and his family...

A shame because I would like to see the pictures of Queen with her grandchildren - Mary and Frederik's children :/

Your wish may still come true.
They will have a family gettogether, my guess is at Marselisborg right after Christmas, and as QMII attends service every day of Christmas and the menfolks usually go hunting at (Correction) Frijsenborg Manor I will predict QMII, Mary and our Marie and the oldest children will attend service in Aarhus Cathedral on Second Christmas Day, i.e. the 26th.

And without being a prophet I will also predict M&F will continue on to Trend and perhaps even spend New Year there?

What prize do I get If I'm right?

Let's have a little bit about a traditional Danish Christmas.

At least how it is here in the Muhler home.
Around the 1st December Mrs. Muhler open up veritable shipping containers of Christmas decorations.
Kravlenisser (pixies) are taped everywhere and on anyone who isn't moving around. http://www.reklameillustrator.dk/ill...eder/ark21.jpg
Nisser (pixies) made of cloth replace the usual decorative pillows.
http://lenesjul.dk/billeder/Strikkeo...gyngestole.jpg
The same thing about Julehjerter = Christmas Hearts, they are also placed here there and everywhere: http://www.balslevforedragsforening....ulehjerter.jpg
And as if we haven't got enough candlelights daily, we get Christmas Lights as well: http://www.deichmannplanter.dk/Files...-med-4-lys.jpg - Usually homemade or givent to us as presents.

And we shouldn't leave out the adventskrans http://www.juleugle.dk/wp-content/up...ventskrans.jpg
On the first Sunday of Christmas one candle is lit, on the next two candles and on Christmas Eve all four candles are lit.

Then there are the Christmas calendars. With one lid being opened until the 24th. Our children are now so big they don't care - except for the calendars containing chocolates! That's my job to get those, because Mrs. Muhler also wants one - and will she share with her poor starving husband? No!
Apart from that there are calendar candles with 24 notches.

We also put a couple of strings of light on a couple of trees outside. December is th month of darkness and there is no need to overdo it.

December is also the month of oranges, so the house is full of the scent of fir, oranges and candlelight.

Then a few days before Christmas the Christmas tree is brought in and decorated and as I have no sense for proper decoration I'm quickly chased away, and contend myself by offering my expert opinion from an armchair. I am allowed to put the star on top of the tree because I'm (still) the tallest.

Here is QMII putting a final touch of the Christmas tree at Marselisborg. She decorate it herself. And I think it's a little bit boring: http://www.bt.dk/sites/default/files...rselisborg.jpg
Notice the Christmas carpet, which is there to collect the needles and protect the underlying carpet from dripping candlewax.

Christmas trees in more modest homes look like this: http://images.cloud2.vixdata.com/dat...2caf4ce78d.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2p-uP-l6UE...0/IMG_2328.jpg
http://soholmweb.dk/photogallery/Jul2011-02.JPG

Come Christmas Eve it's time for dancing around the Christmas tree, good for the digestion too. Normally it's lights out so only the candles on the tree are lit (on all other days and after the dance it's electric lights), but here they have been obliging enough and left more lights on, so we can se what happens. The song they sing is from the mid 1800's:

august danser rundt juletræ - YouTube

Then there is Christmas Eve itself, but that's an entirely different post.

In one way or another the DRF, especially the younger members, will have incorporated some of the above as well.

[An Ard Ri]

Thanks for the Festive tidbits Muhler and also the photo of Her Majesty decorating the tree,I did notice the Xmas Carpet and also 2 of the ugliest couches I've ever seen

[Muhler]

You are welcome An Ard Ri

I can always provide more pics of the infamous couches if you think you can handle it...

I really shouldn't say this... Sources inform me that the couches are a part of the security system at Marselisborg. They are simply designed to stun and blind intruders.

Here is an even better look at the pattern: https://www.box.com/s/xdpc60ozi43mrk0pkfrt
There are also two armchairs in the same pattern... That living room is a veritable booby-trap for anyone with taste!
When you have recovered sufficiently, notice the dachshund in the couch. And also the painting on the wall of a guy puffing away on a cigarette.

[Artemisia]

Well, if I ever decide to force my way into Marselisborg, I'll make sure to stay clear of those.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Artemisia

Well, if I ever decide to force my way into Marselisborg, I'll make sure to stay clear of those.

Maybe Her Majesty only brings them out for the Christmas Holidays

Do they Royal Family attend a Church Service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

[FasterB]

IIRC then it´s QM who has designed the couches...

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Do they Royal Family attend a Church Service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Normally on both days. Well, at least the Queen :)

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by FasterB

Normally on both days. Well, at least the Queen :)

Thank you,I will keep an eye out for the photo's this year.

[Muhler]

So there is nothing you think Mary and our Marie might incorporate into their Christmas celebrations?
Sweets, traditions, food, songs, decorations and so on.
There is nothing you can come up with that an Aussie/French Christmas simply couldn't be without?

In fact by not dancing around the Christmas tree, the Regent Couple are even closer to the original Danish Christmas celebrations than the vast majority of current Danish families.
One of the most popular Christmas psalms from mid 1800's mentions it: "Først skal træet vises, siden skal det spises = First the tree is to be shown off, then it's eaten" - Beforehand there were sweets and cookies and nuts hanging on the tree among the other decorations.
The tradition about dancing around the tree came later.

However, I suspect M&F and perhaps Joachim and our Marie as well now dance around the tree, it is after all one of the things the children look most forward to.

In these days you can't help reading about old Christmas traditions. One of the more special Danish traditions is Nisser (plural).
http://www.amioamio.com/files/_produ...1.original.jpg A traditional nisse almost down the road from where we live.
They were originally a kind of house elves and you needed to be on friendly terms with them or they could really make your life unpleasant. They go back to the Viking-age probably before.
They became immensely popular in the mid 1800's where there was a surge of national-romanticism, where old traditions were rekindled and changed. Also here in DK, so it became a tradition to placate the nisse by placing a bowl of rice porride in the attic. And when you couple of days later returned to the attic with your children, you told them that the nisse, (or rather cats, rats or mice) had eaten the porridge.
One of the most popular Christmas songs for children is indeed about a nisse sitting in the attic about to eat his rice porridge while fending off hungry rats. - That's a song Christian and Isabella no doubt know by heart and will insist being sung around the Christmas tree (if of course they do dance).

Later on nisser became less omnious. They evolved into playful children and older men, who are very fond of a beer or ten. They are todays Kravlenisser: http://www.kanalfrederikshavn.dk/upl...338627909.jpeg
Between Christmases they are employed as workers in Santa Claus' workshop, which, as we all know, is located in Greenland. - And only Greenland.

Here is the song about the nisse: På loftet sidder nissen med sin julegrød - The nisse sits on the attic with his Christmas-porridge:

JOHN MOGENSEN PÅ LOFTET SIDDER NISSEN MED SIN JULEGRØD 78 - YouTube

The video also illustrates, in an albeit weird way, what the song is about. IN this version the nisse ends up sharing his porridge with the rats, especially the little rats. - In the original version he fetch the cat and scare away the rats.

[crm2317]

Do we usually see the Danish Royal Family's Christmas cards?

[Archduchess Zelia]

Yes, but I think they're New Years cards rather than Christmas cards (at least that's how the magazines refer to them). Last year, I believe they were released/sent out either in the week of Christmas or the week after.