For Danish people Christmas starts 0n the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve: an Advent wreath with four candles is put on a table and one of the candles is lit each Sunday before Christmas Day. Each candle stands for something. The first candle - joy, the second - hope, the third - faith, and the fourth - peace. 

The main Christmas celebrations, however, are on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th. The day before, the 23rd, is called Little Christmas Eve - Lille Juleaften. This is the day on which parents decorate the Christmas tree with coloured glass balls, lots of little red men - Santa's helpers - nisser- and homemade hearts that contain raisins and nuts.

The next day, Christmas Eve, family and friends arrive with presents, these are put under the tree, not to be opened until Christmas Day. Then before leaving, everyone has biscuits, hot chocolate & glogg - hot wine boiled with raisins, nuts and spices.

Jul Mander - Santa - arrives in a sleigh drawn by reindeer. He is helped by elves called 'Jul Nisse' who are said to live in  attics. Before sitting down to dinner on the 24th, a bowl of porridge and some milk must be left out for Jul Nisse.

On Christmas Day people go to Church, then visit family and friends before returning home for a large Christmas Day lunch.