´TIS THE SEASON

CHRISTMAS is the biggest holiday in Denmark by a landslide.  The Danes go absolutely nuts with celebrating.  Traditions are taken very seriously from the Christmas Eve food to the dance around the Christmas tree.  And if you do not celebrate, you better stock up on food and find something to do at home because EVERYTHING  shuts down for at least 3 days, if not more.   Can't even find a loaf of bread to buy. Their big celebration is December 24th, plus "Small Christmas" often celebrated  on the 23rd.  Things start rolling in November with ornaments, lights and pine boughs.  By mid November, Christmas Markets are popping up on the weekends.  These markets, both indoor and out, specialize in every possible thing you might want for Christmas decorating, Christmas giving, and Christmas eating.  We visited some out-of-the-way markets early to get a jump start on the season.  Here are some of our favorites:

Egeskov Castle, Fuenen. We  found Egeskov Castle in September with Kendell.  We pulled up just as the doors were closing not just for the day, but for the season.  Kendell dubbed it "the castle that got away."  But, we noticed they re-opened for a Christmas market held on 2 weekends in November. Fortunately, we were able to travel back to Fuenen in November with the president and his wife for

a rare break during a few slow days.

Unfortunately, the castle itself was closed, but the view outside was spectacular.

Egeskov Slot

Egeskov, a magnificent mid-16th century castle,  is one of Denmark's best known sights.  It is called "Europe's best preserved Renaissance moat castle."  Egeskov means "oak forest" and is built in the middle of a pond on a foundation of oak trees.  The sprawling estate caters to families and contains a bamboo maze, a tree-top trail, acres of lawn, half-timbered farm buildings and even a vintage car museum.  And once a year, a Christmas Market.

This sign shows you directions to all the things you can do here.

Christmas at the castle means live music,  tiny booths stuffed with goodies and hundreds of people strolling the grounds. The day we visited, charcoal brazers warmed the crowds and the smoke hugging the ground gave a medieval feel to the festivities.  Children ran, dodging puddles and teetering on stilts while parents paused to listen to a brass band.  In an old workshop, brimming Christmas booths were lined up in two long aisles with a narrow path wedged in between.  You had to turn sideways to move.  Tangled lights, ornaments, and glass and paper balls brushed your cheeks and shoulders if you veered off the path, and stopping for too long in one place created a bottleneck.  We managed to go the whole length before being spit out at the other end.  Whew!

After Egeskov, we spent the night in another castle - Hindsgavl Slot - a refurbished , beautifully decorated  hotel with all the attached horse and pigs stalls turned into rooms.  We stayed in a former pig stall. Think modern, curved purple chairs, shockingly purple and green shag rugs, and two layers of electric shades.   Deer herds grazed  in the fields around the castle.  Yes indeedy.  

Hindsgavl Slot turned into a unique hotel

Svenstrup Gods, Borup.   The pig farm.  We visited this one last year on a whim and it turned into one of our favorite spots.  An added bonus this year - we got to tour the manor house. See post for December 19, 2015  - "Christmas at the Pig Farm" for a description.

Same pig farm,  different folks.  Elder Larsen, the Shurtliffs, Sister Trudy Larsen (temple),  me, Sister Larsen, Sister Jenson.

 Kronborg Castle, Helsingør -  Probably my favorite market of the year.  The Castle was all decked out in pine-smelling firs with apples and ribbons and berries.  Little booths were crowded into many of the ground-floor rooms and spilled over into the lower casements.  Thank goodness, the lighting was better than normal underground.   One interesting attraction was the sheep, reindeer and seal skin booths.  Every Christmas market has several.  Fur is in.  My favorite is the little lamb skins -  sad, but soft and curly.

Green pine bows are so festive with red apple garlands.

You can only see the castle lit up at night at Christmas time.

And who else would you find in the castle ballroom but ballerinas.

Check out the red wooden cloggs.  So Scandinavian.

 Mr. & Mrs. Claus.

Same  crew that went to the pig farm.  We doubled up and did two markets in one day!!   The early darkness back-lit by the castle made a magical ending to the day. 

We love December in this beautiful country where Christmas has such an emphasis, but sadly the focus is not on the Savior and his birth.  The many beautiful churches sit empty most of the year except on Christmas Eve, where  families fill the churches.  Not necessarily to worship, but because it is a tradition.   I am so thankful this year for the Christmas initiative where  members and non-members are encouraged to "Light the World" by following His example of light and love through small acts of kindness. What a blessing it is to have this guidance and focus for Christmas in a world growing increasingly away from Christ......  What a blessing that we get the best of Christmas traditions combined with the light of the gospel for a true celebration of that which matters most.........