10 december "Dancing around the Christmas tree is weird"

Hreinn Gudlaugsson, Graphic designer at Events and Communication Support, is from Iceland. He is going back to Iceland for Christmas so he don’t have to dance around the Christmas tree

[Translate to English:] Grafik: Astrid Reitzel

The Omnibus Advent Calendar:

The Advent calendar is a treasured Danish Christmas tradition. In many families, kids get to open a small gift each day all December until Christmas Eve, when Christmas is celebrated.

Our small holiday gift to you is a chance to meet one of AU’s many international students and employees every day until Christmas.

All 24 will share where they’re spending Christmas this year, their favorite (and least favorite) Christmas traditions from their home countries,  and what’s most annoying – or surprising – about Christmas in Denmark.

How are you going to celebrate Christmas this year?

I’m going to Iceland for Christmas so I don’t have to dance around the Christmas tree.

What is the best/worst Christmas tradition from your home country?

The best Christmas tradition from Iceland is that you don’t put up and decorate the Christmas tree until December 23rd, and it stays up until January 6th. The Christmas tree stays up for 13 days because Iceland has 13 Christmas elves who travel home to their mom and dad (Grýla and Leppalúði) one day at a time. Eating smoked lamb on December 25th is also a good tradition. The worst Christmas tradition from Iceland is that some people eat disgusting rotten fish on December 23rd.

What do you think is most annoying about Danish Christmas?

I think dancing around the Christmas tree is weird.

- Gleðileg jól!

The Omnibus Advent Calendar:

The Advent calendar is a treasured Danish Christmas tradition. In many families, kids get to open a small gift each day all December until Christmas Eve, when Christmas is celebrated.

Our small holiday gift to you is a chance to meet one of AU’s many international students and employees every day until Christmas.

All 24 will share where they’re spending Christmas this year, their favorite (and least favorite) Christmas traditions from their home countries,  and what’s most annoying – or surprising – about Christmas in Denmark.