20 December: There is too much focus on the materialistic

Viktoria Velkova Kostova, studies economics and business administration, is from Bulgaria. She thinks that people forget about the real idea behind the Christmas holiday.

[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 will celebrate Christmas here in Aarhus with some friends.

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

The best tradition from my home country (Bulgaria) is that we make a special round-shaped bread for Christmas Eve, in which we place a coin. The eldest in the family spins the bread and each person at the table get a piece. The person in whose piece the coin is found is said to have won the luck for the upcoming year. 

What do you think is the most annoying thing about Danish Christmas?

That Danes ( and I guess a lot of other nationalities all over the world) focus a lot on the presents, preparing wish lists to share with those they expected to receive presents from. Not that it’s bad to be organised but I think that by focusing so much ( and even stressing over shopping for presents) on the materialistic, people forget about the real idea behind the holiday. Namely being together with your loved ones and being grateful for what we have in life    

- Весела Коледа!

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.