Christmas in Denmark

It started on the 23rd of December. Sara took me to a place called 'Gamble by' meaning old town. It was really amazing. It was town that had been made from restored old building from all over Denmark, going back centuries. I could barely find a building that was younger then Australia's first settlement. CRAZY!!! I also got to have a look at exhibition of history of toys. It showed heaps of old, old toys and the first mechanical xmas decorations that stores in Denmark once used. They were so cool.
We also looked around the town, which showed set ups of traditional furniture and layouts of different types of stores. Very interesting, but understandably not as interesting for sara.
After going through Gamble by we went for some last minute shopping in Aarhus City centre before going home.

Christmas Eve, the beginning

Well xmas eve is the main day of celebration in Denmark. It starts off during the day, when we set up the tree. This is normally done in the early afternoon. We start off by getting a real cut off tree and place it inside in the middle of the room. We then started by positioning the lights. Sara is very particular about the positions, no lights could be between branches, all lights had to be attached to a branch. After a couple of tries we finally got Sara's xmas tree light positioning approval. We were then allowed to move on and candles went on next(that's right, real candles... they looked soo cool on the tree when they were finally lit).Next went on all the xmas balls and ornaments. the bigger ones like the red balls (Sara didn't want any of the other coloured balls on the tree either, only red) There were smaller ornaments as well and they went higher up the tree. Sara complained through out the decorating of how poor the quality of the tree was (one side near the top there was only 1 or 2 branches... made the tree look bare). Finally after putting on fairy fur (or something like that... but basically single strands of tinsel) and draping down strings with a lot of little tiny danish flags, we were done.
After the tree was set up, we went about putting the xmas pressies under it and waited for dinner. Nicolai arrived for dinner, and we all sat down. We drank wine and ate roast duck and deer. we chatted and drank. I had a second helping of the meal, before the empty serving plates were taken away. I was unaware, that seconds was still to come, and when the plates come out again with all this tasty, hot, steamy food, I realised I was going to have to undo the top button in my jeans. I polished off my third helping. feeling a little full, but satisfied. I was looking forward to dessert that was next.

The Fun of the Dessert

Out came dessert and it was a white rice pudding. The pudding was full with almonds that has had the brown skin removed, and chopped up and stirred in. You could barely tell where abouts in the pudding all the almonds were, as they blended in so well. I found out that at the end of the dessert the was a prize for the person who could find the one and only whole almond. This also meant that we had to keep eating the dessert until we found it. Because of this, I scooped a large portion. There was no way that I was going to only eat a small amount considering the circumstances. I then got hot cherry sauce that you could add to your pudding to sweeten it up. Suddenly it was GAME ON! Everyone was looking around at others at the table, trying to calculate who and when the almond was found (if the finder were able to conceal the found almond, without anyone else seeing it, then the others had to keep eating until it was found).
Its a calculated and delicate way to eat, first sucking all the rice pudding away in your mouth, and then using ur tongue to estimate the size of the almond, and whether or not it had a corner or more missing. I suddenly felt the desire that I could eat all that was on my plate or until the almond was revealed. It was fun, watching everyone else eat. all looking as guilty as the next and just as suspecting of the others around them.
Suddenly I had a mouthful and could feel some large pieces of almond amongst the pudding. I Sucked it down, and used my tongue to explore the almonds. each one that was less then half size, I chewed delicately. In this mouthful only 2 almonds remained. both felt as large as the other. I rolled my tongue around the first, and discovered that the corner was only missing. With excitement I tested the second one. My tongue didn't feel any chips or corners missing. At this stage I smiled and I think the others noticed. I quickly used my tongue to hide the prize winning almond at the back of my mouth, between one of my top gums and my lip. I then looked puzzled as I pulled out the almost perfect almond. Everyone looked at me closely. I sighed and told them that it was not complete.
I took in a few more mouthfuls of dessert, making sure I did not dislodge the almond as I ate the rest, but at the same time, I could not eat to quickly and have Sara's family catch on that I had already found the almond. After those mouthfuls, it seems everyone was focused on Nicolai. Quickly and secretly wiped the corner of my mouth, removing the the almond at the same time. I inspected it, it truly was the whole almond. I had won. I quickly tucked it under my leg and continued to eat. I then felt a rush of fullness come over me. I now had little need to keep eating except for fooling others that I was still looking.
I started to play along at how new I was at this. I kept looking at my food, having slow steady mouthfuls, asking how everyone else can keep eating. I watched as Nicolai took 2nds followed by 3rds. Everyone still studying each other wondering where it was, me included. I still hadn't managed to finish my original plate. I looked over to Nicolai who was about half way through his third helping, and then at everyone else, who had given up and was as full as me. I quickly blurted out 'I give up, I have the almond, I've had it for awhile, there's no way I can eat any more dessert... I'm so full' And just like that dessert was over. They all congratulated me, as it wasn't normal for beginners to win. I got a present, Trivial Pursuit (in danish). It was cool to have one. And my aim is to at least know some of what the questions mean by time the year is up.

After dinner

After dinner and dessert, we all stood around the xmas tree, held hands and started to sing danish carols. Everyone had a carol book, but I had no clue how each of these songs were sang, let alone the words. We walked around the xmas tree while everyone sang aloud, one exception, me. I just walked around the tree holding hands and smiling. After each carol, we'd stop, pick another one and then walk in the opposite direction. I guess this would stop us getting dizzy. Finally they chose the danish version of 'Silent night'. At least this song I could hum to it (if you could call what I did humming). Finally the carols was finished. And we all sat around on couches ready to give out presents.
The presents are given out differently here. First of all, the youngest (in this case the youngest two, sara and I) issue out the presents to everyone else. Once all the wrapped goodies have been given out, each person takes it in turns open all their presents, starting with the oldest person first. So Sara's dad opened all his presents and seemed pretty satisfied with the things sara and I gave him. Which was relieving, as I purchased a book on Sara's recommendation. After Sara's dad, it went Sara's mum and then Nicolai. Both times Sara and I shared what we got them. Lastly before it was my turn, it was Line, Nicolai's girlfriend, who arrived shortly after dinner.
Once she was done it was my turn, and surprisingly I had quite a few presents considering I only got to Denmark a month earlier. (well one was from Freya, their dog) I got a few shirts and that. At last it was time to open Sara's present. It was a reasonable size, unevenly weighted box. I felt it, and was curious what would cause this type of distribution of weight. So i took off the wrapping paper. Suddenly I was looking at a shed spot light box. I was thinking WHAT THE?!?!?! Then I opened up the box and found a 1kg bag of flour at the bottom. It explained the unusual weight of it. Looking deeper inside, I found the coolest present by far. It was a ticket to ROSKLIDE FESTIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YA!!! I'd like to thank Emma and Sara for. YAY!
Finally Sara had her turn, and opened up all her presents. She left my present til last. When she opened it, she was really excited. I got her a pair of 2.1 speakers for her new laptop. However, they came with the connections for tv/dvd, so she can use them for all her audio equipment when we move out. I also had to make sure that they were very cool looking. I found out while I'm over here that Sara (as the rest of the danish are) are very design orientated (i bet everyone reading this is like... WELL DERRR!!!! to you all SHHH!!!) Anyways, after that the night was pretty much over... but overall a very good experience.

Rating: 10/10 **********


Harry potter update:

I know I'm a bit behind in blogs... but I'm pretty sure I had finished the series by here... if not here... then by nye!!!


Apologies:

My deepest apologies go out to those who have been looking at this website every copy of days for an update. I know I have got behind, about 4-5 blogs behind (and a month and a bit to date) but u know me... everything takes time to start... and get back to it... and then get around to finish it. I'm sure the nye one will be out before march, so keep checking. :P