Welcome back to My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar! Join me every day in opening a new door. Just like last year, I’ve got a host of goodies to share with you – traditional Danish Christmas recipes, traditions, songs, games, decorations, crafts and landscapes… So sit back, relax and enjoy!
21 DECEMBER
It’s the shortest day of the year today… And – to really remind us that we want to fast forward to spring – it’s been dark and raining all day today in Copenhagen. But, hey, the perfect weather for a spot of klippe klistre! Every year my friends and I take it in turns to host a klippe klistre afternoon. Klippe klistre means ‘cut and paste’. Not in the ‘Control V/Control C computer’ sense. I mean the old-fashioned way…with scissors and glue! The Danes love to get together at Christmas time and make decorations. If you have kids, you’ve no doubt already been at nursery or school one of the first mornings in December, eating breakfast together. Coffee in one hand, glue in the other…
Though the problem for me is that I’m usually too busy chatting and enjoying the food to get any half-decent decorations finished 😛
Even the local Danish libraries host free klippe klistre events…
But I usually stick to making simple stuff like guirlander – garlands. You know the ones? No? Well, you can see one I started at the bottom of the next photo. You take strips of shiny paper, glue the ends together to make a circle. Add another strip of paper to the first circle, glue together. And keep going until you loose the will to live… 
But, hey, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t end up with perfect decorations. After all, the real reason to klippe klistre is to get together with friends or family in order to hygge. Have a good, cosy time at a time of the year when it’s very dark and cold.
This year our kids baked brunkager (spicy, Christmas Danish biscuits)…
…while we grown ups started on some paper decorations. Bring on the glitter! 🙂
Have you klippe klistret today? Remember to put the lid back on the glue stick when you’re finished! And don’t forget to check back here tomorrow when we open the next door!
Diane 