Welcome 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!

14 DECEMBER

Today we’re back on the booze – again!  Yes, today is the fourth time since we opened our calendar that we’re drinking alcohol – how very Danish! 😉  Not Danish Christmas beer.  Not gløgg.  Not burn-the-back-of-your-throat-snaps or slightly-singe-the-back-of-your-throat-homemade-coffee-snaps.  No, today it’s much more genteel.  You see, since arriving in Denmark in 1998, I’ve started my own little Christmas tradition.  Whenever I write my Christmas cards – about 30 of them in all – I get all cosy and pour myself a little glass (or three…) of Kijafa.  Danish cherry wine.  It’s an excruciatingly sweet dessert wine/liqueur very much favoured by old ladies.  And selvfølgelig moi 😛

You can also enjoy it with a plate of ris à l’amande – the rice pudding dessert that we eat on the 24th of December – the evening the Danes celebrate Christmas.

For me, Kijafa is Christmas in a glass.  It warms the cockles of my heart.  And dulls my senses after the shock of buying postage stamps.  (If you read Pass the smelling salts, I’m buying Danish stamps!, you’ll understand why I only send my cards second-class by B-post.)

Skål!  Happy Saturday!  And don’t forget to check back here tomorrow when we open the next door!

Diane