For some, the start of December comes as a surprise – where did the last 365 days go? For others, it has been a long year. One way or another, the 1st of December marks the date for the annual Christmas tree lighting in the main square in the capital. Since 1914, Rådhuspladsen (or the City Hall Square) has gathered massive numbers of people who get together to begin the advent countdown.
The first lighting up took place at the beginning of the first World War as a way of giving people hope and something to feel jolly about. By the mid-20th century, the event had grown into a large public celebration, supported by Copenhagen Municipality and other organizations. All around the country, mayors and citizens are enjoying the lighting up of Christmas trees at their communes’ town squares.
If you are still unsure about how to decorate your place, supermarkets are currently overflowing with fresh Christmas trees. The most common ones are the Norwegian Spruce and the Nordmann Fir, but many Danes also take pride in choosing a fresh, locally grown tree and cutting it down themselves.
