Naked Vikings and Gløgg – Christmas in Copenhagen

Naked vikings and gløgg immediately stirs the imagination! In my mind’s eye I can see muscular, blonde, bearded, blue eyed, naked warriors going into battle. Oh my, I have now come over all unnecessary and need a pause before continuing … and breathe!

Naked Vikings and Gløgg

Naked Vikings

I was very excited to be invited to visit Copenhagen before Christmas in 2015 and to see that the day after I arrived there was a Viking Party taking place that apparently involved removal of clothes. Imagine my disappointment, dear reader, when it turned out it involved naked men jumping into the icy waters of Copenhagen Harbour – not much to see there then (think about it).

Gløgg

I loved Copenhagen and boy do they go to town over Christmas! Decorations everywhere, Christmas markets all over the place and the wonderful smell of gløgg!  Gløgg is Danish mulled wine. Now, we British enjoy mulled wine in the winter but the Danes take it to a whole new level with several different variations. Served steaming hot, the wine is spiced with almonds, cloves, cinnamon sticks and raisins that have been steeped in aquavit or schnapps. Other varieties are made with port, cognac, rum or even vodka. As I don’t drink alcohol I can’t tell you what it tastes like but I can tell you it smells divine! You can find a recipe for gløgg here.

Perfect For Christmas Shopping

With all the Christmas markets and special Christmas shops it is an ideal place to buy gifts. And also to sit outside cafes with blankets wrapped around your legs sampling the local produce (including the gløgg of course). All whilst you catch your breath and pause to reflect on the damage you have done to your credit card. You can take the kids to Tivoli Gardens where they can walk around a Christmas Wonderland.

Sightseeing in Copenhagen

When you need a longer pause you can take a boat trip around the harbour and see some of the landmarks. These include the Opera House and the Little Mermaid. This boat trip has the advantage of  giving your feet a rest from walking on the cobblestones. It gets dark early in December as the sun doesn’t get very high in the sky. By 4pm the cafe interiors look particularly attractive with candles on the table illuminating the Christmas decorations. All calling you in for just one more piece of cheesecake…

I can highly recommend a visit to Copenhagen to enjoy the Christmas festivities. Don’t forget the naked vikings and gløgg.

This article was originally posted on 12 September 2016 and updated and republished 3 March 2022.

Before you go

My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.

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