Decorations are a major part of having Christmas, and the Danes take this part of Christmas very seriously. Below are a few things you should do to celebrate a true "Danish" Christmas..

As for the Christmas tree, many families like to choose and chop down their own tree - there are many ads in the newspapers about places where you can go to do just that.

Unlike in America, the tree is usually not put up until Little Christmas Eve (December 23) or Christmas Eve. Some people will have their trees standing outside the home until that time.

Homes are also decorated with lights and candles; many of the "lighting traditions" of America are now taking hold in some Danish homes. In some places, you can now see large lawn displays and houses lit up with hundreds of lights.

A more traditional form of decoration starts early in the month of December, when the house is decorated with "nisse", garland, candles, tinsel and mobiles. Later in the month, families may enjoy a favorite pre-Christmas activity, a "cut-and-paste" afternoon, where friends arrive with colored paper, scissors and glue to make traditional cones, angels, birds, baskets and hearts for the tree.

These are items that will be hung on the tree and often filled with sweets, nuts and other assorted edibles. After all the activity, there will be something good to eat!