Danish Christmas Crafts for Children
Christmas is a popular holiday in Denmark. Holiday preparations and celebrations last throughout December, which the Danes have nicknamed Christmas Month. Families strive to spend more time together during this season. Every year, many Danish children help their parents make simple yet beautiful decorations for their homes and Christmas trees.
Danish Christmas Candle
Some families in Denmark light a Christmas candle every day between December 1 and December 24. This special candle, which is divided by 24 sections, helps children track the days until Christmas. Make your own Danish countdown candle with a pillar or taper candle and wax markers (available at many craft stores). Ask the child to measure the candle, divide it into 24 different sections and then number the sections. He can decorate the rest of the candle with traditional Danish Christmas symbols like stars, holly, red hearts and the Danish flag. Under Danish tradition, you light the candle each December morning during breakfast and then extinguish it when the meal is over.
Christmas Tree Decorations
Danish tree decorations are generally simple and predominantly feature the colors red and white. Danish children make Danish flags, paper chains, paper cones and red hearts. To make the flags, ask children to cut out small rectangles from red paper. Show them a picture of a Danish flag, and then ask them to glue two white strips of paper across the flag to form a Scandinavian cross. Turn 10 or more flags into a garland by punching a small hole in the top of each one and then tying them to a length of red curling ribbon. Drape the garland around the tree.
To make a paper cone, roll a red or white piece of card stock into a cone, and tape the seams together. Punch a hole near the top of the cone and thread ribbon through it. Ask your child to decorate the cone with glitter glue, buttons, feathers or beads. Fill cone with wrapped candies and small cookies before hanging on the tree. Danish children are allowed to plunder the tree on Christmas morning and claim these treat cones.
Christmas Elves
According to Danish folklore, mischievous nisser (elves) roam the country during the holiday season. A nisse is a tiny, white-bearded old man who wears a gray shirt and pants, red socks and shoes, and a red stocking cap on his head. Children can make their own elf figure with a 6-oz. empty drinkable yogurt container, a small Styrofoam ball, a black marker and some red and gray felt.
To make the elf's body and head, glue the Styrofoam ball to the opening of the yogurt container. Show your child a picture of a nisse, and then challenge her to to use the felt to make clothing for her elf. Clothing can be glued directly to the yogurt container. Don't forget the pointy hat! Use a black marker to draw eyes, nose, mouth and other features on the Styrofoam ball. The Nisse can watch the family from a mantel or dresser throughout the holiday season.
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