Danish Seamen’s Church ushers in Christmas with ‘julmarked’ and ‘glögg’

November 29, 2024 Mary Frost

Santa welcomed visitors to the Danish Seamen’s Church (Sømandskirken) in Brooklyn Heights this past weekend for its annual Christmas holiday festival. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS – Santa stood on the steps to welcome visitors to the Danish Seamen’s Church (“Sømandskirken”) in Brooklyn Heights this past weekend for its annual “julmarked” holiday festival, featuring Scandinavian gifts, crafts and Christmas decorations, a Danish candy market and traditional foods.

It is said that every Danish household has a nisse which protects the family — but only if it is treated well! Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

Among the gifts on offer were holiday candles, handmade woolen hats and “nisser” (singular is nisse) — small, mythological creatures similar to gnomes, with long beards and pointy red hats. According to ATLAS’ Danish Pages, every Danish household has a nisse which protects the family — but only if they are treated well!

Candles, Christmas cards and other holiday gifts caught this girl’s eye. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle

Visitors lined up for mouth-watering pork and cucumber sandwiches, shrimp salad, Danish hot dogs and pastries, along with “æbleskiver” — puffed apple pancakes — and “glögg”, a traditional hot mulled wine.