Christmas in Greenland

However, the raw Greenlandic nature and cold climate make Christmas decorations appear even cozier and allow locals and tourists experience unique winter activities that can’t be found anywhere else.

Greenlanders are prevalently Lutherans, but Greenlandic Christmas customs are generally similar to Catholic – they observe the Advent tradition, attend church services, celebrate Saint Lucia’s Day, and exchange gifts.

However, many Greenlandic Christmas traditions are one-of-a-kind, like Santa traveling by helicopter, eating whale meat, or decorating driftwood instead of an evergreen coniferous tree.

Advent

The first Advent marks the official beginning of the Christmas season in Greenland. People decorate their homes, Christmas markets set up wooden stalls and holiday displays, and churches hold special Sunday services.

The tradition of lighting a candle in an evergreen wreath on four Sundays leading up to Christmas can be traced to the fourth century, but it may be even older. These four weeks are dedicated to hopeful anticipation of Christ’s coming and penance.

Each candle in the Advent wreath has a special meaning – hope, faith, joy, and peace. Some Greenlanders also light the fifth candle on Christmas Eve, representing purity and Christ himself.

Greenlanders typically get cozy near the fireplace on Advent Sundays, enjoy traditional foods and drinks, and gather with immediate family. In some sense, each Advent Sunday is a little Christmas.

Many people decorate the Christmas tree on the third Advent because it symbolizes the joy Christ brought to the world, and Christmas tree lights embrace holiday cheer like nothing else.

Santa on a Helicopter

Greenlanders believe that Santa Claus lives in Greenland – not in Norway, not in Russia, and not in Finland. He allegedly has a house in the small village of Uummannaq in the northern part of Greenland, surrounded by glaciers and snowy hills.

Locals use the popular 1989 Danish TV series The Secret Santa Gang in Greenland as proof of Santa’s Greenland residence. He lives in a small wooden hut, unlike the large, intricately decorated houses seen in other countries, but has a large workshop.

Overall, Santa Claus in Greenland is similar to American Santa – he wears a red fur-trimmed suit with a black buckled belt and has a long white beard. However, he doesn’t ride a sleigh pulled by reindeer.

Instead, Santa distributes gifts to local kids by helicopter. His pixies fly to Air Greenland’s branch and ask them to provide a helicopter when Santa lands at the Nuuk Airport.

His first stop is traditionally the Queen Ingrid Hospital, where he gives gifts to children celebrating Christmas away from home.

Children in Greenland dance around the Christmas tree and sing traditional carols. Then, they scream at the top of their lungs, asking Santa to come, and only then does he bring them gifts.

Christmas Decorations in Greenland

Christmas decorations in Greenland have a Scandinavian appeal. Locals prefer natural materials and the fragrance of fresh balsam fir to plastic and faux trees. Unfortunately, Greenland’s climate is too harsh even for evergreen trees.

For this reason, trees are imported to Greenland from Denmark or Norway. Although Greenland has its own government, it’s formally Denmark’s territory, so Denmark takes care of its iciest island by shipping thousands of firs and pines annually.

People adorn their Christmas trees with real candles, candied fruit, pinecones, baubles, wooden ornaments with Christmas symbols, and traditional ornaments kamiks – miniature versions of sealskin breeches.

However, since all trees are imported, they can be pricey, and some Greenlanders decorate a piece of driftwood instead. Apart from the Christmas tree, every home in Greenland has paper lanterns shaped as seven-pointed stars with intricate cutouts in the windows.

Candle bridges are also widespread. Because winter nights in Greenland are long and dark, people use plenty of candles and lanterns to create a cozy atmosphere inside their homes.

Public places are decorated modestly. Houses sparkle in fairy lights, and giant Christmas trees tower above town squares, but that’s pretty much it.

Christmas Eve – Midnight Mass & Gifts

Greenlanders consider gift exchange integral to Christmas celebrations. People exchange gifts with family and closest friends, but giving presents to extended family and colleagues is not customary.

People exchange gifts after dinner on Christmas Eve or after returning home from the Midnight Mass. Most Greenlanders are Lutherans and Protestants but attend the Christmas Vigil like all Christians.

Churches in Greenland are usually made from wood or stone. Lutheran architecture emphasizes simplicity, in stark contrast to Catholic cathedrals.

There aren’t many churches in Greenland, given the country’s small population. Churches are scattered across the coastline, and some people have to travel too far to attend the Mass, so they stay home and indulge in festive foods.

Lucia’s Parade

December 13 in Scandinavian countries is celebrated as Saint Lucia’s Day, commemorating Saint Lucia of Syracuse. Since Greenland is a Danish territory, Saint Lucia Day is an important date celebrated with an annual parade.

Lucia of Syracuse was killed when she was only 18, in 304. She would secretly bring food to Christians in Roman catacombs, who were persecuted for their faith, lighting her way with a candlelit wreath.

Local children wear white robes and golden wreaths with candles on their heads. They carry a candle in their hands and sing as they walk. Small children usually carry electric candles.

December 13 in Denmark was previously celebrated as the night of winter solstice, and people would light bonfires to ward off evil spirits. When Christianity took over paganism, Saint Lucia tradition replaced the pagan festival of lights.

Christmas Food In Greenland

Christmas food in Greenland is a blend of Danish traditions with local peculiarities. While Danes eat roast pork, Greenlanders prefer lamb or reindeer meat served with potatoes, carrots, and brown sauce.

Red cabbage with currant juice, sugar, and vinegar is the traditional side dish that goes with anything. Many people make sugar potatoes, particularly families with kids who struggle to convince children to eat vegetables.

Poultry is also common at Greenlandic Christmas dinner, but locals prefer ptarmigan to turkey or chicken. Ptarmigan changes its feather color from brown in the summertime to white in the winter. Traditionally, the bird is served boiled or roasted alongside crispy potatoes.

A unique Greenlandic Christmas dish is mattak – sliced whale skin with blubber, typically served raw and sprinkled with coarse salt and vinegar. Lumpfish roe is another unusual delicacy favored by Greenlanders.

However, no dish tastes better in cold Greenlandic winters than suaasat, a warming stew with potatoes, onions, rice, and meat. For dessert, Greenlanders eat gingerbread and rice pudding with chopped almonds.

One of the pudding bowls contains a whole almond, and whoever finds it is believed to have a lucky year. Greenlanders have a unique take on Christmas fruitcake called Kalaallit, made with raisins and cardamom on yeast dough.

Glogg is a must on Greenlandic Christmas feast, but some people prefer snaps or ale. Everyone knows about Irish coffee, but Greenlandic coffee equally deserves recognition, made with whiskey, Kahlúa, Grand Marnier, and whipped cream.

Christmas Carols

Greenlanders love Christmas carols, but not worldwide famous songs like Silent Night or O Come All Ye Faithful. They have a traditional Christmas hymn Guuterput, with a slow tempo and lyrics about God.

People sing this song in churches, on every Christmas show, and at home. According to locals, many people cry while singing it. However, Greenlanders also have cheerful Christmas carols, which kids sing when going from house to house, asking for candy.

Everyone knows each other in Greenlandic villages, so people are more willing to share the festive spirit with neighbors. For this reason, local kids always get a lot of treats when they go caroling.

Often, kids wear Greenlandic national costumes. Councils of large Greenland towns host Christmas concerts where local singers and musicians perform popular holiday tracks.

Christmas Greetings to Greenland Broadcast

Christmas Greetings to Greenland is the world’s oldest radio Christmas broadcast, first launched in 1932.

Since 1982, the broadcast has been aired on TV. It’s produced by Danish national TV and includes songs, performances, and greetings.

Snow Fun and Northern Lights

You’re guaranteed a white Christmas in Greenland. The temperature always stays on a negative scale, so locals use their chance to do winter sports and explore the rough terrain of their homeland.

Dog sledding in Greenland isn’t solely a fun touristic activity but essential means of transport because many villages aren’t connected with roads. Some locals head to the coast to watch the whales, swim with kayaks, or sail among the white icebergs.

Perhaps, the most amazing thing one can witness in Greenland is Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. Tourists and locals don’t even need to hunt for the Northern Lights with a camera, waiting for them for days like in Sweden or Norway.

In Greenland, this nature’s miracle can be seen in the sky all night long, so Greenlanders love to sit outside with a cup of mulled wine with their loved ones.