Happy J-Dag!

One of the first things I learned about Copenhagen was that it had a very genuine christmas season. That may have been what sealed the deal for me to come here (Thought ironically it is the christmas season that has made me decide to come home a little earlier, more to come on that in a subsequent post).

So this season, I have been especially excited for Christmas. In two weeks Tivoli will be open for the Christmas season. In 2 1/2 weeks Santa is going to be parading through the city lighting up christmas trees. I'm quite excited.

Now how can one be excited for christmas when it is only November 5? I remember in the past I always will wait until after thanksgiving to get into the christmas spirit. I used to always race our last Cross Country meet the weekend of thanksgiving, and I would joke that as soon as I crossed the finish line I could start listening to christmas music (and i usually brought a xmas cd with me for the journey back home). My first hint of the holiday season has often been from Starbucks. They bust out the christmas cups and then you know its time. Have the red cups come out yet? No Starbucks in Copenhagen so I'm at a loss there.

But I am digressing and have not answered my own question. One can be excited for christmas this early because IT IS ALREADY HERE. All the grocery stores and knick knack stores have tons of christmas stuff out. Advertisements for Tivoli in Jul (christmas) are everywhere. And Last friday was a VERY important event for the Christmas season...the release of Tuborg's Christmas beer.

So we've established I"m a fan of Christmas. But I"m also a fan of good beer. An exciting evening for me is going to a bar and getting a good draught beer. I love Rock Bottom and Karl Strauss for their quality assortment of fine brews. I was recently just discussing my excitement to go to Rock Bottom because they always have a holiday beer in winter.

So I'm a fan of Christmas and a fan of good Beer. Imagine my excitement when I discover there is an entire evening in Copenhagen dedicated to the celebration of the release of Turborg's Christmas Beer. And this is no little celebration...For you, I will describe.

At 8:59 on Friday evening, all the bars are allowed to begin to distribute Tuborg's Christmas beer. I was at a student bar with some friends, anxiously awaiting, when the music from the speakers changed. All of a sudden, it was a bells playing Jingle bells and the crowd moved to the bar. Grinning students lined up like children excited for their first christmas present of the season. It was calm and exciting, no shoving, but polite waiting. The bartenders were wearing blue santa hats designed especially by Tuborg for the occasion. They gave out free pints of the christmas beer and the entire time Jingle Bells was playing (approx 30 mins). About an hour and a half later, the Turborg guys and girls came dressed up in the Tuborg christmas gear distributing bottles of the beer and Mistletoe Headbands. It was awesome.

So, for me Christmas is here. Next week I'm decorating my room and will start listening to my christmas music a week earlier than usual. And I'll probably have a Christmas beer while I decorate. :-D