Christmas Eve in Denmark begins with a glorious feast, served in anticipation of the arrival of Julemanden, this Scandinavian land's traditional gift-bearer, along with his mischievous helper, "Juul Nisse." After the family enjoys many courses of festive fare, a special dessert of rice pudding is served. A single almond is baked into this treat, and the one person who receives the almond is pre- dicted to enjoy good luck for the full year to come! On Christmas Eve, Danish children burn the last little portion of their 24-spaced calendar candle, one space for every day from the first of December to Christmas Eve. Other youngsters open the final window on their Advent Calendars, revealing the last of 24 small daily gifts of candy, a toy, or gum. Still another Christmas Eve custom is to share cookies and other treats served on pretty and collectible blue and white Copenhagen plates. Then at last, Julemanden arrives in his reindeer-drawn sleigh. Good boys and girls are thrilled to imagine the bulky sack of gifts on his back. If they are lucky, they may also spy a few of Julemanden's elderly "Juul Nisser", or Christmas sprites. According to rumor, these characters live in people's attics when they're not helping out at Christmastime. "Jule Nisser" prefer the dark, so Danes who want to discourage their presence light their homes with lots of candles!
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