When it comes to weddings, every culture has different wedding traditions — and Denmark is no different!
If you’re curious about other Scandinavian wedding traditions, you can read our previous post about Swedish wedding traditions.
If you’re planning or attending a Danish wedding, make sure you bring the proper gift. Choose Scandinavian Shoppe to find the perfect Scandinavian products. Find a wedding gift that will mean the most!
Danish Wedding Traditions
Just like every culture and country, Denmark has their own set of traditions when it comes to weddings. Continue reading to learn more about different wedding traditions, and find a way to incorporate some Danish wedding traditions into your wedding!
The Wedding Cake
The traditional wedding cake used for Danish ceremonies is called a “kransekage,” or a tower of almond paste cookie rings. If this doesn’t sound like your idea of a cake, another traditional option is a cornucopia cake that is made with almonds, marzipan, and sugar paste and formed into the shape of a horn and decorated with fresh fruit or other sweets.
The Groom and His Socks
Some wedding traditions don’t think much about the socks the groom is going to wear. But in Danish wedding traditions, the groom is lifted up into the air by the wedding guests and the toes of his socks are cut off. Tradition says that this practice gives the bride her first chore as a wife: to repair her husband’s socks.
The First Dance
Unlike other cultures, the couples first dance is a bridal waltz, called the “brudevals.” According to the tradition, the couple must dance their “brudevals” before midnight. The guests will stand in a circle around the couple, clapping, and moving in closer and closer until the newlyweds are completely surrounded by their friends and family.
Wedding Kisses
There are different Danish traditions associated with wedding kisses. First, anytime the wedding guests tap their knives on their plates, the newlyweds are supposed to kiss. Think that’s not enough? When the wedding guests clink their glasses, both the bride and groom should stand on chairs and kiss.
Additionally, if the groom chooses to leave the room at any point, male guests see this as their cue to kiss the new bride. The same goes for the groom should the bride choose to leave the room.
The Tearing of the Veil
This one might sound more extreme if you’re from another culture. But in Danish tradition, the bride has her veil ripped up during the reception. During the wedding, the veil protects the bride from evil spirits. Then the veil is torn up by the guests who then take home a piece of that veil as good luck. With that piece of veil, the guests are supposed to make a wish for the newlyweeds and tie that piece to their car. When the piece of veil falls off, the wish will come true.
Find Scandinavian Products
If you’re searching for Scandinavian products, make sure you find the time to browse our selection at Scandinavian Shoppe. From Swedish dishcloths to Nordic glass, you can easily find a meaningful gift to help share Scandinavian wedding traditions.