by Clara, age 7, asks Julemanden do you have elves or nisser helping you?, about the Oresund strait, and Denmark’s ancient monarchy
Dear Julemanden,
My name is Clara and I am 7 years old. I live in Copenhagen, Denmark, where my family bikes everywhere even in the snow, and my mor always hides one single almond inside our Christmas Eve rice pudding.
First, do you have elves or nisser helping you?
Second, a geography question: what sea separates Denmark from Sweden?
Third, a school question about my country: why does Denmark have a monarchy that is one of the oldest in the world?
I left you a slice of brunkager spice cookies and milk.
Love, Clara, age 7, Copenhagen, Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
From the Desk of Julemanden
Dear Clara, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you have elves or nisser helping you?
Both, actually. My regular elves handle the toy workshop, and the nisser, small bearded farmhouse gnomes of Danish tradition, keep watch over barns and homes all winter.
What sea separates Denmark from Sweden?
The narrow strait called the Oresund separates Denmark from Sweden, with Copenhagen sitting right along it, close enough that a bridge now connects the two countries, and I always enjoy the lights of both shores as I fly over.
Why does Denmark have a monarchy that is one of the oldest in the world?
The Danish monarchy traces its history back more than one thousand years, making it one of the oldest continuous monarchies in the entire world, with King Gorm the Old often considered its earliest recorded ruler in the 900s. Denmark has kept a royal family through all that time, its role changing from ruling directly to serving mainly as a ceremonial symbol today.
Glaedelig jul, Clara.
Ho ho ho, Julemanden
