Julebord facts for kids
Julebord (pronounced YOO-leh-boord) is a special Christmas feast or banquet held in Scandinavia (countries like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark). It's a bit like a big party where lots of traditional Christmas food and drinks are served, often as a buffet (where you serve yourself from a big table of dishes).
Originally, the Julebord was part of the Christmas celebrations themselves, starting on Christmas Day. But today, it's often organized by companies or groups for their employees or members. These gatherings are known for having many different kinds of food and drinks, both hot and cold, old favorites and new dishes. They are also a fun way for friends and colleagues to get together and celebrate. Julebords are a very popular tradition that helps restaurants, taxi companies, and ferry services during the Christmas season.
What Does "Julebord" Mean?
The Norwegian word julebord and the Swedish word julbord both mean "Christmas table." It's a simple way to describe the big table full of food! In Denmark, they call it julefrokost, which means "Christmas lunch."
Delicious Julebord Foods
At a Julebord, you'll find many traditional Christmas foods. Some popular dishes include:
- Rice pudding (called risengrød)
- Pork ribs (known as ribbe)
- Lamb or mutton (called pinnekjøtt)
- Spicy sausage (called medisterpølse)
- And a unique fish dish called lutefisk
These main dishes are usually served with tasty side dishes like sour cabbage (surkål), brussels sprouts, and lingonberry jam.
For drinks, people often enjoy warm, spiced drinks like glögg (a type of mulled wine), special Christmas beers (juleøl), or a traditional Scandinavian spirit called akevitt.
Swedish Julbord: A Special Buffet
The Swedish julbord is a bit different from the Julebord in Norway and Denmark. In Sweden, the julbord is a type of smörgåsbord, which is a buffet-style meal with many different dishes. It's often the main meal served on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in Sweden.
