Julemanden facts for kids

Julemanden (Faroese: Jólamaður, Greenlandic: Juulimaaq) is the Danish name for the Christmas gift-giver, similar to Santa Claus or Father Christmas. His name means "The Yule-Man" or "The Christmas-Man." People often imagine him as a short man with a beard, wearing gray clothes and a red hat. He is known for bringing presents to children in Denmark on Christmas Eve, which is celebrated on December 24.

Who is Julemanden?

Julemanden is Denmark's version of the popular Christmas character, much like England's Father Christmas. His story comes from old Danish folklore and Norse mythology. He is a mythical character who brings gifts to children across Denmark.

According to old stories, Julemanden travels to homes either by walking or by using a sleigh. He wears warm fur clothes to stay cozy in the cold winter weather.

The History of Denmark's Christmas Man

Julemanden as we know him today is quite new in Denmark. He started to become popular after World War II (1939-1945). Before Julemanden, there were other characters like "Nissefar," "Nissekongen," or "Julenissen." These characters were very similar to the modern Julemanden.

The Ancient Nisser

The tradition of these "Nisser" goes back many centuries. People believed in Nisser, who were like elves, spirits, or magical beings. They were rarely, if ever, seen directly. Local stories said that Nisser could be moody. Their actions could bring good luck or even bad things to a family.

How to Treat a Julenisse

The "Julenisse" had an important job: to bring good luck to the family. To make sure this happened, families had to treat the Julenisse well, especially around Jul (Yule, which is in December). The best way to keep a Julenisse happy was to feed him. People traditionally offered him a type of porridge, which is now usually rice porridge.

Families would place the porridge in the household attic. This was believed to be where the Nisse lived. If the Nisse enjoyed the meal, he would bring good fortune to the family in the new year.

The Julenisse Today

Even today, the "Julenisse" is still celebrated. He often acts as a helper for "Julemanden" in early December. The Julenisse entertains children, brings small gifts, and sometimes even plays little tricks around the house or in places like kindergartens.

Julemanden in Popular Culture

The idea of a gift-giving Nisse, who later became "Nissekongen," was influenced by the American "Santa Claus." As American culture became more popular in Denmark, local traditions changed. Instead of just copying Santa, Danish traditions were mixed with new ideas. This led to a "Father Christmas" type of character. He now has only small parts of the original "Nisse" and often looks very much like Santa.

In 2011, the Tivoli theme park in Copenhagen made a change. To attract more than 800,000 tourists, they replaced their Julemanden display. Instead, they showed Father Frost, who is Russia's version of the Christmas gift-giver.

Writing to Julemanden

Children in Denmark who want to write to Julemanden can send their letters to a special postal address. This address is managed by Post Danmark, the Danish postal service:

Rensdyrvej 1

Postboks 2412

1566 København V

The street name Rensdyrvej means "Reindeer Way." The PO Box number, 2412, is a special reference to December 24, which is Christmas Eve.