Marius Rolland and Karakoz Ydyrys
December 15th, 2021

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Hal-le-lu-jah. The holidays are coming! (photo: Paulo O/Flickr)

Anglican Christmas
Dec 24, 12:00 & 23:30, Dec 25, 10:30; St Alban’s Church, Churchillparken 11, Cph K; st-albans.dk
You can join St Alban’s Church to celebrate Christmas Eve at its Children’s Carol and Nativity Service at 12:00 or the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at 23:30. On the 25th, they celebrate with a Christmas Day Sung Eucharist starting at 10:30. And in the build-up, don’t miss the Christmas Carol Service (Dec 12, 16:00, Dec 13-14, 19:00) and Christingle Service (Dec 16, 10:30). All services are held in English.

Handel’s Messiah
Dec 19, 21 & 22, 19:30; Holmens Kirke, Holmens Kanal 21, Cph K; 300 kr; holmenskirke.dk
Conductor Sofia Söderberg presents the Camerata Chamber Choir singing ‘Handel’s Messiah’ just in time for Christmas. Other performances to look out for include Copenhagen Oratorio Choir (Dec 15-16, 19:00; Helligaandskirken), Mogens Dahl Chamber Choir and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (Dec 10-11, 19:30; Holmens Kirke), and Grundtvigs Kirke Soloists Choir (Dec 16, 19:00; Grundtvigs Kirke). (MR)

Bach Oratorio at Holmens
Dec 14, 19:30; Holmens Kirke, Holmens Kanal 21, Cph K; 175kr; holmenskirke.dk
Jan Scheerer will conduct the Copenhagen Bach Choir and Originalerne Orchestra perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio’. The 18th century work is composed of six acts related to Christmas, New Year’s Day, the Sunday after New Year’s Day and Epiphany. Other Christmas concerts include CBS International Choir (Dec 12, 16:00; Sanct Thomas Kirke), Sankt Annæ Girls’ Choir and Danish Chamber Orchestra (Dec 17, 17:00, Dec 18-19, 16:30; Helligaandskirken) and the Danish Boys’ Choir (Dec 19, 19:00; Grundtvigs Kirke). (MR)

Queer Xmas
Dec 16-18, 19:00, Lygten Station, Lygten 2, Cph N; 75 kr
Hosted by Abby Wambaugh and accompanied by pianist Kristian Jørgensen, a variety of local artists will provide a cavalcade of stage performances. First come, first served. (MR)

Catholic Christmas  
24 Dec at 16:00, 24 Dec midnight mass at 23:30, 25 Dec at 11:00; Sankt Ansgars Church, Bregade 64, Cph K; sanktansgar.dk
The oldest Roman Catholic church in Copenhagen celebrates Christmas.

Russian Orthodox Christmas
services on Dec 28 & 29 and Jan 1 & 6; Bredgade 53, Cph K; ruskirke.dk
The distinctive Alexander Nevskij church in the heart of Copenhagen will celebrate the birth of Jesus in Slavic languages and Danish.

Christmas at the cathedral
Dec 16, 19:00; Roskilde Cathedral, Domkirkestræde 10, Roskilde; from 100kr; roskildedomkirke.dk
Enjoy a Christmas concert featuring the Roskilde Cathedral Girls and Boys’ Choir and a rendition of ‘Handel’s Messiah’ by the Roskilde Cathedral Boys’ Choir. (KY)

Sensory Immersion
Dec 13, 16:45-18:15; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; 100 kr; dfi.dk
Musician Tao Højgaard, aka Mute State, invites fans of Inger Christensen – one of Denmark’s most famous literary figures – to an audio-visual concert inspired by ‘Alphabet’, her book of poems published in 1981. (MR)

Love (food) Actually
Dec 15, 17:00-20:30, Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; 215 kr; dfi.dk
Watching ‘Love Actually’ – directed in 2003 by Richard Curtis – has become a Christmas tradition. But this time, Cinemateket proposes we also enjoy a cocktail, a dinner and a chocolate dessert in front of this feel-good movie. (MR)

Last Edition
Dec 16, 17:00-00:00; Café Engholmen, Borgbjergsvej 30, Cph SV; 40 kr, billetto.dk
The last Gay Pop-Up Bar of this year will be in Sydhavn in collaboration with the podcasters Ghosts with Emotions. (MR)

Malou’s Christmas
Dec 19, 14:15-16:00; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; 85 kr; dfi.dk
This 2020 film with English subtitles, directed by Claus Bjerre, tells the story of a complicated child who hates Christmas. Malou makes a pact with a fairy to run away from her adopted family, only to discover that her new home isn’t so bad after all. But a pact is a pact … (MR)

The Dark Side of Techno
Dec 18, 21:00-05:00; Volume, Enghavevej 80, Cph V; 168 kr; stayhappening.com
Event producer Rave Volks is importing Italian DJ Regal’s underground techno show. The so-called Acid Boy will perform alongside European greats such as Moog Conspiracy, Marina George and Mar Flores. (MR)

Acoustic Sundays
ends Jan 2, Sundays 15:00-18:00; Social Brew, Vester Farimagsgade 3, Cph V
Acoustic Sundays are hosted by Jimmy, a songwriter inspired by Bob Marley and John Lennon. Acoustic Sundays is an opportunity to strengthen human solidarity. The lunch and dinner includes Honduran coffee, beer and wine varieties. (MR)

Copenhagen Zoo Market
ongoing, ends Dec 31, opening times vary, most days 10:00-16:00; Roskildevej 38, Frederiksberg; 195kr; zoo.dk
Copenhagen Zoohas shipped in half a million Christmas lights, 900 Christmas trees and Santa himself. Take a trip on the train, feed the farm animals, sing Christmas carols with Popsi & Krelle, and skate between the panda and penguin enclosures.

Tivoli Market
ongoing, ends Dec 30, open Sun-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; 135 kr, tivoligardens.com
Thousands of twinkling lights, 70,000 baubles, countless decorations, pine branches laden with snow, and Santa and his reindeer await visitors. The market’s 60 stalls will be filled with decorations, snacks, sweets and hot drinks.

Carlsberg Market
All weekends in Dec, 10:00-17:00; Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, Cph V; free adm
The Carlsberg Brewery invites visitors to stroll through the historic setting of the old factory while sipping beer at the dozens of stalls selling Carlsberg merchandise. Probably the best Christmas market ever for Dad.

Kongens Nytorv Market
ongoing, ends Dec 22, open Mon-Wed 11:00-19:00, Thu 11:00-20:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 12:00-19:00; Kongens Nytorv, Cph K; jul-i-kobenhavn.dk
Ever since King Christian V – who still sits there on his horse – opened the square in 1670, its cobblestones have been the scene of all sorts of events. Visiting the Xmas market is like a trip back in time.

Nyhavn Christmas Market
ongoing, open Sun-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-20:00; Nyhavn, Cph K; markedskalenderen.dk
Swing by the charming harbour and taste local treats whilst listening to traditional Danish Christmas hits.

Store Godthåb Market
ongoing, ends Dec 23, open Mon-Fri 13:00-17:30, Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00; Godthåbsvej 79, Frederiksberg
Set in a cosy courtyard adjacent to a stable, this is one of the best markets to experience the gløgg and æbleskiver experience and source classic Danish Christmas wreathes.

Højbro Plads Market
ongoing, ends Dec 22, open Mon-Wed 11:00-19:00, Thu 11:00-20:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-21:00, Sun 12:00-19:00; Højbro Pl, Cph K; julemarked.nu
In the heart of the old town, the International Christmas Market is based on the typical German Weihnachtsmarkt concept. The log cabins are imported from Tyrol and many exhibitors come from Germany.

Kødbyen Xmas Market
Dec 19-20, 10:00-20:00; Kødbyen, Flæsketorvet, Cph V
Enjoy a weekend in the food district filled with churros and sandwiches as well as many Christmas dishes and treats. And don’t forget to stock up on veg as well.

Xmas at Bakken
ongoing, ends Dec 22; Dyrehavevej 62, Klampenborg; free adm; bakken.dk
For the fourth time, Bakken is opening its doors to celebrate Christmas, inviting all the generations to a ‘celebration of hearts’.

HC Andersen Market
ongoing, ends Dec 21, Sun-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-20:00; Nytorv, Hulgårdsvej 27, Cph K; julemarked.co
Encounter enchanting cottages, tastes, smells and atmosphere. Set up each year in honour of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, the stalls are all named after one of his stories.

Christiania Market
ongoing, ends Dec 20, 12:00-20:00; Refshalevej 2, Cph K; free adm; Christiania.org
Head to the Grey Hall for craft activities, mulled wine and entertainment. The stalls sell handmade artwork produced by the freetown artists. There will be live music and stage shows every day: jazz, swing, Django Reinhardt, Balkan …

Globe Quiz
Dec 16, 19:15; Globe Irish Pub, Nørregade 43-45, Cph K; 40 kroner per person
Game night’s on at this pub on Nørregade! Gather your four best-informed friends and secure a spot in the pub before they’re all gone. The winners will be awarded 1,000 kroner, and there are plenty of spot prizes too. (MB)

The Snow Queen
ongoing, ends Dec 23; Tivoli Concert Hall, Vesterbrogade 3 Cph V; 220-630 kroner; tivoligardens.com
In the heart of Tivoli, an adventurous classical ballet performance for the whole family will feature a new version of HC Andersen’s fairy-tale. This is the one that Queen Margrethe designed most of the costumes and decorations for! (MR)

The Nutcracker
ongoing, end Dec 22, daily performances Wed-Sun; Gamle Scene, Kongens Nytorv 9, Cph K; 55-805kr, kglteater
Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the Nutcracker ballet choreographed by George Balanchine. It’s a classic enjoyed by generations of both children and adults. Watch the ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ and die happy. (KY)

Crazy Christmas Cabaret
ongoing, ends Jan 15, Tue-Sat 19:30, Sat 15:00, Sun 17:00; Glassalen at Tivoli, Cph V; 185-410kr, londontoast.dk
The Crazy Christmas Cabaret 2021-22 instalment ‘Tell me About it’ will whisk you away to Miami for an evening of music, laughter, dancing, biting satire and cross-dressing. There’s plenty of Danglish humour to amuse both Brits and Danes. The show, and creator Vivienne McKee, are both national institutions.

Infinite Deep
ends Jan 16; Nikolaj Kunsthal, Nikolaj Plads 10, Cph K; 40kr
Curator Christian Nørgaard had exclusive access to David Lynch’s photo archives to make this exhibition. It’s tailor-made to fit in with the gothic style of Nikolaj Kunsthals Øvre Galleri og Tårn. The church tower dates back to the 16th century. (NJB)