Julefrokost: The Danish Christmas Lunch Explained for Expats and International Teams
A Danish winegrower explains what happens at a julefrokost, what you eat and drink, how the toasts work, and how to plan one for a team that is new to the tradition.
- Season peaks in early December
- 10 to 200 guests at the vineyard
- About 1 hour from Copenhagen
What is a julefrokost?
By Jesper Rye Jensen, winegrower and owner of Vesterhave VingaardUpdated 2026
A julefrokost is the Danish Christmas lunch: a long, festive meal of herring, warm and cold dishes, cheese and risalamande, served with snaps, Christmas beer and wine. Workplace julefrokost season peaks in early December. At Vesterhave Vingaard in Karrebæksminde, South Zealand, companies hold their julefrokost for 10 to 200 guests.
Every year we welcome companies to the vineyard for their julefrokost, and many teams now include colleagues from abroad. For a newcomer, the first julefrokost can feel like a test nobody explained. The food comes in a set order, the toasts have rules, and the evening is much longer than the word lunch suggests.
This guide explains the tradition in plain English: what the word means, what you eat and in which order, how skål works, what to wear, and how a company can plan a julefrokost that works for Danes and internationals alike. If you want to know what Danes eat on Christmas Eve itself, read our guide to Danish Christmas food and wine.
What does julefrokost mean, and when is it held?
Julefrokost means Christmas lunch. Jul is Christmas and frokost is lunch, but a julefrokost is usually a long party that starts in the afternoon or evening and carries on well into the night.
Colleagues, family and friends
The Danish encyclopaedia lex.dk describes the julefrokost as a gathering in the Christmas month built around classic small dishes, both cold and warm. It also notes that Danes have a tradition of holding one with the company and another with family and friends. Clubs, universities and associations often hold their own as well, according to The Local Denmark (2023).
Late November to early December
The workplace julefrokost is most often held in early December, according to The Local Denmark (2023), and some companies choose late November or even January. The popular dates in November and December fill up quickly, so venues need to be booked early. At Vesterhave Vingaard we hold julefrokost from September to December.
What do you eat at a julefrokost, and in what order?
A julefrokost menu follows a fixed order: fish first, then warm and cold meats, then cheese, and risalamande to finish. Many julefrokosts are served as a buffet, but Danes still eat the dishes in this sequence and take a clean plate for each round.
| Course | Typical dishes | Good to know | What I would pour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Fish | Pickled herring, often several kinds, plus other fish dishes | A good table has from 3 to a dozen types of herring. Eat it on rye bread (rugbrød) | Snaps or beer, or a fresh rosé such as Rosa Lagune |
| 2. Warm and cold meats | Roast pork (flæskesteg), meatballs (frikadeller) and other meats | The biggest round of the meal. Take a fresh plate | A full white such as Hvid Lagune, or a fresh red |
| 3. Cheese | A selection of cheeses | Often served when the meat round is cleared | A red such as Sort Lagune 3 |
| 4. Dessert | Risalamande with warm cherry sauce | Whoever finds the whole almond wins a present | A sweet wine such as Hed Lagune |
Course order, the number of herring types and the almond tradition are from The Local Denmark (2023). The rye bread tip is from The Local Denmark (2018). The last column is my own recommendation as the winegrower.
Why there are two plates
At a classic julefrokost you often find two plates stacked at each seat. The top plate is for the fish, according to The Local Denmark (2023), so the herring never meets the roast pork. When the fish round is over, the top plate goes and the meat round starts on a clean one.
The almond game
Risalamande is a cold rice pudding with whipped cream and chopped almonds, served with warm cherry sauce. One whole almond is hidden in the bowl, and the person who finds it gets a present.
For the Danish version of this menu with a wine for every round, see our article on julefrokost menu (in Danish).
What do you drink at a julefrokost, and how does skål work?
The traditional julefrokost drinks are aquavit (snaps), Christmas beer (juleøl) and gløgg, the Danish mulled wine, according to The Local Denmark (2023). Wine is served too, and many tables now pour wine with every round.
Snaps (aquavit)
The Local Denmark calls aquavit wicked-strength. It comes in small glasses with the herring and is drunk in a toast rather than sipped. You do not have to accept every refill: one tip from The Local Denmark (2018) is to say yes to every fifth or sixth offer.
Juleøl and gløgg
Christmas beer (juleøl) is served alongside the snaps. Gløgg is warm, spiced red wine with raisins and almonds, and at the vineyard we serve it on arrival. Our recipe is in Danish here: gløgg opskrift.
Skål and eye contact
When someone says skål (cheers), you look every person at the table in the eye before you drink. The Local Denmark (2024) calls drinking before that eye contact one of the Danish taboos, whatever is in your glass.
Wine at the julefrokost
Wine has earned its place at the julefrokost table. The salty herring and rich pork need wine with fresh acidity, and the cheese and dessert call for something fuller and sweeter. At the vineyard we serve a wine menu from our own production through the meal, and guests who prefer no alcohol can have our own apple juice (most).
Our wines grow by Smålandshavet, where the sea protects the vines against night frost and gives the grapes a long ripening season. Falstaff has scored Sort Lagune 3 at 93 points and Blå Lagune 2019 at 96 points. If a colleague does not drink alcohol, there is no problem: the skål is about the eye contact, and any glass will do.
What should expats expect at their first julefrokost?
Expats should expect a long evening with a set menu, many toasts and a relaxed mood once the food is served. These six habits will help you blend in from the first handshake to the last goodbye.
Arrive on time
If the invitation says 5pm, it starts at 5pm, writes The Local Denmark (2018). Danes are punctual, also for a party.
Dress up a little
The julefrokost is an exception to the casual Danish dress code. Shirts or a nice jacket for men, and glitter, sparkles and jewellery for women, according to The Local Denmark (2023).
Greet everyone
Shake hands with each person, look them in the eye and say your first name. It feels formal at first, but it breaks the ice for the rest of the evening.
Expect to sit for hours
A julefrokost is a long sit-down meal with breaks for speeches, songs and games. Pace yourself on both food and drink, and eat the courses in order.
Join the pakkeleg
Pakkeleg is a dice game where wrapped gifts change hands every time someone rolls a six. The gift usually costs no more than 50 kroner, according to The Local Denmark (2023). Our Danish guide to pakkeleg has the rules.
Stay for dessert
Leaving before the risalamande can come across as rude. When you go, say tak for i aften (thanks for tonight) and god jul (merry Christmas).
How do you plan a julefrokost for an international team?
Plan a julefrokost for an international team by booking early, explaining the traditions in advance and sorting out transport home. These six steps come from what we see work when companies hold their julefrokost with us.
Book the date early
The popular dates in November and December fill up quickly. Ask venues in good time and have a second date ready.
Explain the tradition
Send a short note to non-Danish colleagues: start time, dress code, the course order, skål and pakkeleg. A link to this guide is a good start.
Set the pakkeleg budget
Agree on a small gift budget in advance, so nobody turns up with a gift that is far too big or too small.
Plan the journey home
Book a coach, check the last trains, or arrange beds nearby. Then nobody has to choose between the toasts and the car keys.
Think of every guest
Tell the venue about dietary needs in advance, and make sure there are good alcohol free drinks, so everyone can join the skål.
Add an activity
A wine tasting, a tour of the vines or a quiz gets people talking before dinner. Our Danish julefrokost games include a wine quiz with answers.
Where can you hold a julefrokost near Copenhagen?
A julefrokost can be held at the office, at a restaurant or bar, at a colleague’s home or at an event venue, according to The Local Denmark (2023). A bar or restaurant is the most common choice. A venue outside the city gives the team a day out as well as a party.
| Where | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| At the office | Small teams and tight budgets | Someone has to handle food, drinks and clearing up |
| Restaurant or bar in the city | Easy transport for everyone | Popular dates in December book up early |
| A colleague’s home | Small, informal groups | A lot of work for the host |
| Event venue or vineyard outside the city | A private evening with an activity | Plan the transport and maybe overnight stays |
Julefrokost at Vesterhave Vingaard
At Vesterhave Vingaard the julefrokost is a private event for your group, from 10 up to 200 guests. You are welcomed with a glass of our sparkling Boble Lagune or warm gløgg, and the evening can start with a tasting of 4 to 6 of our wines. Dinner is a Christmas buffet that combines the classic Danish traditions with modern touches, served with a wine menu from our own production.
Our rooms range from Lille Vinstue for 48 guests and Store Vinstue for 96 to the covered Pergola Terrassen for 150, all decorated for Christmas, with space for dinner, speeches and dancing. We can also help arrange music or other entertainment. Read the Danish page about julefrokost på Sjælland, and if your team wants a daytime programme as well, see team building near Copenhagen.
How do you get to Vesterhave Vingaard from Copenhagen?
Vesterhave Vingaard is at Vesterhavevej 204, 4736 Karrebæksminde, about one hour by car from Copenhagen and about 15 minutes from Næstved. A direct train between Copenhagen and Næstved opened in 2023 and takes about one hour, according to The Copenhagen Post (2023). Check current departures on Rejseplanen. Parking is free, and we can help coordinate shared transport for the group.
For guests who want to stay the night, we have 2 suites at the vineyard, and we work with Strandhotel Karrebæksminde and Menstrup Kro for larger groups.
Christmas at a Danish vineyard
Frequently asked questions about julefrokost
What does julefrokost mean?
Julefrokost means Christmas lunch in Danish: jul is Christmas and frokost is lunch. In practice a julefrokost is a long festive meal with herring, warm and cold dishes, cheese and risalamande, served with snaps, Christmas beer and wine. Danes hold one with colleagues and another with family and friends.
When is julefrokost season in Denmark?
The workplace julefrokost is most often held in early December, according to The Local Denmark (2023), and some companies choose late November or January. The popular dates in November and December fill up quickly, so it pays to book the venue early.
What do you eat at a julefrokost?
A julefrokost starts with pickled herring and other fish on rye bread, continues with warm and cold meats such as roast pork and meatballs, then cheese, and ends with risalamande, a rice pudding with warm cherry sauce. Danes eat the dishes in this order and take a clean plate for each round.
What should I wear to a julefrokost?
Dress up a little. The Local Denmark (2023) describes the julefrokost as an exception to the casual Danish dress code: shirts or a nice jacket for men, and glitter, sparkles and jewellery for women. If the party is at a venue outside the city, bring a warm coat for the trip.
Do I have to drink snaps at a julefrokost?
No. Snaps is part of the tradition, but you do not have to accept every glass. You can join every skål with wine, beer or an alcohol free drink. What matters is that you make eye contact with everyone at the table before you drink, which The Local Denmark calls a Danish must.
What is pakkeleg?
Pakkeleg is a Christmas gift game played with dice. Everyone brings a small wrapped gift, and when you roll a six you take a gift from the pile or, in the next round, from another player. The gift usually costs no more than 50 kroner, according to The Local Denmark (2023).
Can international companies hold a julefrokost at Vesterhave Vingaard?
Yes. Vesterhave Vingaard in Karrebæksminde hosts private julefrokost events for companies from 10 to 200 guests, with a Christmas buffet and wine from our own production. The vineyard is about one hour by car from Copenhagen, and you are welcome to write to us in English.
Jesper Rye Jensen
Jesper is the winegrower and owner of Vesterhave Vingaard, Vesterhavevej 204, 4736 Karrebæksminde. He grows organic wine by Smålandshavet in South Zealand, and his Blå Lagune 2019 received 96 points from Falstaff.
Sources
- lex.dk: Julefrokost (in Danish, updated 13 November 2025)
- The Local Denmark: Julefrokost, Denmark’s work Christmas party tradition explained (1 December 2023)
- The Local Denmark: Ten tips for surviving a Danish Christmas party (11 December 2018)
- The Local Denmark: Seven taboos you should never break in Denmark (5 April 2024)
- The Copenhagen Post: New train connection opens between Copenhagen and Næstved (11 April 2023)
- Vesterhave Vingaard: Julefrokost på Sjælland (in Danish)
- Vesterhave Vingaard: Our wines and Falstaff points
Hold this year’s julefrokost at a Danish vineyard
Give your team a julefrokost they will talk about: gløgg or bubbles on arrival, a Christmas buffet, wine from our own vines by Smålandshavet and room for 10 to 200 guests. Tell us your date and number of guests, and we will send you a proposal. We usually reply within 24 hours on weekdays.
Questions? Write or call us in English.
[email protected]+45 40 55 77 04Vesterhavevej 204, 4736 Karrebæksminde, DenmarkThe form below is in Danish, but you are very welcome to fill it in in English.
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