Celebrating New Year’s the Scandinavian Way—Traditions and Festive Ideas

Explore unique Scandinavian New Year’s traditions, from festive foods and cozy gatherings to dazzling fireworks and a beloved annual television tradition.

Denmark: Speeches and Sketches

New Year’s Eve in Denmark includes two unique television traditions. Official celebrations start with the Queen’s Speech at 6 p.m., in which Queen Margrethe addresses the nation. This has been a staple of Danish TV since the 1880s—you can even take bets on which topics will make it in! This year, though, there’s a twist—Queen Margrethe chose last year’s New Year’s Eve speech to announce her abdication from the throne (after more than 50 years!) paving the way for her eldest son, Frederik, to assume the role of King. Presumably, King Frederik X will speak this New Year’s Eve, most likely ending his speech the way his mother always did, with “Gud bevare Denmark” (God save Denmark).

At some time before midnight, stations will then broadcast “Dinner for One.” This 20-minute sketch was written by British playwright Lauri Wylie and performed in U.K. music halls during the 1920s. In the early 1960s, it was recorded as a black-and-white film for German television (in English, with a German introduction). Despite receiving little attention in its country of origin, it has become mandatory New Year’s Eve viewing in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.

In the sketch, wealthy Miss Sophie celebrates her 90th birthday party with four “friends.” The problem? Her friends are all long dead—so her butler James steps in to play all four of them, getting drunker and drunker as the night wears on.

Despite their black humor, Danes are an optimistic lot at heart—as evidenced by their tradition of “jumping into” the new year. The aim is to jump as high as possible—so as midnight approaches, Danes will scramble to find a chair or sofa from which to leap into the air at the stroke of midnight. Providing they don’t injure themselves, this jump is meant to give them the best possible start to 2025.

The Danish New Year’s table isn’t as sumptuous as the Christmas table but there’s still plenty of comfort food to eat: a typical dish is boiled cod with mustard sauce, sometimes followed by pork with kale. The meal ends with kransekage, a dessert made from stacked rings of baked marzipan. This symbolizes wealth and prosperity for the year ahead.

If you’re visiting Denmark between December 27 and January 1, beware: these are the only days in the year that Danes can legally set off fireworks, meaning that a lot of fireworks are set off at this time, often in combination with heavy drinking! As a result, supermarkets sell safety glasses along with fireworks; it’s best to keep them on as you’re walking around.

Sweden: Rhyme and Revelry

Just like in Denmark, Swedes will tune in to watch the annual screening of “Dinner for One” with their families. But instead of the Queen’s Speech, there’s another long-standing tradition: one that, curiously, also has British roots.

Every year, just before midnight, a famous Swedish actor will read out the poem “Nyårsklockan.” It’s a translation of English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Ring out, wild bells,” though the translator has taken liberties to make it sound more Swedish. The actor, too, will reinterpret the poem, varying the delivery or choosing to omit certain lines. Here’s an excerpt from the original English poem:

“Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

Unlike the modest Christmas table, the Swedish New Year’s Eve meal is luxurious. There’s no set menu but it tends to have a more international flavor, with lobster and champagne often featuring. If you want to try more traditional dishes, take a look at this mouth-watering New York Times article from 1983, where the writer shares the recipes prepared by his Swedish friends: gravlax (salmon with dill), glasmästarsill (pickled herring), and kottbullar (meatballs).

Despite below-freezing temperatures, many Swedes will wrap up warm and venture outside to watch the New Year fireworks. Those lucky enough to have a balcony will watch from there—those who don’t will wade into the snow, greeting their neighbors and wishing them well for the coming year.

Norway: Fireworks and Family

Norwegian celebrations are more low-key than those of their Scandinavian neighbors, with many leaving the cities for ski resorts or holiday homes. The gatherings that do happen are small, intimate affairs with family or friends. On the dinner table, you’ll find pinnekjøtt (lamb ribs) or ribbe (pork ribs) with riskrem (rice pudding) for dessert.

As in Denmark, people will gather around the TV to hear the King’s Speech, which is broadcast at around 7:30 p.m. As midnight nears, many will head to parks or hilltops to catch the fireworks. It's common for individuals to bring their own fireworks, as it’s legal to set them off between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.—in fact, this is the only time in the year that they can! At the stroke of midnight, fireworks fill the night with dazzling lights, creating a spectacular display.

Start Your Year Right with The Modern Dane’s Organic Linen Bedding

Many Scandinavians, like the rest of us, will make new year’s resolutions to improve their health: to eat nutritious food, exercise more, or take up meditation. But what about your sleep? Sleep is the foundation upon which everything else is built: it helps to regulate appetite, metabolism, muscle repair, and mental health.

At The Modern Dane, we believe that your bedding is a key factor in how well you sleep—which is why we’ve collaborated with European farmers and artisans to bring you the highest-quality organic linen bedding. By following the Scandinavian principles espoused by our Danish founder, we’ve created Nordic-style bedding that’s hypoallergenic, thermoregulating, and free from harmful chemicals. The whole process is carbon-neutral, even the shipping—so if you’ve resolved to cut your carbon footprint this year, we can help with that, too!

How will you be celebrating 2025? Will you be making any new year’s resolutions? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter!