Top O' The Christmas To Ya

What part of Christmas would be complete without the obligatory Christmas parade?

So a few weeks ago I got well and truly into the Christmas spirit and attended the annual Copenhagen Christmas parade, along with some friends laden with children.

On the evening of the parade, the strangest meteorological phenomenon happened – it was pouring with rain AND snowing. I had no idea this was even possible, and yet there before my very eyes it was. Possibly the worst weather combination known to man was happening, right as we were about to stand in it for extended periods of time with small children.

This was going to be interesting.

We arrived at the parade location and took shelter under the awning of a restaurant, settling in for the long haul along with a dozen other parents, children and prams all with the same idea.

Children - children everywhere.

The parade was late. The children were cold and restless and pleaded with their parents to go home. I found it slightly ironic that the adults didn’t really want to be there, but were doing it for the kids – while at the same time forcing the kids to stay at the parade when all they wanted to do was go home.

Life is strange like that.

But finally the blue lights of the police escorts could be seen in the distance – the parade was approaching:

Adults lined the streets sloping dangerously close to the road, all vying for the best view of the parade. Meanwhile their kids were off somewhere playing in puddles, crying, and generally disinterested in what all the fuss was about.

The parade included some of the usual characters, but with some new additions which, frankly, I had never associated with Christmas. But, as they say – when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I enthusiastically waved and high-fived the somewhat less-traditional paraders with the same enthusiam as I did with the half dozen skinny Santas I saw marching.

Here are some of my favourites:

Christmas Spiderman - but instead of webs he shoots out artificial snow and holiday cheer.

Darth Vader with your lightsaber so bright, Wont you guide my sleigh tonight?

Who can forget Lucky the Christmas Leprechaun?

And last, but definitely not least:

This terrifying Christmas moth.

After the parents had had enough – the exact moment the kids actually got interested in the parade, it was time to bid the parade adieu for a warmer, dryer place – preferably with alcohol. We made our way through the crowd to a friend’s place nearby and, after the kids had fallen asleep, gorged ourselves on homemade æbleskiver and gløgg (Scandinavian mulled wine) until we could feel our toes but no longer our faces.