Denmark in winter has a special glow. Whether it’s the fairy lights, candle lights or the occasional glass of gløgg (mulled wine), who knows. 

Anyway, I love the Christmas season and I’m sure Denmark’s courageous firefighters appreciate the overtime. Like a Saturday night some years ago, when we had a spot of trouble with a candle. More than a spot, actually. A nasty big burn that shrivelled up half our tablecloth and ate right down into the table. It left a thick trail of soot that licked up the wall, snaked around the ceiling and silently settled on everything … while we were asleep upstairs. 

Luckily, as our terraced house is pretty solid concrete, the flame finally fizzled out without the fire brigade, but we learned a few things, I can tell you. 1. Check your smoke detector works. 2. Whoever lights the candles puts them out – so none get missed. 3. Never buy dark candles where the flame snuggles sneakily down inside and escapes unnoticed out of the bottom. 4. Always stand tea lights and candles in proper candle holders away from other objects and 5. Call your insurance company before you spend a whole Sunday sloshing down the ceiling, walls, floor etc in your swimwear. Twice. Ours would have sent out a team of professionals to do it all for us. Cheers.

I still love candles though. At www.helendyrbye.blogspot.com, you’ll find Jake and me making a nice safe advent wreath out of supermarket clay (ler) and other fun stuff. 

So, here’s wishing a Merry Christmas to all! And if you see sparks, you know who to call: 112!

Fairytale candlesticks Jesper Packness’s studio, St Kongensgade 95, Cph K; open Tue-Fri 12:00-17:30, Sat 11:00-14:00, Mon closed; www.packness.dk

My favourite candlesticks, which inspired our advent wreath a little, came from Jesper Packness’s spectacular studio in the city centre. Pop along for inspiration, and after December, when he’s not so busy, you may find him making his fairytale creations like his lovely chessboard vases. Mine got killed in a swordfight.

‘Old King Cole’ 
lights up the stage 
Kruddtønden theatre, Cph Ø; 15 performances from Jan 15-Feb 1; tickets: under-12s: 80kr, adults: 140kr, www.ctcircle.dk, email tickets@ctcircle.dk for discounts

For a Christmas tradition that adds a different sparkle in the dark, watch the curtain rise as the Copenhagen Theatre Circle – a thriving amateur dramatic society – stages its annual pantomime this January.  As the website says “It’s a great, fun filled show for all the family with plenty of audience participation, so put the dates in your diary now and be ready to cheer the goodies, boo the baddies, and laugh at the corny jokes.” It’s sure to brighten up the New Year. 

Christmas carols by candlelight
St Albans Church, Churchillparken 11, Cph K; Dec 15, 16 & 24; free adm, reservations required, registration begins Dec 2; www.st-albans.dk

St Albans, the ‘English Church’, is holding carol services on 15 and 16 December and its always enchanting Christingle Children’s Service on Tuesday 24 December at 12:00 – tickets are required due to seating restrictions, but it is free. There’s plenty happening at this lovely old church, where the vicar made me giggle by saying: “Going to church once a week doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage once a week makes you a mechanic.” There’s an optional Sunday school, and the mothers’ union has a Christmas ‘shoe-box appeal’. Hand in new or nice unwanted toys or small useful treats for children (or their mums) by December 8 and they’ll be boxed up, and gratefully received at the designated women’s refuge centre. That’ll spread some Christmas cheer and clear the decks for the new toys soon to be decorating your floor. The Anglican/Episcopal Church represents 20 nationalities, so while you might not join the congregation, you might make some friends. I have.

Tiger, Tiger burning bright …
www.tiger.dk, click on nærmeste butik and type in your postal code to locate your closest shop 

And finally, baking or making presents with kids is always best and Tiger shops are always overflowing with cheap but cheerful trinkets and treasures for DIY enthusiasts. That’s where we found glitter, glue guns and candles for our advent wreath. Kids will find their shiny pennies stretch much further there too.