(24 Dec 1999) English/Nat
Denmark is full of old regal palaces - so what better place to spend a traditional Christmas than here?
Especially for two Japanese au pairs, this Christmas will be a feast they won't ever forget.
For centuries, Denmark's aristocracy celebrated Christmas at this 16th century castle.
In the 19th century, Hans Christian Andersen wrote his famous stories here.
Now, it is possible for anyone to book Christmas at Hvedholm on Fyn.
Christmas is as it should be at the castle.
To give them a Scandinavian Christmas to remember, this Danish family brought along their Japanese au pairs.
Naoko got a taste of the tradition when she bit into an almond hidden in the rice pudding.
According to tradition, the person who finds the almond gets a gift - in this case a bottle of red wine - produced in Romania - with the castle's very own label.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It's a tradition in Denmark, if you get the almond in the dessert, you will have a gift !"
SUPER CAPTION: Ann Lokdam, hostess
In the kitchen, the chef produces food in the traditional way.
UPSOUND:
"Usually in Denmark, we serve a very traditional dinner, with first a fish, main course usually of duck and goose breast and then in the end the rice pudding. Here we do it our own way, we have a first a roll in a saffron sauce, after that we are serving slightly salted goose breast with a red wine cinnamon sauce, roasted chestnuts and in the end we serve a crispy pancake basket with rice mouse and cherries in almond syrup. So for the foreigners we usually have a cheese buffet, they like to have in between main course and dessert."
SUPER CAPTION: Hvedholm castle chef
And then it's time for the traditional Christmas carols.
UPSOUND: Christmas carols
SOUNDBITE:
"We danced around the tree and we walked hand in hand, and we sang a song, a Danish Christmas song, Christmas in Danish, and I looked at the face of everybody and they looked so happy, and I felt very happy too."
SUPER CAPTION: Naoko
After the meal, Santa Claus made an appearance, arriving with gifts.
SOUNDBITE:
"The room where I am going to stay was gorgeous, in the future I am going to tell my children, and grandchildren about tonight, this is very special and I am very happy."
SUPER CAPTION: Naoko
For Naoko and Yoki, it was a Christmas they will never forget.
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