Skip to main content
BoF Logo

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

The Julekalender Image Site

The fashion system has been broken for some time, said trend forecaster Li Edelkoort at VOICES 2016. But, it can still regain its cultural cachet, and fix its exploitative practices.
Li Edelkoort

The Julekalender Image Site

The series follows two parallel storylines that eventually collide:

Living near the cave are Oluf and Gertrud Sand, a stereotypical rural couple. Their quiet life is interrupted by the arrival of Benny Jensen , a traveling salesman who secretly belongs to a race of greedy, vampire-like beings called Nåsåer who want to steal the elves' secrets. Key Cultural Elements

The elves speak a comical mix of Danish and English (e.g., "It's hard to be a nissemand" ). This linguistic play served to satirize the influx of English into Danish culture and remains one of the show's most quoted features. The Julekalender image

Three elves—Fritz, Hansi, and Günther—are sent from America back to a cave in Jutland by the wise Gammel Nok. Their mission is to retrieve the key to a magical music box that sustains Gammel Nok's life.

The show parodies traditional, slow-moving Christmas television programs and rural stereotypes. Recurring catchphrases like Oluf Sand's "Det bar’ dejlig" (It's just lovely) have become permanent fixtures in the Danish lexicon. The series follows two parallel storylines that eventually

Its massive success in Denmark led to local adaptations in other countries, including a Norwegian version (1994) featuring the comedy group Travellin' Strawberries and a Finnish version (1997). The Tradition of the Julekalender

is a landmark piece of Scandinavian holiday culture, originally created in Denmark in 1991 by the comedy trio De Nattergale . While "julekalender" generally refers to the Nordic tradition of 24-episode television advent calendars, this specific series became a cult classic due to its unique blend of satire, absurd characters, and a linguistic mashup known as " Danglish ". Core Premise and Plot This linguistic play served to satirize the influx

In the broader Nordic context, a julekalender is a television series with 24 episodes, airing daily from December 1st to Christmas Eve. While many are aimed at children, The Julekalender proved that adult-oriented, satirical versions could become even more popular, bridging the gap between generations.

In This Article

© 2026 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Sustainability
How fashion can do better for people and the planet.

Fashion Searches For a New Climate Solution

Coach-owner Tapestry’s new carbon-removal partnership and brands making fresh commitments to textile-to-textile recycling startups show an industry searching for ways to address its environmental impact.


Wool Workout Clothes? The Demand Is Growing

The consumer base for activewear made of natural materials like cotton and wool is growing, as more people on the political right join progressives in worrying about the health effects of polyester and other synthetics.


view more
Latest News & Analysis
Unrivalled, world class journalism across fashion, luxury and beauty industries.

Paris Day Five: Identities New and Old

From Loewe to Yohji Yamamoto, the fifth day of Paris fashion week featured recently installed designers rolling out fresh identities and unbeatable masters being themselves.


VIEW MORE
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON