From Comical Capitalists to Cosmic Creatures of Chaos: Fantastic Villains in Danish Christmas Calendars

Christmas is a great time to be evil. “Christmas is in danger!” is the classic cry, and the threats to the holiday spirit are many – from financial ruin to the end of the world. These threats often take the form of sinister figures and wicked beings.

But how has the role of the villain evolved over the long history of Christmas calendars? And what do these holiday villains say about the Danes themselves?

In this talk, M.A. Nikolaj Skou Haritopoulos explores the manifestations of evil in the unique genre of fantasy stories that make up Danish Christmas calendars.