Julebrod (Jul Porridge, Denmark)

Julebrod is traditionally served as the first course of a Danish Jul feast. The family was certain to leave out a bowl of porridge for Julemanden or Julnissen on the night before Jul, because it is said that the Nissen are easily offended and may seek revenge if they are fogotten at the holiday time.
4 cups of milk
good teaspoon of butter
cup of washed white rice
1/2 cup of thick cream
an almond
1/4 cup of sugar
a pinch of cinnamon powder

Using a large saucepan, heat milk until boiling.
Add butter, then rice and turn down the heat.
Cover lid and let rice simmer slowly and gently for an hour, or until all the milk is absorbed and swollen up.
When cooked, place in bowl and fold the cream and the almond. Serve in small bowls sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

What are Julnissen?

The Danish "Nisse," like the Swedish "Tomte," is a small domestic faery that was believed to oversee the well being of a family's farm, barn, house, animals, as well the family's children. They are like little house trolls or elves.

The Julnissen are spirits that are especially active around the season of Jul. (The singular of the term is Juul Nisse or Julnisse.) Folklore is unclear as to whether the the farm's Nisse is related to the Julnisse--or if the Julnissen are nature spirits that actually come from the surrounding countryside. My guess is that there are several different opinions on the matter. Either way a bowl of some of the porriage is still saved and set outside on December 24.


This scanned image shows either an artist rendition of a Swedish
"Tomte" or Danish "Nisse" with his bowl of Yule Porridge or
Julebrod. The drawing is on a collector's Ikea cookie tin of
"Pepparkaka" (gingerbread cookies).
Perhaps the image instead shows one of the Julenissen?

Update 2016:
My husband and I were able to prepare this recipe for the first time on Saturday, December 24, 2016. My husband commented, "I can see why the Julenissen or domestic farm spirits liked getting a bowl of this porridge. It's almost as good as home baked cookies."

Practical Celebration Recipies and Preparations
The Winter Trolls, an old story
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