Danish Custom: Abundant Gift-Giving during Christmas Celebrations
Swapping Unwanted Gifts in Denmark: The Post-Christmas Tradition
(Article written in a friendly, conversational tone)
Embracing the spirit of giving and received, nearly a quarter of Danish gift recipients return at least one present following Christmas. Dubbed as the "post-Christmas return tradition," this practice is deeply ingrained in Danish culture, particularly after the flæskesteg (roast pork) has been devoured and the tree twirled.
The Art of Returning Gifts in Denmark
Many stores in Denmark cater to the expected practice by placing "exchange labels" (byttemærker) on products they sell as gifts. These labels help recipients know where the item was purchased and within what time frame they can return it, complying with both the store's policies and consumer rights laws.
A 2024 estimate by the Danish Chamber of Commerce projects around one-fourth of Christmas gifts, totaling 600 million kroner, will be returned after the holiday season.
The most frequently returned gifts are clothing items, followed by home accessories, according to Bo Dalsgaard of the Danish Chamber of Commerce. Despite the growing trend of online shopping, over 80% of returned gifts were dropped off in person at stores in 2023.
Reinvesting in the Same Shop
Interestingly, in roughly a quarter of cases, recipients end up spending all the money from the returned gift in the same store where they returned it. Furthermore, 10% of the time, they spend even more money in the store than the initial gift's value.
Watch Out for Store Policies
Dalsgaard advises customers to be mindful of varying store policies. While some stores still require receipts as proof of purchase, even with the widespread use of exchange labels, others may accept a label as sufficient for an exchange in-store.
Online purchases typically offer a 14-day right of return from the date of item receipt.
Why Specific Gifts Are Popular
In Denmark, gift-giving is often about sentiment, quality, and practicality, reflecting the cultural values of simplicity, elegance, and thoughtfulness. Popular gift types include personalized items, luxury food hampers, cozy items, and books by Danish authors or with a focus on national traditions.
When it comes to returning gifts, Danish consumers are encouraged to remain informed about store-specific policies and make the most of their post-Christmas shopping experience.
- Stores in Denmark, even those selling art and home-and-garden products, add exchange labels (byttemærker) on gifts to help recipients know where they can return them, adhering to both store policies and consumer rights laws.
- In the spirit of reinvesting, around a quarter of gift returners ended up spending all their returned money in the same store where they returned their gifts in 2023, with 10% spending even more money than the initial gift's value.
- News reported that in 2024, around one-fourth of Christmas gifts, totaling 600 million kroner, will be returned after the holiday season, making it a significant portion of the total gift-giving spending.
- When returning gifts, Danish consumers are advised to be mindful of varying store policies; while some still require receipts as proof of purchase, others may accept exchange labels as sufficient for an exchange.
- Gift-giving in Denmark often involves sentiment, quality, and practicality, as seen in the high demand for personalized items, luxury food hampers, cozy items, and books on Danish traditions or by Danish authors, reflecting the cultural values of simplicity, elegance, and thoughtfulness.
