Christmas with your colleague
Christmas with your colleague: Nana Olejank Hansen
Meet Nana Olejank Hansen, Communication employee at Department of Regional Health Research and Department of Clinical Research.
Can you tell from your office that Christmas is approaching?
You certainly will from Monday the 2nd! That’s when we’re planning to decorate the office for Christmas. We’re going all out with a festive display, including a Christmas landscape and a stocking.
Is there anything or anyone that lifts your Christmas spirit at work?
I’ve heard there’s Christmas carolling for the Faculty Secretariat at 10 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout December. I’m definitely planning to crash that!
Apart from that, my wonderful office mates bring so much positive energy—it really helps boost the Christmas cheer.
How are you celebrating Christmas this year?
We’re celebrating at home in Odense. It’ll just be my partner, our daughter Amanda, and me, along with Amanda’s grandparents and Aunt Sara. Amanda is four, so the whole day will revolve around her.
She’ll start the morning by opening her presents from us, and later in the afternoon, the rest of the family will join us. She’ll get more gifts, and we’ll all dance around the Christmas tree together.
Do you or your family have any special Christmas traditions?
Our family has followed a slightly unconventional Christmas Eve menu in the past: beef soup with meat and dumplings as a starter, followed by roast beef with horseradish sauce. It’s a tradition from southern Langeland that my parents adopted from my grandparents. Although my mum was used to more traditional Christmas food, she quickly realised the brilliance of a menu that can be prepared in advance.
For years, we also had a tradition at my parents’ house of playing Wendy Horse Game after opening presents. It all started when my younger sister received the game as a gift, and we ended up playing it well into our twenties.
What’s on your menu for Christmas Eve?
Our first Christmas together was in 2019, and we had soup and roast beef because my partner insisted, “I don’t care what we eat for Christmas.” But when the guests left that evening, he said, “Next year, I’m in charge of the food.” So clearly, he did care!
Since then, we’ve had a classic Christmas spread with duck, pork roast, sausage, red cabbage, caramelised and boiled potatoes, gravy, and all the traditional trimmings.
Do you have a favourite Christmas recipe to share?
I usually get my parents to do the baking for me—it’s a huge time-saver!
If you’re in a pinch, I’d highly recommend the ready-to-bake cookie dough rolls from Rema1000. Just make sure they’re well chilled before slicing.
What’s your favourite Christmas film or song?
I adore Dejlig er jorden (Beautiful Saviour), as I think its message is so beautiful and uplifting.
And before Christmas, I always make time to watch Home Alone 1 & 2, Love Actually, and The Holiday.