The elaborateness of the dinner rivals the American Thanksgiving. The dessert is always rice pudding , served with one hidden raw almond in it. The person who gets the almond, will get a special gift, usually some sweets like marcipan or chocolate. Jokesters are known to hide the almond in their mouth, causing others to keep eating more desert, assuming the almond is still in the bowl. After dinner, the tree is lit, and everyone gathers around it.
People hold hands and walk around the tree in a circle, singing christmas carols.
Families without children often omit this part. The handing out of the gifts is usually done by designating someone to be the nisse . This person then crawls around the tree and retrieves a package, which is then handed to the person whose name is on the gift tag. Everyone watches as the gift is opened, and admires the content. Meanwhile, the nisse has found another present beneath the tree, which is then handed to the next happy receiver.