Get to know our Lab Agent’s Christmassy ways before you turn off your computer for the holidays.
2019 has almost passed but before we enter a new year, it’s time to grab your loved ones, put on your best Christmas sweater, watch Love Actually (ones again), put Michael Buble on repeat, rock around the Christmas tree and eat some ‘leverpostej’, gingerbread, risalamande or whatever the tradition is where you’re from. At Innovation Lab, we’re a diverse bunch of people from all over the world and with that follows a diverse range of Christmas traditions. So we’ve asked some of our Lab Agents about their way of doing Christmas!
Lars, Hacks by Innovation Lab: “I love the concept of Advent Calendars. Both the ones on TV and the physical paper ones – with or without chocolate!”
Morten, Co-creation by Innovation Lab: “To make Christmas decorations with my family. My dad always aims to build the highest and biggest decoration. My mom on the other hand always manages to get the prettiest and coolest gadgets before we even get started. But I am the one to make the most amazing decoration every year, naturally…”
Nicoline, Grit by Innovation Lab: “I’ve always loved the magical feeling and mystique around Santa and his elves. Every Saturday night I would put out rice pudding for the elves living at our loft and write them a letter, and surprise! The next morning the rice pudding was gone and a present and letter from the elves were in my sock – magical!”
Louise, Team Science by Innovation Lab: “It’s not really a movie – but Disney’s From All of Us to All of You is my favorite Christmas show. It’s just a great nostalgic trip down memory lane.”
Daniel, Hacks by Innovation Lab: “I know it’s cliché, but my favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard. I watch it every year!”
Jevgenia, Grit by Innovation Lab: “I’m not that into Christmas, but New Year’s Eve on the other hand! We have a tradition in Russia (where I grew up) for New Year’s movies, and the most famous one is “Ironiya sudby, ili S legkim parom!” (translated into English it’s something like The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath). It’s romantic, funny and magical – everything you wish for around New Year!
Juan Carlos, Innovation Lab San Franciso: “The worst present I ever received was a loaf of bread in a bucket. It was from my parents because I was particularly naughty that year.”
Mads T, CEO & Projects by Innovation Lab: “During the abhorring tradition of rice pudding and almond hunt, I did NOT get the almond – very unlike me. My old grandfather got it and he wanted to pass it on to me. His false teeth were not always that clean and it was evident as he spat the almond into a napkin and handed it secretly to me. Did I embrace the opportunity and put the almond in my mouth, pretending it was my own find? Thinking of the present, I did. And regretted deeply as the present turned out to be a stuffed Pixi shaped like a sausage.”
Jon, Digital by Innovation Lab: “One year I received a can of JAKA bov (a can of compressed, minced pork you boil until sterile, yum!). Next Christmas I gave it to someone else.”
Morten, Digital by Innovation Lab: “I have been asked to play the Christmas carols on the piano in a local church on Christmas Eve. Something I am really looking forward to.”
Kristine, Future Organizations by Innovation Lab: “With my loved ones at our cottage on the western coast of Norway. Starting the day by watching the same tv-shows we watched when my girls were little. Then we are having the traditional Norwegian pinnekjøtt for dinner (stick meat of lamb), and after dinner, we are opening gifts and enjoying the peace for the rest of the evening.”
Mia, Membership by Innovation Lab: “With my boyfriend and his family in Austria, skiing. First time outside of Denmark AND without my mom and dad. I’m kind of terrified…”
Jarle, Experiences by Innovation Lab: “På loftet sidder nissen med sin julegrød. It’s a sure hit to get even the most food-filled, non-Christmas dancer skipping around the Christmas tree!”
Mads, Big Data by Innovation Lab: “Dejlig er jorden (Danish hymn). It makes me cry every year, as it was my father’s favorite hymn and we would sing it every Christmas – we even sang it at his funeral. It brings back fond memories of him.”
Mark, Deeptech by Innovation Lab: “Bing Crosby & David Bowie – Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy”
If you’re not already in your best Christmas mood and feeling the Christmas spirit all around you, we hope this blogpost has turned up your Christmas-o-meter just a tiny bit! And with that said…
Innovation Lab wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!