In the U.S., Thanksgiving marks the unofficial start of the race to Christmas (unless you happen to decorate department stores, then it starts in October). But in Denmark, the Christmas race starts tonight.

J-Day, as its known, is the momentous occasion when at exactly 8:59 p.m. on the first Friday of November, the 140-year old releases (Christmas Brew), the high-octane libation that will fuel most holiday festivities in the country for the next six weeks. And then it’s gone…

Read more on NPR’s food blog The Salt