Christmas spirit hanging from the shop window of a hairdresser
This article originally appeared on VICE Denmark
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Most people tend to think that the Christmas spirit is easy to recreate; Hang up some white fluff, silver fringes or anything with the right shade of green and/or red, and you’re basically set – right?
Wrong. Last December, Danish photographer Sarah Buhtmann noticed that many Christmas decorations in Copenhagen were well-meaning, but ended up looking rather sad. She walked around the city capturing the winners of half-assed holiday decorations. Here’s what she came back with.
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![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-219-1481562985.jpg)
A pair of rubber legs and a Christmas tree shaped like a butt plug
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-550-1481562975.jpg)
Christmas decorations on a bus stop in Emdrup, on the outskirts of Copenhagen
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-542-1481562980.jpg)
A Christmas wreath on the entrance of a brothel
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-409-1481562991.jpg)
Christmas spirit in a sex shop
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-164-1481562978.jpg)
Outside Copenhagen’s Church of the Holy Ghost
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-162-1481562974.jpg)
Inside a sex shop on Istedgade, the closest thing Copenhagen has to a Red Light District
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-411-1481562981.jpg)
A straw Christmas goat in a tanning salon
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-553-1481562977.jpg)
A Christmas corset in a video store
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-470-1481562976.jpg)
A shop window on the high street, Strøget
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-789-1481562993.jpg)
A realtor’s office in the suburb Vanløse
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-849-1481562978.jpg)
Santa on a scooter
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-215-1481562982.jpg)
A naked Christmas gnome behind bars
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-735-1481562984.jpg)
In the municipal government office on the island of Amager in South Copenhagen
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-958-1481562979.jpg)
Christmas candles and grilled chickens
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-657-1481562991.jpg)
A skeleton outside of a massage parlour
![](https://vice-images.vice.com/images/galleries/meta/2016/12/12/meagre-christmas-decorations-copenhagen-876-315-1481562992.jpg)
Santa spreading his legs for customers at the entrance of a Polish shop