Archive for 'Culture'
That’s hygge to me! Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Mar 10, 2012
Hygge is one of the best known ”mystery words” of Danish. It can’t really be translated. (My dictionary suggests ’comfort, cosiness’, but I’d say that’s only an approximation…) I asked some young Danish-speakers to tell the readers of this blog what hygge (and its adjectival form hyggelig) meant to them. Hashim I want to tell you about hygge…
Telling Stories Anew Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 25, 2012
2012 may not be the age of H.C. Andersen or Karen Blixen, but storytelling is a as vibrant as ever in Denmark. This concludes yesterday’s interview with the modern storyteller Helle. ❞ There was a time when people had no pleasures. The whole life was only work, food, digestion, sleep. They fell asleep after great…
Telling Stories Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 24, 2012
When rain is pouring down your window and Denmark seems a little dull and desolate, the time has come to rediscover your inner qualities. I met the storyteller Helle for an interview… Helle, you’re a storyteller? Yes, I’ve been that for 13 or 14 years. For many years I taught drama at a højskole (folk…
40 Years on the Throne of Denmark Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 15, 2012
January 15th, 1972, Christiansborg Slotsplads (Christiansborg Palace Square), central Copenhagen. A multitude of people – young and old, men and women – have gathered in front of the palace section used by the Royal family. (Another part of Christiansborg Slot [Palace] houses the Danish Parliament.) Surprisingly many carry small Dannebrog (the name of the Danish…
How to Make Your Own Danish Christmas Heart Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Dec 24, 2011
What you’ll need: glanspapir (glazed paper) of two different colours en saks (a pair of scissors) en lineal (a ruler) en blyant (a pencil) Now, let’s begin: 1 Pick two sheets of glazed paper in different colours. Red and white is the classical combo. (As in the Danish flag!) 2 Fold each sheet…
The One and Only Julekalender Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Dec 20, 2011
”What was that? That was what!” the nisse Günther exclaims, his face dripping with the water splashed on him by fellow nisser Fritz and Hansi in an attempt to cure him from his momentary belief he’s a German tracker dog. The scene appears in The Julekalender, a televised ”Christmas calendar” in the Danish broadcasting tradition…
Santa Lucia Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Dec 13, 2011
Lights off. Everyone is fidgetting in anticipation, stealing glimpses of friends’ silhouettes in the dusk of the room. Suddenly a clear note breaks the silence, then another; the ringing sound of young girls’ voices echoes through the shadows and becomes a song: Nu bæres lyset frem… Now the light is carried forth… Enters the choir, five…