Archive for 'Traditions'
Buns Up Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Feb 10, 2013
It’s fastelavn [fast-eh-LAOON]! Last year I told you about this fun tradition, where children all over Denmark klæder sig ud (dress up) and pound a hanging barrel with a bat until the slik (candy) comes out. (This is called at slå katten af tønden, which roughly means ”beating the cat out of the barrel”. People say that many years ago, there used…
How To Make A Danish Christmas Star Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Dec 25, 2012
What you’ll need: a saks (pair of scissors) four papirstrimler (strips of paper), about 1 cm broad and 30 cm long a string (to hang it) How to do it: 1. Fold each strip in the exact middle (so that it closes like a book). 2. Braid all four strips so that the folded ends ”lock” each…
Counting the days… Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Dec 9, 2012
It’s Christmas time again! Danes of all ages are looking forward to juleaften (Christmas Eve, December 24th). Children glæder sig til at få julegaver (are looking forward to getting Christmas gifts), while a lot of adults can’t wait for the stress of the annual julehandel (Christmas shopping) to simmer down. Keeping a julekalender (Christmas calendar) is an excellent way to keep track of…
Kongefamilien Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Oct 22, 2012
Having looked at the Danish words for various family members, the time has now come to lære at kende (get acquainted with) the Danish royal family. You’ve already said hello to the familieoverhoved (head of family, literally ’family over-head’!): Dronning Margrethe den anden (Queen Margareth the second), our friendly and kunstnerisk (artistic) queen since 1972…
Happy Grundlovsdag Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jun 5, 2012
A lot of Danes had a welcome day off today, as the country celebrated its grundlovsdag (Constitution Day). (Well, most places people actually had half a day off, working until 12 o’clock…) One and a half century ago, on June 5th 1849, Denmark got its first constitution. This was something Danish defendants of frihed (freedom)…
Who Made Holes In My Letter? Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Apr 10, 2012
While Easter is celebrated in many countries throughout verden (the world), there is one Easter tradition which only exists in Denmark: the sending of gækkebreve. Brev is ’letter’ (snail mail). If you lived in the 19th century and felt like asking if that bell-ringing jester in front of your table were pulling your leg or…
Danish Easter Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Apr 7, 2012
Påsken (the Easter) is one of the most important holidays in Denmark. Originally linked to Christianity, for most modern Danes it has become a welcome break from work and a chance to spend some time together with your familie. Påske is symbolized by the colour gul, and most people associate it with påskeæg (Easter eggs)…