![\"P\u00e5skelilje](\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File%3AP%C3%A5skelilje_Narcissus_pseudonarcissus.jpg\")
<\/a>Easter lilies in Copenhagen.<\/p><\/div>P\u00e5sken<\/strong> (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<\/strong>. P\u00e5ske<\/strong> is symbolized by the colour gul<\/strong><\/span>, and most people associate it with p\u00e5ske\u00e6g<\/strong> (Easter eggs), p\u00e5skekylling\/er<\/strong> (Easter chicken\/s), p\u00e5skehare\/r<\/strong> (Easter hare\/s) and p\u00e5skelilje\/r<\/strong> (Easter lilie\/s). Many people look forward to the p\u00e5skebryg<\/strong> \u2013 a special bryg\u00a0<\/strong>(brew) of beer launched by breweries such as Carlsberg and Tuborg.<\/p>\n Like jul<\/a><\/strong>, p\u00e5ske<\/strong> is a holiday stretching over several days. Unlike juledag<\/strong> (Christmas Day), however, p\u00e5skedag<\/strong> doesn\u2019t have a fixed date. Any Sunday between March 22 and April 25 will do the job. It\u2019s up to those star-gazers to tell us exactly when we\u2019re going to have our p\u00e5skeferie<\/strong> (Easter holiday) this year! (According to Wikipedia<\/span><\/a>, Easter Sunday is the \u201dfirst Sunday after the first fuldm\u00e5ne<\/strong> [full moon] after for\u00e5rsj\u00e6vnd\u00f8gn<\/strong> [Spring Equinox]\u201d.)<\/span><\/p>\n Whatever your religious beliefs,<\/span> in p\u00e5sken<\/strong> you\u2019re guaranteed to have some days off if you live in Denmark. Let\u2019s look at the Danish names of the various p\u00e5skedag\/e<\/strong> (Easter day\/s):<\/p>\n Palmes\u00f8ndag<\/strong> [PAL-meh-suhn-dah] \u2013 Palm Sunday, the day when Christians believe Jesus to have been riding into Jerusalem while being greeted by people waving palmeblade<\/strong> (palm leaves).<\/p>\n Sk\u00e6rtorsdag<\/strong> [scare-TORE-s-dah] \u2013 Maundy Thursday. The Danish name has something to do with cleansing. This refers to a story of Jesus washing the feet of his followers.<\/p>\n Langfredag<\/strong> [lang-FREH-dah]. Whereas English-speakers call this the \u2019Good Friday\u2019, Danes talk about the \u2019Long Friday\u2019. This is the day when Jesus is said to have been nailed onto a kors<\/strong> (cross).<\/p>\n P\u00e5skedag<\/strong> [PAW-skeh-dah]. For Christians this is the most important day, as they believe that on this day, Jesus became alive again after having died. Even for non-Christians this is an important day in Denmark. Children receive p\u00e5ske\u00e6g<\/strong> (Easter eggs) \u2013 chocolate \u201deggs\u201d said to have been laid in various places by P\u00e5skeharen<\/strong> (\u2019The Easter Hare\u2019). Many people eat lam<\/strong> (lamb) in the evening.<\/p>\n Anden p\u00e5skedag<\/strong> [AN-n PAW-skeh-dah]. This is the Monday after p\u00e5skedag<\/strong>. It is a public holiday in Denmark, and a chance to recover before everything\u2019s back on track on Tuesday\u2026<\/p>\n God p\u00e5ske!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" P\u00e5sken (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. P\u00e5ske is symbolized by the colour gul, and most people associate it with p\u00e5ske\u00e6g (Easter eggs)…<\/p>\n