Customs and red-letter days
In Denmark, people celebrate a number of public holidays, red-letter days and customs throughout the year. On some of these days, children are given the day off from school and adults the day off from work.
Shrovetide
Fastelavn (Shrovetide) is another word for "Carneval" - a spring festival, which can be traced as far back as Ancient Greece. In Denmark, Shrovetide originally marked the commencement of fasting according to the Christian faith. According to ancient custom, children dressed up in fancy dress and beat a barrel. In ancient times, the barrel contained a cat. Today, the person who breaks the barrel is called the cat king. Shrovetide falls 49 days before Easter.
8th March
8th March is International Women's Day and is celebrated with events around the country.
Easter
Easter is the Christian religious festival that marks the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ. In Denmark, Easter is often a time of family celebration. From ancient times, there persists a tradition of giving each other chocolate easter eggs. The egg is an ancient symbol of fertility. Easter falls each year between March and April.
1st May
1st May is International Workers' Day and is celebrated with processions and events across the country.
Whitsun
According to Christian faith, Whitsun commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to Earth. Originally, Whitsun marked the end of seven weeks' easter celebration. At Whitsun, there is a tradition of rising early to watch the sun "dance", and many people eat a Whitsun picnic in the forest. Whitsun falls each year in May or June.
Constitution Day
5th June is Constitution Day, where people hold meetings and speeches to commemorate Denmark's democratic constitution, the constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark celebrated its first constitution in 1849.
Midsummer Day
In Denmark, Midsummer Day is commemorated on the evening of 23rd June. Midsummer Day has its origins in heathen folk tradition and Christianity. The celebration marks mid-summer, and according to ancient custom, dolls signifying witches are burnt atop blazing fires. Midsummer Day also commemorates John the Baptist's birthday on 24th June.
Christmas
Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ. Christmas Eve is on 24th December. Here, the family gathers to eat and give each other presents. Most people dance around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols and other songs. Many people attend a church Christmas service. And at Christmas, all the shops and streets are decorated with lights, hearts and spruce. Pixies, small fantasy creatures which are part of the heathen tradition, also have an important part to play at Danish Christmas celebrations. In December, many workplaces hold Christmas lunches, and at nursery, schools and after-school recreational centres, children make Christmas presents. Many children have a Christmas calendar just like the ones they see on the Christmas calendar TV programmes. These calenders count down the days to Christmas Eve. On the 25th and 26th December, which are called Christmas Day and Boxing Day, many families gather for a Christmas lunch.
New Year
New Year's Eve falls on 31st December, and across the land people celebrate the coming of the new year by setting off fireworks. On New Year's day, 1st January, nearly all shops and places of work remain closed.
Other religious festivals and red-letter days
It line with the growing trend of global cultural "imitation", and as more and more Danes of foreign origin have taken their place in Danish society, a number of alternative customs and red-letter days have been adopted.
- Some schools celebrate Ramadan - the Muslim month of feasting.
- In many places, the American tradition of Halloween is celebrated on 31 October. Children dress up as witches and ghosts, for example. Pumpkins are gouged out, given a mouth and eyes and a lighted candle is then placed inside.
- In many parts of the country, people hold carnivals mimicking the traditional South American celebration with samba music and processions. The biggest carnivals are held in Copenhagen at Whitsun.
Source: Citizen in Denmark.
Updated January 9th, 2009.
