Danish, Danish (and only Danish) Music Day!

Tomorrow, 27 October 2016, is the last Thursday of the month of October which means that it is - selvfølgelig! - “Spil Dansk” (Play Danish Music) Day! 🙂So don't be suprised if the only music you hear on Danish state radio is by Danish groups (some of which also sing in English), Danish songwriters, Danish… Continue reading Danish, Danish (and only Danish) Music Day!

I heart Danish comfort food! (Part twelve – Burning Love – Brændende Kærlighed)

Dear ReadersThere's no turning back! Despite a good fight by the Indian Summer the last couple of weeks, autumn is well and truly here. I'm now wearing my gloves on my morning bike rides because it is so darn ch-ch-chilly! But, hey ho, I'm a seasoned winterbather so I've learned to just suck it up… Continue reading I heart Danish comfort food! (Part twelve – Burning Love – Brændende Kærlighed)

Off to Danish church? Don't forget your smartphone!

One of the things I love  about Denmark (stop me if you've heard this one before...) is the mixture of new and old. On the face of it, Denmark is a liberal, modern, forward thinking country. When you scratch the surface, you discover the Danes' deeply ingrained love of traditions. This morning I saw the new/old combo working… Continue reading Off to Danish church? Don't forget your smartphone!

Welcome to Danish autumn! More candles coming right up!

Welcome to Danish autumn! We officially started a couple of days ago (1 September) but autumn has been making its presence felt for a couple of weeks. And it's the usual story...first thing in the morning there is heavy dew on the grass outside and condensation on the windows inside. When I cycle down for… Continue reading Welcome to Danish autumn! More candles coming right up!

The old Danish post service you know… Just three times more expensive!

 Regular readers, from my first post here back in September 2010 (which was - selvfølgelig - about farts - "Mind your language!") will know that I am in l-o-v-e with Denmark and those crazy Danes! (I'm Scottish but I felt like I had finally come home when I moved here to Copenhagen in 1998.) I… Continue reading The old Danish post service you know… Just three times more expensive!

Gotta catch 'em all! Food waste…GO!

While others around the world are trying to 'catch 'em all, here in Denmark I'm invariably trying to catch...the best food bag! 😉 Forget Team Mystic, I'm on Team Fight-Against-Food-Waste. There are several apps in Denmark which connect socially responsible food stores and restaurants with overstocks to hungry (and canny...) customers who enjoy getting a bargain.… Continue reading Gotta catch 'em all! Food waste…GO!

The kids with caps…time to make some noise!

So the other day I told you about the Invasion of the kids with caps... Once they get the cap placed on their head, it doesn't stop there. It's time to celebrate. Big time. It goes like this. Each High School class gets on to a truck. Which they have decorated with flowers, banners, Danish flags, etc,… Continue reading The kids with caps…time to make some noise!

Invasion of the kids with caps…

First there was just one or two. You didn't notice them really. Just random dots on the landscape. Then they started popping up in the train and bus. They began to multiply. Huddled together in groups on street corners. In school halls, department stores and on the street. And - selvfølgelig - all over my… Continue reading Invasion of the kids with caps…

Witches and Midsummer on Thursday!

I spotted witches in the supermarket today...which is a sure sign that we are counting down to Sankt Hans Aften! ;-)What is it? A huge event on the Danish social calendar – the night where you go out and celebrate St John's Eve, probably better known as...midsummer! It falls on 23 June – which this… Continue reading Witches and Midsummer on Thursday!

What does that sign mean? Beats me! (Badum tish!)

[Today's post is especially for my DBB (Dear Big Brother) in Scotland.]I got into the Quiet Zone compartment of an S-train last week when this sign caught my eye...I had to take a closer look. No, my eyes didn't deceive me. No drums allowed? Say what?!It turns out - selvfølgelig - that those crazy Danes… Continue reading What does that sign mean? Beats me! (Badum tish!)

When it's hot in Denmark, reach for the 'cold bowl'!

Three weeks ago we had hail stones and sleet, and hard frost during the night. Last weekend that all changed and yesterday afternoon (a bog standard Tuesday) our local beach was packed and the temperature was 20c/68f. Welcome to Denmark! (Though, of course, the water is still cold - 11c/52f - so me and my… Continue reading When it's hot in Denmark, reach for the 'cold bowl'!

Star Wars and Danish Liberation Day

If you're out and about in Denmark today, you'll notice that the buses, official buildings and private individuals are flying the Danish flag today: Dannebrog (incidentally, the oldest national flag in the world).As regular readers will know, the thing I love about living among those crazy Danes is all the different traditions. Denmark is, on the… Continue reading Star Wars and Danish Liberation Day

Attention! It's Ascension!

Hot on the heels of Big Prayer Day, I bring you yet another public service announcement...This Thursday, 5 May 2016, we have yet another religious holiday where Denmark will basically be closed for business. What's the occasion this time? Kristi Himmelfart. Literally, Christ's Sky Flight. Or Ascension, as is the more boring name in English. Oh, yes,… Continue reading Attention! It's Ascension!

Big Prayer Day? Time for big rolls!

With Easter behind us, we are counting down to the strangest day on the Danish religious calendar. This Friday, 22 April, is Stor Bededag. ’Big Prayer Day’! Those crazy Danes decided back in 1686 that there were just too many religious holidays during the year. So they lumped the minor ones together, four weeks after Easter and –… Continue reading Big Prayer Day? Time for big rolls!

Getting ready for Easter

If you live here in Denmark you’ll have noticed that the Danes are getting ready for Easter. They celebrate in big style, and the country will basically shut down tonight, Wednesday.  Despite being very low-key about religion, most of Denmark will be closed Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.  So although you… Continue reading Getting ready for Easter