The Danes celebrate “Fastelavn” in February, where the kids dress up like “Halloween” and the kids hit away on barroll much like a “Piñata” and a “King” and “Princess” is crowned.
The Danes also celebrate “Sankte Hans,” which takes place the 23 of June each year. The celebration here in San Diego always takes place on Saturday the 23rd or the Saturday nearest to this date. It alwaus take splace in Crown Point, Pacific Beach (Missions Bay). It is a combined Potluck/Picnic event followed by burning of the “witch” at the fireplace after dark with some Danish traditional songs and baking of famous Danish “Sno-bread” over the fire.
Lawn Program
The annual lawn program is held on the first Sunday in June each year. As the 4th of June is “Grundlovsdag” the day the Danish Constitution was signed and transferring the oldest Kingdom in the World from a Monarchy rule of law to a Parlamentary rule of law. The Danish Royal family is still extremely popular among the common Danes and has so far not experienced scandals like other European Royal families. Queen Margrethe is highly educated and is a great artist (designer and painter) and the King to be Crown Prince Frederik is also highly educated and a Danish “Navy Seal” and married to sweet Mary from Australia.
Entertainment for this event is done by a storyteller, who is a member of the cottage who talks about fun and historical topics. A three-man band plays Danish-English favorites with singing. A dance group in their native costumes adds to the color and variety.
December Nights
For the Balboa Park December Nights Holiday Event, you can enjoy the famous Aebleskiver with strawberry jam and apple stew, plus hot cider, cocoa, coffee and Danish cookies. In the beer garden they serve Eggnog, Gloeg (a hot redwine drink), Danish Beer (Carlsberg), the Danish drinks Snaps and Akvarit (strong alcohol normally served at the “Big Danish Lunch” (Smorgasbord) . The children enjoy a paper craft demonstration, where they get a heart or star made from folded paper.
Christmas Party
December is the time for their yearly Christmas Party. It is a family affair and is held in the Hall of Nations. The food is catered and there will be dancing around the Christmas tree and singing and just having fun. In Denmark Christmas is celebrated at the night of the 24th December where the church visit is followed by the Christmas dinner and then signing and dancing around the tree finished off with the giving of gifts. The 25th and 26th is national holidays, where the families and friends normally meet over the very long lasting Big cold Danish lunch (normally takes all day). |