Simple Danish Newsletter #20

Hi Friends,

Why do Danes light bonfires and burn witches on the 23rd of June?

Sankt Hans Aften is one of those holidays that on paper sound too weird to be true. In Denmark it is celebrated on the 23rd of June.

On the day, Danes everywhere gather and build a large bonfire – the bigger the better – and once the sun starts setting, they light the fire and burn a (fake) witch on the fire.
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I remember as a kid, making a drawing of a witch, attaching it to a stick and burning it in our garden. However, many cities arrange much bigger, and much more elaborate celebrations with huge fires, with elaborate witches on brooms.

In the past, the day was thought to enhance supernatural powers, meaning medicinal herbs collected on the day were more powerful, and even the dew on the grass had special powers. Water in springs had healing powers as well, which led to a tradition where people travelled far to visit natural springs and drink the healing water on midsummer.

However, evil powers were also enhanced on the day, which is where the tradition of lighting big bonfires to keep evil witches and spirits away, comes from.

The tradition of drinking spring water is no longer celebrated and burning the witch on the bonfire is a modern addition to the tradition, as well as having bonfire speeches and singing Holger Drachmanns “midsommervise”.

The day really is special and enjoying a nice bonfire on the beach or near a lake is a great experience that is not to be missed if you are in Denmark on the 23rd of June.

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❤️ Our Favourite things

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Idiom of the week: At jokke i Spinaten

Litterally; to stomp in the spinach

To stomp in the spinach, means to inadvertently say or do something stupid. You can also use the verb “træde” (to step) in the spinach, instead of the more rough “jokke”.

For example:

• Det gik godt for Danmark til EM, men de jokkede i spinaten ved at skifte strategi i de sidste 10 minutter.

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Word of the Week: Tandsmør

Literally: Tooth butter. A word for when you put so much butter on a piece of bread, you can see the teeth marks in the butter after taking a bite.

For example: Det smager dejligt med tandsmør, men man skal passe på kalorierne.

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That’s all we had for you for this week. Feel free to reply to this email with comments, suggestions or questions, as we read and reply to all emails 😊

Best regards,

Antonina & Rasmus

Denmark&Me