Godt nytår
Godt nytår og velkommen til 2025!
As a Scot, I have always thought that I am well indoctrinated into New Years Eve /
Nytårsaften celebrations. We Scots are renowned for our celebrations of Hogmanay
(as we call 31 st December), with visitors descending on Edinburgh from across the
globe guaranteed a good party, plenty of malt whiskey and singing and dance with
linked arms and joined hands to Robert Burn’s Auld Lang Syne at midnight, or ‘the
bells’,
However, after experiencing my first Danish New Year this year, I realise that
compared with the Danes, we Scots are mere amateurs! The Danes take
Nytårsaften extremely seriously, and my experience was of a New Year celebration
elevated into another level compared to back home. The Danes are proud of their
traditions, sticklers for doing things properly, and they do it with class!
Let me take you on a journey through Nytårsaften, Danish style.
The day began with a morning ‘dip.’ Freezing water..but accompanied by a glass of
fizz! Then it was time to spend the rest of the morning and afternoon planning for the
evening.
Nytårsaften eclipses Christmas itself in the Danes calendar. While Christmas is cozy,
hyggelig and relaxed with family, New Year is the ultimate party showdown. Outfits
for Christmas day in a Danish household are relaxed, comfortable and comforting.
Outfits for Nytårsaften are at the other end of the spectrum. Nytårsaften is for
dressing up in your finery. Black tie/bowtie is common for men, even if you are just
heading to your neighbour’s house for dinner and equivalent sequins, sparkles, and
extremely glamorous outfits for the ladies.
Kick off is at 6pm sharp. That is right, 6pm. And this year with even more excitement
as it was time for Kong Frederick’s first Nytårsaften. Expectation is that you are
dressed in full finery and ready to be seated in front of the television, with an
appropriate drink, in suitable time for the Nytårstale. In my case, the ‘appropriate
drink’ was to be a bottle of 2015 Dom Perignon! Good start. In the Uk we have our
Kings speech on Christmas Day, at 3pm. Half the population may watch it, the other
half by this time in the day are already dozing semi-conscious on the sofa and not
particularly interested. Not the case in Denmark, and I can understand why. Even
with my limited Danish language abilities, it was clear that this was an incredibly
special speech; humble, heartfelt, and relevant in delivery.
After the speech, the celebrations continue; a five-course gourmet meal in true
Danish fashion that lasted several hours with good company and exceptional food.
None of the ‘sild’ or roast pork of Christmas or julefrokost. This was haute cuisine
featuring the likes of smoked salmon and oysters, beef wellington, paired with the
best from the wine cellar with each course.
As midnight approached it was time again to prepare for the traditional expectations.
Making sure to be again in front of the TV with a fresh glass of champagne to watch
the clock hands turn and chime twelve live from the City Hall in Copenhagen.
Several Danes were a little upset this year that the TV station decided to change the
camera angle, so rather than being zoned in exclusively on the clock hands, this
year the clock was almost overshadowed by the million fireworks being set off at the
same time. I was instructed that it was very important not to celebrate prematurely-
counting the bongs of the clock carefully before it is then time to toast with a glass
and wish each other a Happy New Year and then listen to the National Girls choir
sing various traditional and modern songs before heading outside to celebrate with
the fireworks.
And the fireworks are another piece of Danish tradition. Despite the weather being
stormy and wet, most households, and certainly every late teen or twenty something
will have accumulated an impressive collection to set off in the street, in the garden,
on the corner. In a residential area in Horsholm, most driveways held their own
display. To stand outside all you could hear was a constant din from every direction.
The sky and horizon were flickering a constant orange with all the explosions all the
way down the coast from all around which was even more amazing given the terrible
weather. I can honestly say I have never seen anything like it.
Back inside it was time for some kransekage (wreath cake) to soak up some of the
champagne, and then it was time to head out to a neighbour’s party. I have never set
out for a party at 1am before! Heading home at 3am it was also a revelation that
buses were running, making the journey home extremely easy.
So this year, this Scottish lightweight party pooper who has for many years taken
pleasure in being tucked up in bed with the lights out by 9pm on Hogmanay and
avoiding any of the celebrations, found a new lease of life thanks to the Danes, and
partied in style until a 4.30am bedtime. I can safely say I have not seen that time of
the morning at that time of the year since sometime last century as a student! There
is a lot to be said for, and I highly recommend that in 2025 you embrace trying out
how to ‘live like a local’.
