Spring incoming! The streets of the country are starting to get green yet again, and long puffy jackets are finding their way back into the closet (at least for now). As much as snow could return out of nowhere, like it did last spring, it is safe to say the blooming has started and is here to stay. Most of you will have bumped into small yellow flowers in the streets or maybe even in your own building garden. These are winter aconites – in spite of their name, they are known to be some of the first to announce spring in Denmark.
For Danes with little ones, the arrival of spring also coincides with the return of theme parks, one of the favorite weekend family activities. In the capital, both Tivoli (1843) and Bakken (1583) are opening their doors for the season this Friday, March 22. The spots have been around for centuries, with Bakken being the oldest amusement park in the world. From now forward, expect big lines filled with young families looking for some cozy entertainment.
After all is said and done, the one common interest for Danes remains the same: to enjoy the sun. Although there is not a formal word for it, it is fair to say this constitutes the Danish forår hygge – or spring cozyness. From grabbing a coffee at an outdoor table to laying out the picnic blankets, the tradition of getting together for a snack under the rays of light brings the nation together. If you pay attention, you will see that it’s not only trees and flowers that are blooming. It is also Danes, speaking and laughing a bit louder in public, peeping outside their windows, ready for the return of the sun.
