Sankt Hans Eve 2008

When the moment came, flames breaking out over the calm sound, Sweden a faint line on the horizon, a square-rigged ship luffing into the light breeze, a group of Danes singing their Midsummer hymn, it was beautiful and well worth the wait for the Life in Denmark group of 30 expats and Danes. The evening began with gourmet picnic baskets, rugs and lots of where-are-you-froms. A great mix of people from Portugal, US, Australia, Germany, Finland, India, France and China, just to name a few. After dinner the children enjoyed their gifts and a round of football on the large lawn behind the Karen Blixen Museum. Parents relaxed in conversation with new-found friends while the singles mingled and talked about their latest party.

Stretching our legs along the waterfront by Rungsted Yacht Club, we enjoyed coffee, ice cream and beer while dreaming of borrowing some of the fantastic boats lining the dock. On the beach with a big crowd of Danes, there were lots of opportunities to share a few words with the locals and discuss the meaning of Midsummer to Scandinavians, the significance of the long evenings and the contrast to the darker months we left behind earlier in the year. We shook hands, smiling, talking enthusiastically of the next Life in Denmark event. In the end it felt like the evening had gone all too quickly.

Thanks for a great midsummer eve!
Skip Bowman | Life in Denmark