It is almost Spring

On this leap year day it is wonderful to see the first signs of Spring after a long, if mild, winter. The sun is rising earlier and setting later, there are more sunny days and the buds on the plants hint at a new beginning.

Today's word is the word for Spring which is forår, literally translating as "before year".

-RS

Just for love

"I love you!" is one of the earliest sentences which people want to learn in almost any language.

In Danish it is "Jeg elsker dig!"

-RS

Getting around in the winter

In the winter it is not unusual for the canals of the city to freeze up completely, even the ones leading to the sea from which most of the well-known pictures of Copenhagen are taken.

Even during the harshest winter public transport has to run and the waterbusses operate on the canals. These are a worthwhile alternative for tourists anytime of year as the same tickets you use for your metro, bus or rail transport is valid on these.

Today's word is is which means ice and also ice cream!

-RS

Frederiksberg Castle

In Copenhagen there is a commune called Frederiksberg and in the centre of the commune is this impressive building built on the highest point. Today it is the Royal Danish Army Officers Academy but this Baroque palace served as the royal family’s summer residence until the mid-19th century.

The Danish word for palace is slot.

-RS

Who let the cows out?

On many Danish farms cows are kept in barns over the winter period. In early Spring the cows are let out and many farms open to the public over that weekend to celebrate this.

This photo was taken on a farm near Frederiksund which has organic farming practices.

Today's word is ko and it is the Danish word for cow.

-RS

A word I first heard in Scotland

In Scotland people refer to a church as a kirk. I wondered about this and found that it seems to be a loan word from old Norse.


It shows how far and wide the Viking languages' influence can still be felt. Today the Danes use the word kirke and pronounce it not too dissimilar from the Scots.

This photo shows the St. Alban's Anglican Church in Copenhagen. This is the only Anglican church in Denmark and affectionately known locally as “The English Church".

-RS

The "King" in "Konge"

The place Kongens Nytorv and Kongens Have both show geographical points with a royal link. Konge means king in Danish. Both these areas are close to the current royal winter palaces situated at Amalienborg a few hundred metres away.

This photo is of the equestrian statue of King Frederik V, founder of Amalienborg Palace

The bus

The Germanic languages have the tendency to contract concepts quite a bit. In English one would say "the bus" when using the definite singular form but in Danish bussen means exactly this.

This photo was taken on a recent walk up Vesterbrogade with Christopher. This walk might feature later on this year as part of an upcoming series planned to showcase the diversity of the city. I hope you pop around to have a look at it.

-RS

Gefion

When you first come to a country, probably as a tourist, you see the beauty of the country superficially. When, however you have a bit more time or spend time living there you get to understand its mythology better.

So it was for me with this statue, that of the goddess Gefion, which is situated near Churchill Square in the Nordre Toldbod area next to Kastellet and immediately south of Langelinie.

In Norse mythology is a goddess associated with ploughing the Danish main island of Zealand out of a piece of Sweden which is a lake with a similar size and outline as Zealand. She is also associated with foreknowledge and virginity.

Gefion appears prominently as the allegorical mother of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark in the forty-page Swedish Romantic poem Gefion, a Poem in Four Cantos by Eleonora Charlotta. It seems to have been the inspiration for the fountain statue by Anders Bundgård.


-RS

Little Mermaid alert!

Now what would a photo taken towards the eastern side of Nyhavn (known as the "Sunny Side" by locals) have in relation to the world-famous statue in Langelinje?

Well, H.C. Andersen the writer of the tale lived on this side of the harbour for quite a while and, the word on the blue building on the right hand side of the picture Havfruen means The Mermaid in Danish.

Danish Halloween

One Sunday two years ago I came across swimmers who had cut a hole in the ice in among the boats in Nyhavn.In a country where people take pride in swimming all year round I didn't think much of it. That is, until I saw a small barrel being strung up and the participants hitting at it with a stick!

And so I got to know about Fastelavn, a Nordic tradition similar to Halloween. The day, which always occurs seven weeks before Easter, is sometimes described as the Nordic Halloween as children dress up in costumes and get treats.

What I saw was ‘hitting the cat out of the barrel’ (slå katten af tønden). In old days there was an actual black cat inside the barrel, and beating the barrel was superstitiously considered a safeguard against evil.

Today, the cat has been relaced by oranges and sweets. Other Fastelavn traditions include eating the special Fastelavn bun with cream inside and icing on top, and also making a ‘Fastelavnsris’, a kind of whip made out of twigs that you decorate with paper cats and other things.

-R.S.

The "New" Harbour

This 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen is one of my favourite places in the city, especially in summer. However, on a sunny winter's day the colours of these beautiful buildings come to life!

Today's word is "Nyhavn" which means New Harbour and makes me smile considering its four hundred years ago that it was called that and the name stuck!

-RS

Not a load of cobblers

On Amagerbrogade there are many tradesmen and this sign shows a shoemaker's shop on a autumn afternoon.

Sadly, with consumers opting for replacing rather than mending shoes fewer cobblers are around nowadays.

So, does the cobbler always wears the worst shoes? We are not so sure!

-RS

Still in Business

The old Stock Exchange is a building on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built by Christian IV in 1619–1640 and is the oldest stock exchange in Denmark. It is particularly known for its Dragon Spire shaped as the tails of four dragons twined together, reaching a height of 56 meters. If you search for it on this blog you will find a few great photographs of the building elsewhere.

This is the street view.

Today's word is "Børsen" and means The Stock Exchange.

-RS