Sankt Hans celebrations

So, today is Sankt Hans. This means that most Danes will gather around a bonfire when it starts to get dark. Most bonfires will be decorated with a home made witch! But why all this weird stuff?

Sankt Hans has much in common with the Swedish Valborgnatt or the German Walpurgisnacht celebrated the night before May 1st, also with bonfires and maypoles!

Except that this is two days after equinox and we have no poles, but witches on bonfires. Hm. How does this connect? Some people mean that Sankt Hans is a leftover from a pagan tradition celebrating the longest day of the year. Some people argue that Christian missionaries re-interpreted the customs so that it fit some sort of Christian celebration. Regardless, the midsummer celebrations were always important in Scandinavia, as the winters are soo long and dark. The idea was that this one of the longest nights of the year was magic! Therefore people would seek to sacred places and pick special herbs to make use of the magic. The witch-thing comes in here. They were said to fly to Bloksbjerg in Harzen, Germany on this evening and night. The witches on the bonfires are adopted from the Germans. The purpose was to scare away witches and evil spirits instead of burning actual witches.

It is usually celebrated with both public and private arrangements. People will often have a barbeque party before the bonfire. Usually some local known face will give a speach at the bonfire and people will sing when it is lit.
So where can you experience the bonfires? Basically anywhere near a lake or the ocean.

Here are some in Copenhagen:

Knippelsbro - Kayak Republic, right by one of the lakes. Large bonfire, live music and a floating beach lounge! From 18: http://www.aok.dk/byliv/sankthans-paa-vandet

Frederiksberg Have - One of the traditional Sankt Hans celebrations of Copenhagen. The park is really beautiful too. From 18:45. Free.

Fælledparken - Café Pavillonen. The cute little building by the lake in Parken will be making the bonfire on Østerbro. Live band (The Executives) from 20-23. There will be barbeque from 18, bonfire at 22. And it's free too! http://www.aok.dk/byliv/sankthans-i-faelledparken

Nyhavn - Bonfire on the water, bars on the landside. Tons of people and a lot of music. Bar from 14, speech from 21.45, bonfire from 22. Also free! http://www.aok.dk/byliv/sankt-hans-i-nyhavn

And of course, Tivoli! Bonfire in the lake at 21:30, a traditional orchestra and a Big Band. You still have to pay the Tivoli entrance, though.

Blågårds Plads, Nørrebro. Bonfire, koncerts, kitchen, samba and singalongs. Free and from 16, barbeque at 17:30 and bonfire from 21:15. DJ's until 23! It's sure to be one hell of a street party!

And the largest bonfire in Copenhagen can be found at Docken! It will be lit at 21! And it's free to go there!

Bakken will also have one! In fact, they will celebrate it along with their 430th anniversary and have a huge midsummer party! From 19. The bonfire will be by the lake!




"AAAhhh a witch, burn her!!"

Happy Sankt Hans,
Nanna

Dance classes in Fælledparken

Free dance classes at the Dance Pavillion in Fælledparken from June 24th - July 25th! I tried some of themlast summer and it was great fun! From 19-20. After the teaching, there is usually a band or a DJ so you can put your new moves to use. It is on the corner of Edel Sauntes Allé and Øster Allé. Please note that classes will be canceled in case of rain. In doubt? Ask on their facebookpage: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sommerdans-i-Fælledparken/90178383733

5 places to cool down during summer in CPH

Most of you have probably already seen some nice beaches while staying here. Some of you might even have seen the baths in the harbors of Copenhagen. The water is clean (so clean that seals appearantly are coming to stay, so watch out for those), the placement is practical and mostly it is just fun to try and go there to cool down (heat wave coming later this week).

There are 5 of them in Copenhagen:

• 

Vesterbro (Copacabana); 

Yeah, the name is probably a far stretch, but nonetheless.. There are 3 pools and a tower to jump from (1, 2 and 3 meters). There is also a tiny stretch of sand where you can play beachvolley! And it's free!

Webpage; Copencabana

Address: Kalvebod Brygge 55, København VOpening times: June 15th to August 31st,  kl. 11-19

Islands Brygge (Havnebadet Islands Brygge):

Probably the most central of the baths.  Features a 75m pool and two small pools for children. The tower of this bath is it's landmark. It is supposed to resemble a ship and you can jump from 1, 3 and 5 meters. No dressing rooms, but public toilets 100 meters down the street. Close to beer and ice cream as well!

Webpage:  Islands Brygge Havnebad
Address: Islands Brygge, KBH S
Opening times: June 15th to August 31st, Monday-Friday, 7-19, Saturday-Sunday, 11-19.

Amager (Helgoland):

Helgoland as it is today is not the original one (which was torn down when they made the beach at Amager). There is a common bath, one for the women and one for the men and stairs to Øresund (yeah, the ocean!). In the gender specified areas, you might see naked people,

- just so you are warned!

Webpage: Amager Helgoland
Address: Amager Strandpark, KBH S
Opening times: June 23rd to August 31st, 10-18.

Østerbro (Svanemøllestranden):

Amager is a bit far from DTU, so if you want something a bit closer, there is Svanemøllestranden! The artificial beach is very popular and is very close to the real deal.

Webpage: Svanemøllestranden
Address: Strandpromenaden, KBH ØOpening times: All year 24-7.

Sydhavnen (Koralbadet):

The newest of the baths. Placed at Sluseholmen in Sydhavnen, close to much of the "new" Copenhagen.

3 pools; a playpool for children and a small pool and a large pool (25 m). Also with a tower for jumping!

Webpage: Koralbadet

Address: Teglholmshavnen, KBH SV

Opening times: June 15th to August 31st, 11-19.

(Sorry for the messy look of this post - I have no idea what went wrong o_o)
Nanna

French dining week

This week, in the style of the winter Dining Week, there is a French dining week theme going on in Copenhagen. 28 French cafés and restaurants offers 3 dishes and a glass of cremant for 250 DKK!

See the lists of places here: http://politiken.dk/ibyen/restauranter/soeg?tekst=ibyenliste_denfranskeuge
Click the pink bubbles on the pictures to go to the webpage of a particular restaurant. Note that you might have to book a table at some of the places (specified on the webpage).

Bon apetit!
Nanna

IS BACK AGAIN :)

Dear readers,

I am terribly sorry for the total lack of any information from my side and the promised events-updates. They have not been here, because of the exam period (and a tiny bit of vacation away from my computer). But now I missed you too much.

I hope you had fun with exams, Distortion festival, Copenhell this weekend and also Northside festival this weekend! From monday, I will begin regular updates again - however, there will be another "blackout" from me in July as I will be far, far away from the internet. This only concerns events, however, as I will be working double to schedule some posts that will be brought to you automatically while I travel.

For the summer, I also plan on a makeover of the blog!

Hang in there, 3-weeks courses are almost over now!!

All the best,
Nanna

Christiania concert calendar

The free outdoor concerts at Christiania will start mid-May. Here's a link to the calendar:

http://politiken.dk/ibyen/koncerter/soeg/tekst;ibyenliste_sommerkoncerternemoland/sortering;start-tid/

Best,
Nanna

Events this weekend

By the way, sorry for missing the update on where to celebrate/experience the international workers' day in Fælledparken on the 1st - it had actually forgotten!

Now, a short party-forecast for the weekend - so you can still party if you didn't get a ticket for the sold out Årsfest at DTU tonight:

Friday:

Free friday-bar:

So, the Danish answer to Paula Dean (the woman with all the butter) will start a friday bar today and give away free wine and snacks at their restaurant in Rosenborggade number 15-17!

From 15-17:30.
Release party at Christiania:

I don't know who the musician Pelle is, but he will be celebrating the launch of his second EP at Operaen, Christiania. DJ's and a free copy of the EP for everybody who shows up. 

Entrance 50 kroner including a free Pelleband EP. From 21-03.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/497430810316234/?ref=25

Saturday:

FIESTA TROPICAL!
Colombian Students Watch are inviting  to a fiesta tropical with lots of latin rythms and South-American love.

There will be an authentic live band performing at midnight and food at 02. A whole bunch of DJ's. Entrance: 30 kroner. Everything in the bar is just 15 kroner! All profit goes to Colombian Student Watch, read about them here:  http://www.colombianstudentswatch.org/


Remember cash!

At Fiolstræde 10, from 21-04.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/357982490980848/?ref=25

All weekend:

Copenhagen Beer Celebration:

At Østerbro, there will be lots and lots of delicious beer! 30 of the best brewers in the world will each bring 3 kinds of beer = 270 kinds of beer that you can try and taste. The ticket is 450 kroner (i know, a lot) but it gives you a huge glass and as much beer as you can drink!

At Gunnar Nu Hansens Plads 11, KBH Ø.
From friday, 15-20, saturday from 11:30-16:30 and 18-23.

Buy your ticket here: Billetlugen

SPOT festival in Aarhus:

SPOT is a nice weekend festival held in Aarhus with mostly new and upcoming bands from Denmark (mostly, but there are exceptions). The weather looks like it's going to be nice, so check out the program here and go get a train to Aarhus!

http://spotfestival.dk/

Also, next week there will only be posted about events in the weekend as the end of the semester is coming and I'm already forced to spend too much time in front of the computer.

Best weekend wishes,
Nanna