New Year's Eve In Copenhagen

I know that this is quite late, as we are already halfway through 2012. However, I have wanted to write about celebrating New Years in Copenhagen for quite a while, and simply haven't gotten to it. So instead of boring you with the details of how I spent my New Years I would like to share with you some traditions, and insights about the New Years celebration in Danmark.

Like most places around the world, Denmark celebrates the coming of a New Year with fanfare. It is a time to gather with friends and loved ones in order to celebrate that which has come to pass, as well as that which is yet to occur. The celebration of New Years dates back to, at least, the Romans. The Romans dedicated the first day of the year, appropriately, to Janus, who was the god of doors and beginnings. This god was said to have two faces, one which looks forward while the other looks back. Many argue that Janus may have impacted January as the name for the first month of the year. Yet the history of the celebration of New Years is typically forgotten in the rush to buy silly outfits, gather food, and round up friends to celebrate.

Celebrating New Years in Danmark is a splendid affair, which is packed with activity and laughter. After Christmas in Copenhagen, the population switches gears to New Years. I remember being in a shop with my host parents and seeing mounds of crazy hats, sparkling outfits, table "bombs" which shoot confetti, and a myriad of other celebratory objects. At the time I was primarily concerned with the crazy hats, and the table "bombs" simply because they had never been a part of my U.S. New Years repertoire. For those who typically refrain from hat wearing, but desire to participate, they even had tastefully done miniature hats that are subtly clipped on top of one's head. Table "bombs" are, as the name suggests, not so subtle. These consist of a cylinder of confetti that after being lit, explodes the confetti in all directions.

Table Bomb as it explodes

However, before the table "bombs" are lit, there is 15 minutes in which most Danes are captivated by their TV screens. From 6pm New Years Eve to 6:15pm the Queen addresses the nation. I was a bit taken back by how uniform it seems to watch this production. While there had previously been fireworks in the street which had to be successfully dodged, at 6 pm all eyes turn to the television and the streets remain silent.


On New Years Eve many people gather for fish dinners. This seems to be a relatively new tradition but all the young Danes I talked to were having some type of fish with friends for New Years Eve dinner. Many, like us, had sushi.

Trays of Sushi for New Years Eve Dinner

Aside from the Queen's Speech, there is another TV production that many watch on New Years Eve. This black and white film called 'Dinner For One' adds some humor to the evening. Below I have inserted the original video which is shown at New Years.

As the countdown to Midnight begins, everyone gets up on chairs and sofas. At 12 o'clock you jump into the New Year, quite literally.

Leaping into the New Year

One of my favorite elements of the Danish New Year is the Kransekage. This 'wreath' cake is made out of almond paste, and designed as a tower of rings, with the rings getting smaller in size as the cake gets higher. Most Kransekage for New Years have Danish flags and festive figures. They are not only fun to look at, but quite tasty. After 12 o'clock everyone gets a piece of this special cake.

Vi Ses!