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DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH CPHPOST.DK VOL 19 ISSUE 32 25 November - 8 December 2016
NEWS Reshuffle expected following 2017-20 budget approval
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MEPs call for full electoral rights for EU residents
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Meanwhile, another proposal calls for ‘associate EU citizenships’ to be made available to citizens of former union countries, such as Britain BEN HAMILTON
M
EMBERS of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (GALDE) have submitted two proposals to the European Parliament that make interesting reading for non-Danish residents from other EU countries – particularly those who feel disenfranchised in a country in which they work and pay taxes – along with Brits uncertain of their future following the Brexit vote.
Full electoral rights THREE members of GALDE – Luxembourg MEP Charles Goerens, French MEP Sylvie Goulard and Spanish MEP Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz – have submitted a proposal to the European Parliament that could potentially affect all non-Danish residents from EU countries living in Denmark, and across the union. Amendment 883 calls for full electoral rights for foreign residents in EU countries, extending their right to vote in local elections to provincial, regional, and national elections. It “emphasises that involving citizens in the political process of their country of residence helps to build European democracy”. It is believed that should the proposal be approved in Den-
mark it will apply to residents who have lived here continuously for at least three years. Freedom to move MEANWHILE, Goerens has suggested in another proposal that Brits living in other EU countries should retain some of their union rights should the Brexit go ahead. Open to nationals of all countries that have left the EU, the ‘associate EU citizenship’ would enable holders to freely travel between EU states and to live in them (see Amendment 882 below). Amendment 882 said the citizenship was “for those who feel and wish to be part of the European project but are nationals of a former member state”.
THE COPENHAGEN MBA TRIPLE-ACCREDITED AND TOP RANKED BY ECONOMIST & BLOOMBERG Apply by: 2 January 2017 Open house:16 November 2016 Visit www.cbs.dk/ftmba to learn more!
Quiet borders continue ONLY 52 people applied for asylum in the week ending November 13 – taking the total for 2016 to 5,601 – a far cry from the 800 seeking asylum every week this time last year. And then a day later, the government confirmed its border controls would be continuing for another three months until February 12. Sweden has likewise extended its controls.
Second best at English THE DANES are the second best non-native English speakers in the world, according to Education First, trailing only the Dutch. They retook second place from the Swedes, who along with Norway, Finland, Singapore and Luxembourg were the only other nations deemed to have ‘very high’ levels. Austria, Germany and Poland completed the top 10.
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NEWS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
City churches changing with the times
ONLINE THIS WEEK TWO NEW music festivals are opening in the capital next summer. Komos, a food and folk music festival, will take over Kongens Have from June 16-17. Flogging Molly and Passenger are among the 18 acts confirmed. And Aaron Dessner, a guitarist with The National who is married to a Dane, is organising a new music festival on Refshaleøen.
Top European city COPENHAGEN has been named 2017 European City of the Year, an award presented by British organisation The Academy of Urbanism, which the Danish capital last won in 2006. The academy applauded its new vision to foster green living and good conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
Nightlife must clean up THE CITY administrations responsible for issuing late licences and cleaning the streets have been told by City Hall to reduce the rising number of complaints from the public. In 2014, the number stood at 687, but over the first nine months of 2016 there were over 1,000.
Italy on your doorstep A NEW ITALIAN shopping complex last week opened in the basement of Illum, the city’s premier department store. The first edition of Eataly in northern Europe opened with great fanfare, including workshops, demonstrations, tastings and opening day bargains. It includes restaurants, stores, takeaway food, a bar and a cooking school.
Drop in interest means fewer places of worship are needed
M
ORE DANES go to church on All Saints’ Day than Easter Sunday, according to counts from three of the country’s dioceses. In Funen, for example, 10,898 went on November 1 last year – primarily to commemorate their deceased loved ones – compared to the 9,186 who went on Easter Sunday to mark Christ’s resurrection. “It has become a memorial day with specific rituals, such as lighting a candle for the deceased,” Niels Arne Christensen, a vicar at Holstebro Church, told Kristeligt Dagblad. Religion unimportant ACCORDING to an Epinion survey for DR, only 17 percent of Danes consider religion important to their lives. Fully 49 percent disagreed that religion is very important. “The majority are not religious or atheist, but simply don’t care,” Brian Arly Jacobsen, an associate professor of religious sociology at the University of Copenhagen, told DR. A survey in 2008 revealed 30 percent of Danes considered religion to be important. Nevertheless, 76 percent of Danes remain members of the church.
ONE OF Copenhagen’s most notorious bars, Café Louise in Nørrebro, is closing at the end of November after failing to secure the necessary licence from the city authorities. According to police, a third of all 112 calls from Nørrebro are related to Café Louise. A closing party is planned for November 26.
Costly for coffee COPENHAGEN is the second most expensive city in the world to drink coffee, according to Service Partner ONE’s 2016 Coffee Price Index. Danes pay an average 3.01 euros for a cup. Broken down, they pay 0.30 and 0.36 euros at home and the office, and 6.01 at independent coffee shops – the world’s highest.
“We’re going to church, kids!” “Yippee, can we bring our trunks?”
Church conversions THE DROP in interest means
fewer churches are needed, and according to another report from DR, a 2013 initiative to sell Copenhagen churches into private ownership has been a great success. Samuels Kirke and Blågårds Kirke in Nørrebro, along with Absalons Kirke in Vesterbro, were respectively converted into student housing, a concert venue and a community centre. Jes Heise Rasmussen, a PhD student at Roskilde University, told DR the churches had an advantage as they have “special architecture and history”.
New century, new church IN RELATED news, JAJA Architects has won a competition to design a new church in Sydhavn – the first new church in Copenhagen since 1989 – which is scheduled to open in the Teglholmen harbour area in 2019. The building will be designed as an upward-moving spiral walkway of ramps that allow visitors to ascend to the top and enjoy a view over the harbour. The selection jury applauded how it invites people to enjoy the place not only for religious but also recreational activities. (CPH POST)
More bikes than cars
Gruesome killing
Joint’s been raided
FOR THE first time since records began in 1970, the number of bicycles entering the city centre now exceeds the number of cars: 265,700 vs 252,600 so far in 2016. Bike numbers have risen 13 percent over the last year. In 1970, it was 100,000 vs 340,000.
A 32-YEAR-OLD pregnant woman was found stabbed to death in Elverparken in Herlev on November 4. Police are appealing for help tracing a man seen leaving the park in a hurry after witnesses heard two loud screams.
POLICE arrested nine people on November 15 in a major operation against the illegal drug trade in Christiania. It is believed the nine, who have links to the Hells Angels and AK81 biker gangs, in the Freetown made 140,000 joints over a six-week period in a Christiania shed.
Safe property investment COPENHAGEN will next year offer safer property investment possibilities than any other city in the Nordics, according to PwC and Urban Land Institute’s 2017 Emerging Trends in Real Estate report. It is the sixth safest choice in Europe, trailing four German cities and Dublin, ahead of Stockholm (8) and Oslo (12). London has fallen from 11 to 27 following Brexit.
Mobile sex clinic A NEW MOBILE sex clinic in Vesterbro, dubbed ‘Sexelance’, gives sex workers the chance to take their business indoors – an environment where their risk of being exposed to threats or violence falls from 40 to 3 percent. Among those involved in the clinic is Foreningen Minoritet, the initiator of Denmark’s first drug injection room in 2011.
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COVER
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
Carving out a career in comedy is no cakewalk Boldly from Britain and beyond they have come to Denmark to stand up and be counted KRISTINA LIEBUTE
T
HE BRITS love their comedy. Whether it’s sitcoms, stand-ups or slapstick,
NAME: CONRAD MOLDEN NATIONALITY: BRITISH AGE: 26 TYPE OF COMEDIAN: STAND-UP YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 3.5 LIVING IN DENMARK SINCE: 2012 NEXT PERFORMANCE IN CPH: DECEMBER 8 AT CAFÉ PALERMO
WHAT IS YOUR COMEDY LIKE?
I use a lot of Danglish, so I talk about the Danish language and mix it with English. I think that Danes really like that, because for example sometimes you go and do these shows in the middle of nowhere and everybody in the room is like 60-plus and they think: “Okay, this English guy is going to talk about stuff we don’t know in a language we don’t know.” But then I start talking about them and their language and they find it really funny.
NEW IN TOWN
WHEN DID YOU START PERFORMING HERE?
This autumn. I have been doing improv in tandem with standup. Although I would like to do more stand-up.
HOW HAVE YOU GONE ABOUT SEEKING STAND-UP WORK IN DENMARK?
I searched on Google and Facebook, but with no luck. I then emailed the various contacts on the sites/pages that came up. I also spoke to a comic I met at the improv theatre.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE AARHUS ENGLISHLANGUAGE COMEDY SCENE?
less degree ever. I studied war and terrorism. Really random. Later I came to Denmark and I studied anthropology. But then I did stand-up for fun, started getting popular and people were like: “You know you can make money out of this.” That’s the weird thing with comedy: either you’re making nothing or you make thousands.
There isn’t much, but when I’ve performed I’ve found that people are sweeter and more relaxed compared to Copenhagen, where audiences tend to be a little more energetic – possibly due to more internationals present.
COULD YOU TELL US A SAMPLE JOKE?
I am speaking English, because Danish is really difficult. And I’m proud of my girlfriend for learning Danish, I think it’s really, really good. I tell her every day: “I am so proud of you for learning Danish.” And she says to me: “Conrad, I was born in Denmark!”
WHAT DID YOU STUDY? CAN YOU STUDY COMEDY?
You can even study David Beckham. A degree in David Beckham. The most worthBut there was surprisingly little.
DOES IT FEEL DIFFERENT IN COMPARISON TO UK?
In UK they are very proud of their comedy heritage, so as a result it is very competitive. With the British audience there‘s kind of a heckler thing; they are like: “Go on, make me laugh.” And as soon as they‘re not laughing, they smell the blood in the room and go for you. Here the audience is much more supportive. They’re on the side of the comedian before he’s said anything, which is a rare thing.
WHAT SHOULD WE GOOGLE WITH YOUR NAME TO FIND COMIC GOLD?
The Plotters. A short film based on the Gunpowder Plot. I came up with the idea, co-wrote it, filmed it, and played in it. Basically the plot is that the
Invasion of Denmark SOME COMEDIANS, of
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE JOKE ABOUT DENMARK?
I have a joke where I say that the sky and depression have become friends. And in the morning when I open the curtains in my bedroom, it gets darker inside.
HOW ARE DANES AS AN AUDIENCE?
Much more relaxed than British, but can be very shy. You can see them smiling, but they don’t want to laugh out loud.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE Gunpowder Plot didn’t work, because everyone had the same name and looked alike. It’s true, they were all Robert or John with the same beard and hair. It’s a short scene the night before. They suddenly realise that no-one knows who anyone is and what they’re supposed to be doing.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR COMEDY STYLE?
Frustrated-observational. You know I tend to look at the world and get very frustrated. It is usually stupidity – people’s stupidity. Currently I am also doing a lot about my experience of moving to Denmark. It’s discovering the cultural differences. For example, how Danish people just don’t flirt, whereas English people, we can’t help but flirt.
COULD YOU TELL US A SAMPLE JOKE?
My son is getting older and I will
course, choose to leave the cauldron of competition that is the UK and venture to new, untested territories like Denmark. With a sense of humour similar to the Brits, many are warmly received, not least at the newly-established Improv Comedy Copenhagen Theatre (ICCT).
With this in mind, we caught up with four foreigners to find out how their comedy careers are going since arriving here, along with a Dane who prefers performing in English – in training to present a documentary one day, we’re guessing.
DANISH COMEDY?
I think they have a very similar sense of humour to British. Kind of self-deprecating – they don’t take themselves too seriously. Also quite dark.
WHAT IS ANNOYING ABOUT THE COMEDY BUSINESS?
People book you for jobs, but they don’t understand what comedy really is. I had to go to a place in south Zealand and it was just someone’s garden! I turned up: no microphone, no stage, no nothing, just a garden. And they were like: “Okay, you just do some comedy now.” I did have a good beginning, but then it went really badly. Like Hillary’s campaign.
WHAT’S THE WORST REACTION YOU’VE EVER GOT?
I said that I went to church with my girlfriend and her family. The priest made us pray and told all of these things, and I have to have ‘the talk’. It is going to be really awkward, because it is a difficult piece of information to process in a young boy. You are going to tell him that all the dinosaurs are dead. So where are they? They’re dead? How many? All of them? I don’t want the pressure of that.
WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST THING ABOUT DENMARK?
The supermarkets are awful. Netto has this approach: “Yeah we got stuff, but you know, you are going to have to find it.” You walk in to buy some nappies, and they’re next to the bleach and sausages. It looks like they just got stuff into the building and left it there.
WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS COMEDY IN ENGLISH IN DENMARK?
I think the Danes are fine with it. They’re open to it and even more than that: they’re crying
thought: “This is so silly. God doesn’t speak Danish!” And this old woman stood up at the back and screamed: “Yes he does!” and walked out.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT DANES?
This Jante Law. They’re so humble. There are so many comedians that I am trying to get to do shows in English and they say: “Conrad, my English is not good enough, I could never do it.” and then I go back to England and I meet people whose first language is English and you can’t understand what they’re saying.
TONY BRIGGS
NAME: ADRIAN MACKINDER NATIONALITY: BRITISH AGE: 38 TYPE OF COMEDIAN: STANDUP/ IMPROV, WRITER, ACTOR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 10 LIVING IN DENMARK SINCE: 2015 NEXT PERFORMANCE IN CPH: IMPROV ON DEC 4 & 10 AT ICCT
stealing jobs on television off better-qualified, less witty presenters to front documentaries about history, cars and even the paintings of Vilhelm Hammershøi.
BJARNE SPETH HANSEN
THE MAN FROM AARHUS
they’ve given the world some of its most popular ever comedians: Monty Python, Ricky Gervais and, yes, even Benny Hill. But now the country has reached a saturation point, which might explain why comedians have been so busy
out for it. And I think there is no reason why there can’t be a huge English-speaking comedy scene here. Wherever you‘re from, chances are you don’t speak Danish. That thousands who don’t have entertainment.
HOW PC IS DENMARK AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR MATERIAL?
Not at all. Take feminism: English people are coming here and still feel a need to debate about it, while the Danes just shrug and are like: “Well of course women should have the same rights as men – why are we even talking about this?”
COVER
25 November - 8 December 2016
IN DANGLISH
YOU PERFORM BOTH IN DANISH AND ENGLISH?
Over the last couple of years I have done it pretty much 50/50.
WHICH ONE DO YOU PREFER?
I prefer English, because it’s a better language for comedy. There’s more detail and you can play around a bit more.
CRAZY SUCCESS
YOU'RE THIS COUNTRY'S MOST SUCCESSFUL ANGLOPHONE COMEDIAN. WHAT'S THE SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS?
First of all, I have always enjoyed telling stories about things that happen to me in my daily life and making people laugh. I usually portray myself as the gullible, useless one in these stories: the ‘outsider’ who hasn't quite grasped the situation properly. People love to laugh at other's
WINGING IT
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IMPROV? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY?
It’s a type of theatre with no script, no predetermined characters, locations. Performers are always truthful and reacting as
I do a lot about facts. Turns out that camels don’t have water in their humps, they have fat. And I think it’s such a shame that we live in a society in which they feel they have to lie about it.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE COMEDY WORLD IS TURNING?
It’s moving towards a lot of competition, because today people can have every kind of entertainment simply on their phone or laptop.
WHAT KIND OF QUALITIES SHOULD A PERSON HAVE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL COMEDIAN?
You have to be stubborn and practise for years. You have to accept the fact that you are going to fail. So it’s all about accepting that you are a big failure until you have done it enough. You will have a show where everything is perfect and you think: “This is amazing! I am the best comedian in the world!”
WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS YOU PERFORMING IN ENGLISH?
I think it’s only positive. If I am Danish and I’m performing in English, people think that it’s just an international outreach for me, forming an international audience.
HOW MANY DANES WOULD THERE BE IN THE AUDIENCE DURING AN INTERNATIONAL COMEDY NIGHT?
Maybe 75 percent internationals and 25 percent Danes.
WOULD YOUR FAMILY WATCHING MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE?
inadequacies and, as a foreigner in Denmark, the wife of a Dane, and a struggling professional woman in a man's world, I have a wealth of material to offer. Secondly, even though I have lived in Denmark for over 30 years I do not feel Danish, but neither do I feel British. I live in a ‘No Man's Land’ between the countries and enjoy observing the disadvantages and the foibles of both nations. In addition, I travel a lot and constantly pick up information about other countries, which has proved useful to me when I entertain at international conferences and companies. Thirdly, as I have lived in Denmark for many years I have collected a huge amount of material about the Danes and how they tick. Luckily for me, the Danes love to hear these com-
ments and I feel free to come up with all kinds of observations about them – fun and often hard-hitting.
My advice is that they spend time learning the Danish lan-
Those of us who speak a second or third language know that we change a little when we communicate in another language. Personally I prefer the ease of speaking English on stage because it makes improvisation and interaction with the audience
their gut tells them to. It pushes me to get out of all the boxes I put myself into. It’s expanding my limits, it’s letting me be whoever I want to be.
being seen and heard. But I love it a lot, because I was like that most of my life. It’s also kind of mind-boggling how everything is funny in Denmark – how you can make fun of everything.
the people around you. Because ultimately what your audience wants to say is: “Aha! That’s me, I’ve done that!” They will laugh if they recognise parts of themselves in what you tell them.
DO YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DANES AND INTERNATIONALS WATCHING YOUR PERFORMANCE?
Internationals, especially students – they laugh a lot louder. Danes as an audience are very scared to express themselves. And you always know when there’s more Danes watching your performance, because it gets quiet. It is such a Danish thing, not
WAS THERE A CLEAR MOMENT WHEN YOU REALISED YOU WERE A SUCCESS?
There was no clear moment. I learned by observing, writing notes and, most of all, doing. I trained as an actor so I have no problem performing in front of large audiences, and I have improved my comedy delivery enormously over the years. It's easy to know when you’re not doing it right – nobody laughs!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANY ANGLOPHONE COMEDIANS NEWLY ARRIVED IN DENMARK?
SO YOU WOULDN’T SAY THAT DENMARK IS PC?
Not at all. We try to be PC on stage, but we also try to make fun of it when it goes too far.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GOOD PERFORMER?
I think it’s very important to be a good listener, to be a good reader of the human experience and of
guage and really getting to grips with Danish culture. It is not easy to take comedy from one country to another without doing a lot of homework. The Danes have their own sense of humour. They could never, for example, have created the Monty Python style of comedy. They laugh at it but their home-grown comedy is very different.
DO YOU DETECT A DIFFERENCE IN THE RECEPTION TO YOUR COMEDY DELIVERED IN DANISH COMPARED TO ENGLISH?
SINCE ENGLISH IS NOT YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE, IS IT DIFFICULT TO PERFORM?
I write in English, I think in English, but it’s not my native tongue and some words escape me sometimes. We had the grand opening show, and this British guy I was in a scene with kept saying: “Hamper”, “Let’s build hampers together!”, and
I did a show a few years back where a final piece of the gig was that I wore a Viking’s helmet and I then took off my clothes. My parents came to see the show and my brother, his girlfriend and her parents, so everybody was there – a large part of my family. I didn’t know that they were going to be there, but I saw them before the show and thought: Well, I decided to do this, so this is what I’m going to do. My mom is an old hippy, so she was very proud of me after the show. It was weird.
quicker and wittier. Fortunately for me the Danes understand English incredibly well and usually ask me to perform in my mother tongue.
WHICH IS THE HARDER LANGUAGE TO DELIVER COMEDY IN? WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE.
Even when we speak Danish fluently, the pronunciation is unbelievably difficult for us foreigners to master. This can provoke laughter, but it is not always ideal for communicating subtle comic points!
TONY BRIGGS
NAME: ERIKA BALINT NATIONALITY: ROMANIAN AGE: 24 TYPE OF COMEDIAN: IMPROV YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 1 LIVING IN DENMARK SINCE: 2012 NEXT PERFORMANCE IN CPH: NOV 24 AND 25 AT ICCT
COULD YOU GIVE US A SAMPLE OF YOUR COMEDY?
and then the next day you’ll have a gig somewhere and it will be horrible and you will think: “I want to go home and cry, and never do this again.”
SØREN KUHN
NAME: VIVIENNE MCKEE NATIONALITY: BRITISH AGE: IT’S RUDE TO ASK A LADY! TYPE OF COMEDIAN: STANDUP, COMIC ACTRESS, WRITER YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 40 LIVING IN DENMARK SINCE: 1981 NEXT PERFORMANCE IN CPH: CRAZY CHRISTMAS CABARET AT GLASSALEN, TIVOLI UNTIL JAN 12
It’s very personal: stories about my life. It’s beginning to be more about politics, because it seems like the world is falling apart. I can’t see how it’s possible to not consider politics now. I can’t see how you can just watch the world burn.
It is actually difficult to get hold of the international crowd, because it seems like internationals in Denmark are getting too much hygge. When they first come here, they want to see things, they want to go out, but then they get infected with hygge. And you just have to shake people up and say: “No, no, no, you have to come out, you have to see this!”
ANDREAS MARTIN
NAME: VALDEMAR PUSTELNIK AGE: 33 NATIONALITY: DANISH TYPE OF COMEDIAN: STORYTELLER (STAND-UP, HOSTING, WRITING, ACTING) YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 8 LIVING IN DENMARK SINCE: HE WAS IN NAPPIES NEXT PERFORMANCE IN CPH: SOME TIME IN FEBRUARY
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR COMEDY?
5
I was like: “Yep, he has the secret recipe!” and I had no clue what a hamper was. And then I found out it’s this basket – like a goodie or laundry basket. So it creates funny moments, just to have these little scenes of getting ‘lost in translation’.
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NEWS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ONLINE THIS WEEK
In it for the cash STINA, a 32-year-old student who has enrolled on 23 different education courses but never completed one, has freely admitted that she was deliberately abusing the state-allocated student allowance, SU. Speaking to the TV3 program ‘Luksusfælden’ (the luxury trap), a friend of hers added that everybody does it.
Leg over, desk-tied THE STORY of a man rescued by firefighers in Horsens after getting stuck in his desk has caused hilarity across the world. The man had laid his leg over a metal beam underneath the tabletop of the heightadjustable desk. The tabletop then malfunctioned, slipped off its bearings and clamped down onto the man’s leg like a vice.
Crate charity initiative ARLA IS calling on the public to return its iconic plastic green milk crates. It estimates 300,000 have gone missing. Designed to last 20 years, the average lifespan is three, and Arla estimates it loses 6 million kroner per year as a result. Arla will donate a kroner to charity for every returned crate and has set a target of collecting 75,000-100,000.
Not working longer DESPITE being encouraged to work beyond the 65-year retirement age, Danes are remaining in employment for 0.2 years longer than they were in 2005, according to Eurostat. The EU average is 1.9 years. Until 2011, the efterløn enabled many to retire at the age of 60, but a reform changed the rules and raised the retirement age – to 67 in 2022 and eventually to 69.
Konservative and Liberal Alliance in line to take ministerial positions
F
OLLOWING the passing of its 2017-20 budget agreement on November 18 with the approval of Dansk Folkeparti (DF), Konservative (K) and Liberal Alliance (LA), Venstre (V) has offered the latter two parties the chance to become a part of its next government. Despite the three parties voting the same way 85 percent of the time since the general election in June 2015, the cabinet has been entirely made up of Venstre members. “I know that it’s the fourleaf clover that brings luck, but there are more three-leaf clovers around and that’s good symbolism,” said PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen according to TV2 News. Boost for elderly VENSTRE’S new budget will aim to contain the public loss to around 1.8 percent of the GDP – less than the European Union’s ceiling of 3 percent. Among its highlights, it allocated 3.4 billion kroner to the elderly, 2.2 billion kroner to the
fight against cancer and over a billion kroner to better policing. “The budget strengthens welfare and makes Denmark a safer country, while it remains within a responsible, economical framework,” said Claus Hjort Frederiksen, the finance minister.
ON NOVEMBER 20, the police concluded a national program aimed at stopping tail-gating – when motorists drive too close to the car in front of them. Meanwhile, in other traffic news, the UN City received a visit from the ITD’s Lastbilkaravanen (truck caravan), which passed on tips and insights regarding safe cycling.
State owed 91.7 billion IN OTHER news, Danish citizens now owe the state about 91.7 billion kroner in unpaid taxes, VAT and parking fines. Worsened by the collapse of the tax administration’s digital sys-
tem, EFI, overall debt increased by 19.3 billion kroner last tax year. Peter Brixtofte, the former tax minister, has been found dead at home. He was 66. First elected in 1973, he served as a minister under Poul Schlüter in the 1990s. In 2002 he was exposed as an expenses fiddler and served two years in prison. And it has been confirmed that Peter Bartram, the head of the Danish army, will step down on 10 January 2017. (CPH POST)
Violence, then abuse MEANWHILE, a survey for the union magazine Fagbladet 3F has revealed that 57 percent
You can pay MobilePay!
Roof collapses at venue
Calling all hackers
IT WILL no longer be a valid expense to claim you don’t have any money to vendors of Hus Forbi, the homeless support newspaper, as 35 of them now accept MobilePay. They are taking part in a four-month trial to see if it leads to a rise in sales, after which it might be expanded across the country.
ONLY FIVE hours before it would have been packed with spectators enjoying a handball tournament, the roof of Rønbæk Hall in Hinnerup just north of Aarhus collapsed on November 6. It will be several weeks before the five-year-old facility can be reopened.
GAME DEVELOPER Ubisoft has launched a campaign, ‘Denmark needs more hackers’, to challenge youngsters to test their skills and win tickets to the world’s largest digital festival, ‘DreamHack’ in Sweden. In co-operation with the University of Copenhagen, it hopes to encourage more people to study IT.
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DANES Worldwide (DW) contends that plans to scrap the ‘26-year rule’ will badly affect Danes looking to return home with their international partners and families, as they will have to prove their connection to Denmark is stronger than their connection to whatever country they lived in abroad. Some 49 percent of DW’s members live abroad due to work. Around 20,000 Danes return home every year.
Improving traffic safety
of Danish women aged 18-35 have been sexually harassed at some point in their life – and 17.5 percent of men. It can start early. According to a YouGov survey, only 16 percent of those aged 18-29 who have been sexually abused report the incident to the authorities. And according to a new survey by Børnerådet, the national council for children, 17 percent of Danish children aged 12-13 have experienced some form of physical violence at home over the past year. (CPH POST)
MAJORITY in Parliament wants to ensure that men with a history of domestic abuse can’t bring new spouses into Denmark via family reunification – even if they have never been convicted. A survey at women’s refuge shelters has shown it is a common problem. “Some men bring an Asian or eastern European woman to Denmark, then beat and rape
Danes abroad hard hit
Ministerial positions for leaders Poulsen (K) and Samuelsen (LA)?
Abuse a widespread problem Over half of all women aged under 35 have been sexually harassed
ONLINE THIS WEEK FINN ÅRUP NIELSEN
IT WOULD appear that Viking blood is alive and kicking as Young Nordic men are the best navigators according to an analysis of 2.4 million people from 193 countries who played the popular mobile game Sea Hero Quest. The Finns had the best sense of direction, followed by the Norwegians, Swedes and Danes. The data is principally used to research Alzheimers.
New government expected LARS SCHMIDT
World’s best at directions
25 November - 8 December 2016
them, and when she wants a divorce, they get a new one,” Mattias Tesfaye, the Socialdemokratiet MP behind the proposal, told DR. However, while Venstre praised the intent, it said it could not support something that went against one of Denmark’s founding rules of law: that you are innocent until proven guilty.
Police eye more drones THE DANISH national police department Rigspolitiet is preparing guidelines for the use of drones and considering buying more than the four it currently owns. The police currently use them in search efforts, to examine flooded areas and to create 3D models of crime scenes out in the open.
Tablets for soldiers DANISH Defence has decided to equip soldiers in the field with arm tablets to improve combat communication and ensure effective data analysis of enemy movements. However, the tablets will first need to be tested for safety and usability before the armed forces decide whether to use them in the field.
Tattoo dangers DOCTORS are warning that the tattooing trend ‘Stick n Poke’, which involves jabbing a needle tipped with ink into the skin to make simple tattoos of things like hearts or smiley faces, is dangerous. One compared it to “driving through a red light with your hands over your eyes”, claiming it could lead to infections, abscesses and even death.
NEWS
25 November - 8 December 2016
Lego steps up to stop funding hate
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HE MEDIA remain on tenterhooks this week to see if Lego’s decision on November 12 to end its advertising relationship with the right-wing English newspaper Daily Mail (DM) is replicated by other major companies. In doing so, Lego has become the poster boy of Stop Funding Hate, a public campaign launched in the UK in August appealing to advertisers to cease deals with newspapers that promote “hatred, discrimination and demonisation”. Influential post LEGO SAID it was a business decision more than a business one, and that it has at no point sought to “influence” the Daily Mail’s content. However, comments on social media would appear to suggest its decision was the result of a British father’s November 4 post on Facebook in which he appealed to LEGO to drop the newspaper. The post, which ended with the hashags #stopfundinghate and #noLego, went viral. Already sick of it at six “FOR A FEW years now you have done free giveaways in the Daily Mail
newspaper. And while holding back that wretched feeling, I’ve paid for a copy to get the free Lego pack. (And then promptly binned the paper.) But I’m afraid to say I can no longer do it,” wrote Bob Jones. “And as crap as I feel telling my son he can’t have the free Lego kit that he sees on the front of the paper in the store, I’ve explained to him the paper is the sort that tells lies about people, like some of his friends from school. Even my six-year-old understands that what they print is wrong.” Families important LEGO RESPONDED to Jones on November 7 to explain that it “continuously evaluates and develops its partnerships”, and again on November 12 to confirm it was “finished” with the DM. “We spend a lot of time listening to what children have to say. And when parents and grandparents take the time to let us know how they feel, we always listen just as carefully,” it noted. In related news, Lego is losing a member of its own family. John Goodwin, its finance director since September 2012, is stepping down next June. (BH)
ONLINE THIS WEEK
FULL STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK
Charlie’s 550 days in
Greenland playing tough
A YOUNG Dane walking 18,000 km from Esbjerg to Tanzania, travelling through 29 countries in total, is raising awareness and funds to tackle water-access problems in developing nations. Charlie Uldahl Christensen came up with the idea for Walking for Water whilst working in the east African country. He has already been walking for 550 days.
GREENLAND’S home rule government is dissatisfied with Danish efforts to ask the US to clean up Camp Century, its highly pollutive, top-secret missile base, which has laid under the Greenlandic ice cap for 50 years, but now looks set to reappear due to climate change. Greenland is threateing to inform “the appropriate international bodies”.
More lady ambassadors
A truly big deal
THE FOREIGN Ministry’s 2017 diplomatic reshuffle will affect 18 heads of representation, bringing in far more female heads of mission than before. The changes will mostly take place on September 1
DANISH architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) will co-design the new 5.2 billion kroner, 60,000 sqm Google HQ in London, which will eventually house 7,000 employees.
Nordic military deal
From pirates to refugees
THE FIVE main Nordic nations have agreed to make it easier for their armed forces to access to each others’ airspace and sea and land territories. The deal should improve movement in the Baltic Sea area, particularly in relation to warding off Russian aircraft.
DENMARK is withdrawing its maritime efforts from the Indian Ocean . For the last nine years, it has been part of a successful NATO operation that has captured 295 suspected pirates. However, it is now redeploying to the Mediterranean to help ease the situation caused by the refugee crisis.
Bonding with a croc THE STORY of a Danish backpacker who survived falling onto a crocodile in western Australia went viral in mid November. Johnny Bonde, 27, made the most of his 15 minutes of fame, claiming he “body slamned” the croc, filming his bite-marks, and photoshopping his photo to look like Crocodile Dundee.
Mourning the dead ON NOVEMBER 10, Lars Løkke Rasmussen attended the one-year anniversary commemorations of the Paris terror attack. And then on November 13, he became the first Danish PM to give the official speech on the annual German memorial day, Volkstrauertag, in Berlin.
To IB or not to be? That’s really not a question: Only the International Baccalaureate, with close to 4000 member schools, offers a truly international, first-class education for students aged 3 to 19. And with the IB Diploma you will be ready to take on the world and a globalized future together with CIS students from more than 80 nations. CIS is very proud to be one of the original IB Diploma Schools and a strong advocate for inclusive and inquiry-based learning. Our students learn to ask the right questions instead of memorizing given answers. And we teach our students at the pace that is just right for them. The results speak for them selves as our graduates are consistently accepted at top universities across the globe. For more information please visit cis.dk
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NEWS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ONLINE THIS WEEK
PARLIAMENT has approved new efficiency regulations that should lead to cheaper electricity bills. However, given that taxes and fees account for 68 percent of the final bill – the most in the EU – it won’t have a great effect. The regulations aim to save 5.9 billion kroner per year by 2025.
Beware of birds and boars ISTOCK
Lower cost leccy?
25 November - 8 December 2016
Climate index fall DENMARK fell from first to 10th on the Climate Change Performance Index. The NGOs responsible for the index cited its turnaround in climate policy, such as its reintroduction of electric car taxes. France finished top, followed by Sweden. Meanwhile, Denmark has pledged 11 million kroner to helping developing nations use more climate-friendly technology.
Avoiding infertility A NEW REPORT advises Danish women on how to avoid infertility. According to its compiler, Vidensråd for Forebyggelse, ‘reduced fertility’ is an “illness”, 40 percent of young men would struggle to or cannot father children due to their low sperm counts, and 10 percent of ‘mothers’ miss out (altogether or on their optimum number of kids) due to infertility.
Wizards of wastewater MARSELISBORG Treatment Plant in Aarhus has been named a shining example of energyneutral wastewater cleansing solutions by the World Energy Outlook 2016 report, which also commended the Danish water sector for its energy efficiency. The sector only uses 1.8 percent of Denmark’s electricity consumption, which is well below average.
The bishop’s turd RESEARCHERS have been cutting into a 300-year-old human stool found in Aalborg to gain new knowledge of the eating habits of the well-to-do in northern Jutland three centuries ago. The faeces was found in a ‘latrine box’ during excavations carried out in the 1930s on the local bishop’s house. The turd has been named the ‘Bishop’s Lump’.
Dementia central LOCATED in Svendborg on Funen, the country’s first village for residents with dementia aims to provide a safe, fun and stimulating environment. It has a music library, a restaurant with decent food on the menu, a wellness room and spaces for 225 residents. Other such villages are being planned in Aalborg, Odense and Herning.
ONLINE THIS WEEK
Plastic bottle concerns
Keeping this lot indoors won’t be a problem
Nothing life-threatening, but the chances of being butted in Jutland are increasing IRD FLU has turned up at numerous locations across Denmark – and already a number of countries have stopped importing the country’s poultry goods as a precaution. The food authority Fødevarestyrelsen has ordered Danish egg and poultry farmers to keep their fowl indoors as a precautionary step, but it is feared it might be too late to contain the outbreak. Bird flu has been detected at a duck farm in north Zealand, among tufted ducks on Møn and in Christiania, and also in Als in south Jutland, on southern Funen and near Roskilde. A similar outbreak of the contagious disease H5N8 in 2006 cost Denmark some 200 million kroner in lost export income. The disease is not considered dangerous to humans.
The population of the raccoon dog, which can inflict tremendous damage to indigenous birds and small mammals, has increased five-fold over the past five years, despite 284 confirmed deaths this year – up from 47 in 2009. In 2010 a plan was concocted that involved tagging the dogs with GPS equipment to allow hunters to track and shoot them. The vast majority are found in Jutland, with a few sightings on Funen. The wild boar, meanwhile, is gathering in large numbers in the Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany. Nearly 14,000 were killed there between 2014 and 2015 – an increase of 50 percent. A combination of mild winters and an abundance of food has led to the rise. Danish pig farmers are concerned the boars could spread African swine fever, which is found in wild boars in eastern European countries such as Poland.
Raccoons not leaving THE BIRDS aren’t the only unwelcome guests. Two invasive species, the raccoon dog and the wild boar, are threatening to set up home in Denmark for good.
Big udder watching IN OTHER animal-related news, beach-watchers in the north-Jutland town of Standby near Frederikshavn were startled by the site of thousands of
starfish last week. Their arrival was blamed on the weather and wind direction. Video surveillance at dairies has revealed that cows produce less milk when they spend too much time fighting one another and eating. By dividing younger and older cows, farmers have increased the performance of their cows by four litres of milk per cow per day. A 2.7-metre, 240-kilo beaked whale, which can dive down to depths of 3 km, caused a splash in early November when it was found beached near Ferring on the west coast of Jutland. The deceased young male is extremely rare, and the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen dissected it to find out more. Polar bear Vilma died suddenly at the age of 14 at Aalborg Zoo earlier this month – only two weeks after she was transferred there from Rostock in Germany. And finally, migratory birds of every type are finding their way to the tiny island of Mandø in Vadehavet (Wadden Sea – a shallow sea off the coast of Jutland), where a wildlife sanctuary is being established by Den Danske Naturfond. (CPH POST)
Opposed to wood turbines
Self-sufficient for corneas
Anti-venom breakthrough
WIND TURBINES could be popping up in forests if the government succeeds in amending the Forest Act. Current legislation stipulates that protected forest areas can only be used for forestry unless there are really strong reasons to grant an exemption. Already 27,500 people have signed a petition opposing the plans.
THANKS to closer co-operations between hospitals regarding cornea donations from the deceased, Denmark for the first time no longer needs to import corneas from other nations. Involving the transparent layer that makes up the front part of the eye, it is the most common transplant in the country.
RESEARCHERS from the Technical University of Denmark have uncovered how to target the development of antivenom to treat snake bites. The team believed they could one day produce an anti-venom that works against all snake bites in a region, not just one.
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REUSING disposable plastic water bottles is a bad idea, according to researchers. An Aarhus University study in which water bottles were reused five days in a row revealed the bottles ended up having bacteria concentrations 16 times higher than the safety limit for water from the waterworks.
Cannabis trial approved FOLLOWING years of deliberation, the government has finally agreed to launch a trial assessing the possible legal use of medicinal cannabis. Some 22 million kroner has been set aside for the four-year trial period starting on 1 January 2018. Meanwhile, farmers are already making plans to grow it. Who said they’d all gone to pot?
Pills on aisle 6 THE DAYS of embarrassing enquiries about Panedol in broken Danish might be over, as the government is looking into the possibility of changing the law so headache pills and other items are no longer only available at the checkout. However, several red bloc parties oppose the measure, which could lead to the change only occurring at pharmacies.
How real Vikings fought DANISH archaeologist Rolf Warming has been trying to establish the fighting skills that Vikings in all probability must have used during battle. And his research has revealed that along with using their shields to defend themselves against attacks, the shields were also an active part of fighting – so a bit like in the show, err, ‘Vikings’!
NEWS
25 November - 8 December 2016
ONLINE THIS WEEK Colonial sculpture gift
Three times Foo come
THE US Virgin Islands has sent three sculptures to Denmark as a gift to remind the former ruler of the islands of its colonial past. Sculpted by Ghana’s Bright Bimpong, it is hoped they will find a permanent home in Copenhagen.
DAVE GROHL’S Foo Fighters will be among the headliners at the 2017 Roskilde Festival – their third appearance following ones in 1995 and 2005. G-Eazy, Pig Destroyer and Moderat/Modeselektor have also been confirmed by the festival organisers.
Big stars keep coming ELTON John (June 15), Robbie Williams (Aug 7), Aerosmith (June 5), Elvis Costello (March 4-6), Bryan Adams (Feb 7 & 8), Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett (April 5), Mexican-American comedian Gabriel Iglesias (May 31 and June 2) and the Harlem Globetrotters (March 10) are all playing in Denmark next year.
Back in the saddle BJARNE Riis has taken over a men’s team in the second tier of world cycling, the Pro Continental outfit Team Virtu Pro-VéloCONCEPT, along with women’s team Team BMS BIRN, a WorldTour team as of next year. The co-owner will be Lars Seier Christensen, the former CEO of Saxo Bank.
New HC Andersen museum
FULL STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK
Royally big names
NOVEMBER 28 A MOVE TOWARDS PEACE
ONE IN five elite Danish sportspeople, coaches and club managers are aware of attempts at match-fixing, according to a study by Danish sports federation Dansk Idrætsforbund. But only a few ever report it.
ROOTED in the disastrous defeat of 1864, the Association for Danish Neutralisation was founded on this day in 1882 and has set the tone for Denmark’s foreign policy ever since. Renamed the Danish Peace Society in 1885, it works to pacify international policy through mediation. In other words: no more defeats.
What are they speaking? ‘MEN AGAINST Fire’, episode five of the third season of Netflix series ‘Black Mirror’, features villagers speaking Danish with a Slavic accent. It’s unclear why Danish was chosen.
DECEMBER 1 UP, UP, AND AWAY!
ON THIS day in 1806, the Belgian balloonist Etienne Gaspard Robertson made the first manned flight in Denmark. Taking off from Copenhagen, half the population of the capital, along with the royal family, watched his ascent. He missed them with his sandbags, unfortunately.
Just 24 ahead of Faroes DENMARK has hit an all-time low in the FIFA rankings of 50th, just 24 places above the Faroes, which have climbed to their highest ever spot. The rankings were established in 1993.
DECEMBER 4 RECLAIMING BORNHOLM
MADS MIKKELSEN’S latest screen appearance is in an ad for Ford – or at eight minutes long, it’s pretty much a short film. He plays an assassin called ‘Le Fantôme’.
ON THIS day in 1658, Danish rebels captured Commander Printzenskiöld of the Swedish army and won back the island of Bornholm for Frederik III. It was not the first time the island had changed hands, and it wouldn’t be the last. The Soviets were the last foreign power to hold it, eventually withdrawing in 1946 after liberating it from the Germans.
Let’s talk about sex
“As destructive as rape”
Mads is ‘Le Fantôme’
Henrik likes “negro art”
ANGÉLIQUE SANOSSIAN
MALENE ORSTED
JAN H PEDERSEN
THE AP Møller Foundation has donated 225 million kroner towards the foundation of a Hans Christian Andersen museum in the heart of Odense, which will be Euro 2020 costs designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates. Odense Muncipality has COPENHAGEN will spend pledged 60 million. It is scheduled nearly 15 million kroner on for completion in 2020. hosting four Euro 2020 games at Parken: 7 million will be spent on cleaning up and 7.8 million Mags joins Haas on other costs. Copenhagen, one KEVIN Magnussen has joined of 13 co-hosts, will stage three Formula 1 team Haas on a two- group games and a last-16 match. year deal with an option to stay for a third. His current team ReBasketball thriving nault was unable to assure him of his place beyond the end of the THE DANISH basketball top 2017 season. He replaces Esteban league has seen an increase in Gutierrez as the team-mate of spectator numbers of 50 percent France’s Romain Grosjean. over the past three seasons. The eight teams in the Basketligaen are fined if their attendances do Crazy documentary idea not meet expectations. FILMMAKER Torben Skjødt Jensen and journalist Steen Double win for Denmark Blendstrup are currently raising funds via Danish Kickstarter to DENMARK has won two of the make a documentary about the five prizes awarded by the Nordic ‘Crazy Christmas Cabaret’. Any- Council: composer Hans Abraone pledging over 250 kroner hamsen for his song cycle ‘Let will be invited to the October Me Tell You’ and the founders of premiere. the food app ‘Too Good To Go’.
THIS ISSUE’S DATES
Bribery common in sport
THE ROYAL Arena has signed some big stars for its inaugural year. Bruno Mars (May 18) last week joined a lineup that includes Metallica (February 3-5 – grand opening), The Weekend (Feb 20), Drake (March 3), Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds (March 29) and André Rieu (June 2), as well as Danish acts Museum numbers down Dizzy Mizz Lizzy & D.A.D (Feb VISITOR numbers at National- 17) and Nik and Jay (May 25). museet and Statens Museum for Kunst have fallen by 30 and 9 Spies keeps on shagging percent since they started charging admission prices over the SPIES Rejser has completed its summer. However, a similar ini- sexually-charged ad trilogy with tiative in Sweden saw attendances ‘Do it forever’ – a campaign that eventually return to normal. offers increased holiday discounts according to how many children there are in the family. It follows ‘Danish’ duo at it again ‘Do it for Denmark’ and ‘Do it FOLLOWING their appearance for Mom’, which respectively entogether in ‘Lucy’, Pilou Asbæk is couraged increased procreation to teaming up with the half-Danish help the country and impatient actress Scarlet Johansson again, grandparents in waiting. this time for magna-inspired ‘Ghost in the Shell’. Scarlet’s grandfather was the art historian Dane in ‘Stranger Things’ Ejner Johansson. DANISH actress Linnea Berthelsen, 23, a virtual unHow you like big apples? known still at drama school, CLAUS Meyer’s Agern restaurant has landed a fairly big part in in New York has been awarded the second season of hit Netflix its first Michelin star. It opened series ‘Stranger Things’. at Grand Central six months ago. Another Danish eatery, Aska in Brooklyn, has won its second.
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Many happy mammaries
Audrey: the new girl in town
Projected onto posteriors
IT TURNS out the queen isn’t the only one with artistic talents. Prince Henrik’s new sculpture, ‘Abstrakt Torso’, can be seen at the Aalborg Kongres & Kultur Center. Amused that the “politically incorrect” prince was inspired by “negerkunst” (negro art), Ekstra Bladet took the opportunity to launch a quiz on its website entitled “Er du politisk ukorrekt – tag negerquizzen her” (are you politically incorrect – take the negro quiz here), challenging readers to confirm whether nicknames/ slurs for other nationalities and races are acceptable or not. (BH)
IN DENMARK people are quite open about sex, nakedness and even porn. We see companies like VisitDenmark and Spies continuously promoting themselves with ads about sex, and it’s a well known fact that Denmark was the first country to legalise porn back in 1969. Given these credentials, Denmark is the perfect country to promote a bit of erotic romance, so CPH POST met up with author Audrey Carlan at the Copenhagen Book Forum to talk about sex, porn and erotic romance, and of course her impressions of sexually-liberated Denmark. (MO)
THE ‘MOHARAMAT’ exhibition at Nordvest Bibliotek is a protest against the destruction of cultural heritage during times of conflict by Syrian-Armenian photographer Angélique Sanossian, who recently moved to Denmark to be with her Danish partner. “Our heritage is as sacred as our bodies – we should protect it,” Sanossian told CPH POST. “The destruction of cultural heritage is as destructive as rape and assault, which are forbidden by law and by all religions as well.” Her exhibition at Nordvest Bibliotek continues until November 30. (NS)
READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK
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BUSINESS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ONLINE THIS WEEK COPENHAGEN Airport’s profits over the first nine months of 2016 rose 17.1 percent to 1.3 billion kroner. Revenue rose 9.8 percent to 3.3 billion and costs fell. However, the European Commission found multiple security vulnerabilities in the Schengen zone areas. In related news, SAS will soon be overtaken by Norwegian as the region’s most popular airline.
Averse to digitisation THE MANAGERS and owners of small and medium-sized Danish enterprises (SMEs) are not that interested in digitisation, according to a Dansk Industri survey. Age tends to be a factor. DI has produced a publication that provides tips to SMEs on how to get started on digitisation and automation, as well as access to mentors.
Cost of not commuting DANISH workers’ aversion to a long commute is impacting recruitment, according to a Dansk Industri survey of its 445 members. Some 27 percent find it harder to recruit people who live more than 30 minutes away compared to five years ago. According to Danmarks Statistik, men commute an average of 23.9 km a day, and women 16.7 km.
Raised expectations THE SHIPPING division of DFDS has upgraded its expectations for fiscal year 2016, anticipating an operating profit of more than 2.5 billion kroner. Likewise the biotech company Genmab has also upgraded its net revenue forecast to 1.2-1.25 billion kroner – primarily due to the performance of its drug Darzalex.
Billion kroner deals KONGSKILDE Industries, a Danish-based supplier of industrial and agricultural machinery, has entered into an agreement to sell its grass and soil activities. In other news, engineering firm FLSmidth has signed a 1.3 billion kroner contract with Iraq Cement Company to build production facilities in the Al Muthana region.
Surpised by Trump ... more than once Not as bad as feared so far ... or at least for Denmark
ISTOCK
Airport’s profits up
25 November - 8 December 2016
ONLINE THIS WEEK Mad for Danish food DANISH food product exports to China and Hong Kong totalled 8.8 billion kroner for the first six months of 2016 – compared to 10 billion over the whole of 2015. Experts attributed the rise to Denmark’s strong brand and China’s growing middle classes. In related news, Puhua Jingxin is investing a double-digit million kroner amount in Danish medical device firm Acarix.
BEN HAMILTON
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HEAD OF the US Presidential Election on November 8, only 5 percent of the Danish public were tipping Donald Trump to win – a long way off the bookies, which gave Trump an 18 percent chance. To say they were surprised was an understatement! According to a YouGov/ Eurotrack survey, 85 percent tipped Hillary Clinton to win, compared to just 64 in Britain. Danish business owners were more cautious though, with Dansk Industri expressing serious concerns.
Six-hour days
His tone has become more presidential, his approach more reverential
Trump call for Løkke THOSE fears became a reality at 8:40 am on November 9. Mogens Lykketoft, the ex-president of the UN General Assembly, summed up Danish fears when he told CPH POST: “We are heading into a more unsafe period because we just don’t know what he might do.” True enough, a weak later Trump threw a curveball and called Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen – “a friendly and constructive talk in which I stressed that Denmark is a close ally of the United States and has been for decades”, he revealed. According to Rasmussen, Trump has “an incredibly positive impression of Denmark as a country and the Danes as a people” and wants to meet Løkke in Washington DC “as soon as it is possible”.
no longer tied to the US. “Donald Trump is a horror scenario that has now become a reality. He is a loose cannon,” he told TV2 News. “It will be very dangerous having him as president.”
company confirmed it is letting 350 employees go at its plant in Lem in west Jutland in order to strengthen its ability to compete. Vestas employs around 4,600 people in Denmark – 2,400 of which work in production.
Reasonably stable HOWEVER, so far, most fears have failed to materialise. The effect on Danish green-tech exports, for example is expected to be negligible, as federal influence is not a big factor in the sector. “That many Danish companies have done well within sustainable energy until now is primarily down to the green ambitions of individual states, and not due to the ambitious climate policy at a federal level,” explained Jakob Andersen, the consul general in Chicago.
Always opposition RASMUSSEN might face opposition though. Socialistisk Folkeparti’s spokesperson for foreign affairs, Holger K Nielsen, pulled no punches, saying that Denmark should rethink its foreign affairs policy so it is
Wind of change AND THE Danish stock market only fell by 2 percent when it opened on November 9 – compared to 10 percent following Brexit – although Vestas plummeted 11 percent. A week later, the wind turbine
A welcome injection NOVO NORDISK, however, rose 6 percent following the election result as Clinton was keen to lower prices on drugs like insulin – a move her opponent in the Democrat race, Bernie Sanders, is also super keen on. “In the richest nation in the world, diabetes patients are being forced to decide between eating and paying for the drugs they need,” he wrote on Twitter. “Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk clearly care more about their profits than their patients. It’s time to end their greed.” But the US Food and Drug Administration wasn’t listening, as on November 22, the news broke that it has finally approved Novo’s new diabetes product Xultophy, which will go on sale during the first half of next year. (BH)
Maersk sales dip
Outsourcing the currency
New Magasin store
AP MØLLER-MAERSK’S shares plunged more than 7 percent after announcing disappointing financial results for the third quarter of 2016. Its net profit fell by 16 percent to 2.8 billion kroner, contributing to a full-year forecast of 6.7 billion kroner compared to 20.8 billion in 2015.
THE DANISH central bank, Danmarks Nationalbank, is outsourcing the production of Danish currency, starting with 5, 10 and 20 kroner coins, which will be produced in Finland next year. Banknotes will also soon be printed outside Denmark, although the decision as to where has not yet been decided.
MAGASIN has announced plans to open its seventh store in Denmark. From 2018, shoppers in Aalborg will be able to visit Magasin at the Friis Shopping Center, which is owned by Danica Pension. The new store will cover over 7,500 sqm and have 100 million kroner in investment.
IT MIGHT have been a gimmick to get some free advertising, but Danish firm Translated By Us has grabbed a few headlines by officially switching to a sixhour working day. CEO Mads Blücher denied it was a “hippie experiment”. Production has risen, but there was no word on whether wages are falling.
Profound mindset change IN AN INTERVIEW with CPH POST, Denmark’s Lise Kingo, the executive director of the United Nations Global Compact, who is one of the highest ranking women within the UN, has revealed “there is a profound change of mindset going on in the boardrooms” regarding her mission to realise the UN goals. “We have to get everybody on board,” she said.
Treatment precedent A VERDICT in the Eastern High Court could have massive repercussions for hundreds of thousands of workers under the umbrella of the ‘salaried workers law’ in Denmark. The court ruling means that employers are not permitted to dock salaried workers in pay for seeing specialised doctors during working hours as part of their treatment.
Lawsuits abound DANISH design company Ilse Jacobsen has lost its battle with Dansk Supermarked over claims the supermarket chain was selling counterfeits of its renowned rubber boots. In other news, medical device producer Coloplast has allocated an additional 750 million kroner to cover the costs of its legal proceedings in the United States.
BUSINESS OPINION
25 November - 8 December 2016
DANIEL K REECE MIND OVER MANAGING Daniel is the managing director of Nordeq Management (nordeqmanagement. com), managing cross-border investment projects with a focus on international corporate and tax law issues. Educated as a lawyer, Daniel also teaches in the International Business and Global Economics department at DIS Copenhagen. Daniel is passionate about mindfulness as a means of personal transformation.
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HE LATE US author David Foster Wallace told a story in a commencement speech he was asked to give at Kenyon College in the US. It went something like this: Two young fish are swimming along one morning when an older fish comes along in the opposite direction. “Morning boys. How’s the water?” the older fish says to the younger two. They continue swimming until one looks at the other and says: “What the hell is water?” The point of the story is that some of the most important and obvious aspects of our everyday realities are the ones that are the most difficult to see. Fishy thinking THE SPEECH put this in the context of higher education, giving students the
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ability to learn how to think – not in the usual way this line is trotted out to undergraduates – the ability to think clearly, analytically, and in a structured manner – but instead to realise that we have a conscious choice regarding how we think. It underlines how we can choose our reactions to everyday banalities and irritations rather than face them on automatic pilot, and thereby not miss some of the most vital aspects of our day-to-day lives. Deep water TUNING out of the endless static of modern life is something that has become increasingly difficult, not least with the constant stream of media, work and social information available to us through our smartphones. The temptation to look for new emails, or see the latest headline out there about Donald Trump, is constant. This is especially so with the all-pervasive feeling that the world as we know it is in a precarious state – with war, terrorism, and economic and political uncertainty a facet of everyday life. Real life is out there NEVERTHELESS, here we are, living our everyday lives with all of its mundanities. This is where we make a difference; this is where we live our lives. This is where compassion for a lousy driver can make a difference to your life and theirs by a friendly smile rather than a raised middle finger. This is where a kind word to a colleague can change both your days for the better. This is where resisting another urge to look at your phone, and instead taking a deep breath and looking around you, can make the world seem an infinitely better place. As Wallace said, remember that “this is water. This is water.”
KOREAN FILM SCREENING The Korean Embassy in Denmark is pleased to announce the screening of two Korean movies at the Cinematheque Theater as follows: Title:
The Thieves – Action, Crime
When:
Tuesday 29th November 21:00
Where:
Carl Cinema - Cinematheque, Gothersgade 55, 1123 Copenhagen K.
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Title:
A Barefoot Dream - Drama, Sports
When:
Wednesday 30th November 21:30
Where:
Asta Cinema - Cinematheque, Gothersgade 55, 1123 Copenhagen K.
* Both films have English subtitles. How to book your tickets (Free admission): Please send an email to: krfilmrsvp@gmail.com with your full name and the number of tickets you need. Seating is limited, it’s on a first come first serve basis, How’s the games room? What the hell is a games room
so please book early!
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OPINION
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN
A Dane Abroad
Free of char ge Please
Born and raised in Denmark, Kirsten jumped ship in her early 20s to spend the next 12 years living in New Zealand. A physiotherapist, acupuncturist, yogini and foodie, she has a passion for life and wellbeing. After a few stints back in the motherland, Kirsten is once again back living in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
sign at ihcph up .dk
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Christmas Coziness
When
24 November 2016 17.00-19.00
Where International House Copenhagen Gyldenløvesgade 11 1600 Copenhagen V
When
15 December 2016 17.00-19.00
Do you have children? And are you on the hunt for a good international school? Let us help you find the one that is right for your family!
Where International House Copenhagen Gyldenløvesgade 11 1600 Copenhagen V
Which school you should choose for your child is an important decision that can be difficult to make – particularly if you live abroad and are not fully familiar with the educational options of your new country.
This informative event will ease the decision-making process by introducing you to the international schools available in and around Copenhagen. Meet representatives from various schools at our mini fair.
Furthermore you will get an introduction to the international school programs.
SNOWY ROADS, SPICED SHORTBREAD AND PLEATED PAPER HEARTS – CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Do you know how the Danes celebrate Christmas? Bring your family, friends and colleagues to our cozy Christmas event and find out. Here you can create your own Christmas decorations, taste some delicious Christmas cookies and sing along to traditional Danish Christmas songs.
It’s free of charge – everyone is welcome!
And to think ‘He’s/We’ve got the whole world in our hands’ was written in 1933
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IVING 17,500 odd kilometres away from your birth country and close relatives, as I do, can make it challenging to see any positives about that distance: arduous longhaul flights, obnoxious time differences, a lack of regular catch-up time with loved ones, and quality time being replaced by Skype calls. Yet, as they say: everything comes down to perception.
Stretch that mind THERE can be upsides to separation. Embracing the radical idea that closeness can be fostered, even in geographically-challenged relationships, can stretch one’s idea of what a good relationship really is, and perhaps bring previously unfamiliar aspects into one’s perception. Paradoxically, relationships can deepen from separation. However, most of us don’t typically stay apart for long enough to experience this as we cave in to the knee-jerk heartache spurred by sudden detachment. Separation can mature relationships through added perspective, reflection, introspection – ultimately enhanced awareness of what is really important in life. For me, separation led to the realisation that what we are
strongly connected to isn’t necessarily right next door. Distantly close GEOGRAPHICAL and physical closeness does not automatically equal a close relationship. How many can relate to being close, yet feeling distant? We can be living under the same roof or within minutes from each other – yet be as distant as if we were a thousand miles apart. If we never invite separation in, our relationships can become boring, unchallenged and dulled by familiarity and complacency. Being abroad for a number of years, I have found that my closest relationships have ultimately deepened as a result of being apart. Nothing beats time spent in person, but face-to-face time in itself doesn’t equal quality. There are valuable lessons to be learnt about yourself and your beloveds from being apart. Conversations with loved ones ‘at home’ are definitely less frequent for me, but they are always deeper when they do happen. Love conquers all DISTANCE has strengthened my spirituality. Having family get-togethers limited to once or twice every couple of years has forced me to consider what really
matters. It has also made those get-togethers that much more magical. We are more likely to be honest with each other about how we feel. Emotion suddenly doesn’t stay hidden. The love will just burst out, and it is all the more refreshing and renewing for it. I cannot describe the sense of connection I have felt with my loved ones ‘at home’ when we see each other after a long period apart. Separation has made me consider the unseen but limitless connection between people: love. Separation can teach us to shift from a small perception of reality, to a much greater one. We all know love isn’t a tangible thing, yet many of us still struggle to come to terms with the idea that love can be exchanged and experienced across borders and oceans. Love can stay strong in spite of distance and location. At a time when international travel and cross-cultural relationships are more prevalent than ever, it may be time to revise how we think of connection – for our own sake. Perhaps it’s time to ‘break up’ with the old idea of how good relationships are cultivated and accept that our capacity as beings stretches far beyond that of our mere physical body, if only we allow that to enter into our perception.
OPINION
25 November - 8 December 2016
ZACH KHADUDU
Brick by Brick
Straight Up
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NEXT ISSUE
STEPHANIE BRICKMAN
Zach Khadudu is a Kenyan by birth and a journalist by choice. He is a commentator and an activist with a passion for refugee and human rights. He may share a heritage with a certain US president, but his heart lies elsewhere – in the written and spoken word.
Tasting Notes JAMES CLASPER
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IN 2 ISSUES
The Road Less Taken JESSICA ALEXANDER
Mishra’s Mishmash MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA Effortlessly moving between roles: from reality TV host to Republican candidate to president
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HE CHICKEN has finally come home to roost. The world’s foremost democracy has settled for a racist, Islamophobic, misogynistic demagogue for president. The country that takes pride in being the land of the free and home of the brave has given in to the politics of fear and hate. Where America leads, others follow. This election has emboldened right-wing nationalists everywhere. A new precedent has been set. Riding a wave of hate BEFORE even taking the oath of office, Trump’s victory is already re-energising neo-fascist politicians across Europe. In France, Marine Le Pen is pushing for the French presidency in 2017 with renewed vigour. In Britain, the right-wing UKIP’s Nigel Farage personally flew to New York to congratulate the president-elect (aka fellow extremist). Other Western populists were quick to congratulate Trump. They included Dutch politician Geert Wilders, Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, a major antirefugee proponent, Greece’s Golden Dawn and Germany’s
Alternative for Germany (Für Deustchland). Granted, Danish centrerightists had reservations about Trump’s candidacy, but when it came to the congratulations choral, they joined in. Denmark at the centre WHILE several Danish politicians took exception to Trump’s rhetoric during the campaigns, several ministers joined the congratulatory bandwagon for the president elect. Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen tweeted Trump to congratulate him, expressing hopes that Trump “will continue the open and constructive co-operation”. Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen also looks forward to a “continued co-operation between our two countries”. Understandably, Denmark has been a US ally for ages: fighting wars with/for the US, joining alliances and coalitions of the willing, and creating social, political and economic ties. Denmark also featured prominently in the US presidential campaigns. From Bernie Sanders praising Danish welfare as a model for his vision, to Ted Cruz warning Trump might
nuke Denmark if he clinched the presidency. While this is unlikely, it’s undeniable that the Trump effect will now spiral in even the most liberal of countries, such as Denmark. Ripe for a Danish Trump THERE is a glaring common factor in the Trumpist manifesto that is shared by the current Danish government: that curbing immigration, extreme nationalism and protectionism are the ways to go. The continued anti-immigration policies of the current government are a clear indicator of a moving centre. Policies ranging from tightened rules for Danish permanent residents to closed borders for refugees are the writing on the wall. The worst is yet to come. The view of foreigners, and particularly of refugees, as economic burdens is a view that is even drawing in the middle classes, who increasingly feel they have something to lose due to increased migration. Look out!!! It’s a matter of time before we have our own Trump right here in Denmark. Or do we already?
IN 3 ISSUES
An Actor’s Life IAN BURNS
Fashion Jam JENNY EGSTEN-ERICSON
IN 4 ISSUES
‘Mere te’ Vicar? DARREN MCCALLIG
Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE
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COMMUNITY
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
ABOUT TOWN
PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD
The embassies of Vietnam, Cyprus and Italy have been busy. Vietnam Days in Denmark 2016 at the Black Diamond celebrated 45 years of diplomatic relations between the countries on October 7. Vietnamese ambassador Trough Thanh Nguyen was the proud host. Cyprus celebrated its national day on September 28 at its embassy. Among those present were (centre left: left-right) Serbian ambassador Dragana Ivanovic, South Korean ambassador Young-sam Ma, Austrian ambassador Ernst-Peter Brezovsky, Italian ambassador Stefano Queirolo Palmas, Georgian ambassador Nikoloz Rtveliashvili, Cypriot ambassador Maria Papakyriakon, Hungarian ambassador László Hellebrandt, Iranian ambassador Hamid Bayat, Armenian ambassador Hrachya Aghajanyan and Bulgarian ambassador Roussi Ivanov. And finally, Italy celebrated 70 years of its republic at Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek on November 8. Italian ambassador Stefano Queirolo Palmas (right: left) welcomed dignitaries to listen to the music of Verdi, Puccini and Mozart at an event that also marked the 16th edition of Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo
French ambassador Francois Zimeray (all photos) had a busy autumn. First he attended the September 9 opening of ‘Infinités plurielles’, a new art exhibition by Marie-Hélène Le Ny (left: left), followed by her ‘Gender Balance in Science’ conference (centre left) where he delivered the welcome speech. On October 11, he welcomed Congolese gynecologist Dr Dennis Mukwege (centre right), a nominee for the Nobel Prize for Peace, to his embassy, followed by Auschwitz survivor Arlette Andersen (right: left), a winner of the French Legion of Honour, on November 21. Bertel Haarder, the culture minister, was also present
The Latin American Festival at Københavns Kulturcenter Drejervej in October featured a diverse line-up of food, dance, music and children’s activities. Among the dignitaries present were (left: left-right from second left) Bolivian ambassador Juan Pablo Chain, Cuban ambassador Yiliam Sardinas Gomez and Chilean ambassador Flavio Tarsetti Quezada, while there were presentations from (centre and right) Panama and Peru
Catholics and Protestants historically gathered together in Malmö on October 31 to pray with Pope Francis, the first pontiff to visit Scandinavia since 1989. Francis timed the visit ahead of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation next year
Among the ambassadors paying their respects On Remembrance Sunday at Bispebjerg Kirkegaard on November 13 were Rufus Gifford (US) and Cliona Manahan (Ireland), along with British Chamber of Commerce president Mariano Davies (left)
The new ambassador of Romania is Alexandru Grâdinar. Bine ati venit!
MARKETPLACE & SCHOOLS
25 November - 8 December 2016
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Living Church is an international church family – a visionary congregation with a genuine passion for God. Our worship is joyful and vibrant. You will find a church family and a home with us. Sunday Service 12:00 with Children’s Church (ages 2-14); Home Groups Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Femagervej 39, 2650 Hvidovre (Close to Hvidovre Station) For more information see: www.levendekirke.com; facebook.com/levendekirke
Join the American Club in Copenhagen, and take part in our exciting and interesting events and excellent networking opportunities! This is a great way to meet others from the international community in Copenhagen! For further information: www.americanclub.dk or contact Vibeke Henrichsen at 3961 7375
Christmas Advent and
www.of ag.dk
ANIMATION FASHION DESIGN ART WRITING INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
at Saint Alban’s Chhch
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols*
Sunday 11 December at 16.00
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols*
Monday12 December at 19.00
10TH. GRADE DESIGN-HF ART & CULTURE
Carols and Poetry by Candlelight
Saturday17 December at 16.00 Satu
Children’s Nativity Service with Carols
Saturday 24 December at 12.00
Midnight Mass
Saturday 24 December at 23.30
Christmas Day Sung Eucharist
Sunday 25 December at 10.30
*Free Ticket Required. See website for details
Saint Alban’s Anglican/Episcopal Church, Churchillparken 11, Copenhagen. www.st-albans.dk
THE PLACE FOR
C RE ATIVE PEOPLE Odense Fagskole - Ørstedsgade 28 - 5000 Odense - Tlf: (+45) 66 12 21 45
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THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
HERE WAS a strong CPH POST connection to the only one of Copenhagen Celtic’s teams to win a trophy this year: the Old Boys, who triumphed in the DAI 7OB A League. Now normally, Christian Wenande, our news editor, plays understudy to Ben Ham-
25 November - 8 December 2016
OUT AND ABOUT
ilton, the managing editor, but in Jim Goodley’s daring 1-3-2 formation, the roles were reversed. With room for only one defender, Ben found himself mostly on the sidelines plotting how he could get his own back in his match reports (see cphpost.dk for the final one
of the season). Chris Myers, a former sales manager at CPH POST, was similarly sidelined! Coming into the final game, Celtics needed to win their 11th game in 12 to lift the title, but faced a resolute FC Konkret outfit who themselves needed three points to avoid relegation.
ALL PHOTOS: JOHAN KARPANTSCHOF
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COMMUNITY
A brace from Stefan Gjerløv (the first from a freekick is pictured bottom right) and goals from Andy Christie (top right) and Dan Savill (top middle, right of coach Jim Goodley) helped Celtics ease to a 4-0 win. Nobody was going to deny Christian his champagne moment (bottom centre).
GOVERNMENT OF THAILAND
Attend a ceremony dedicated to honour the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX of Thailand. The ceremony takes place 50 days after the longestreigning monarch in Thai history passed away. Food will be on sale all day from 08:00-22:00 (Dec 3, 10:0020:00; Rådhuspladsen, Cph V; free adm; kultunaut.dk)
Make your holidays memorable by capturing a perfect family moment at the Free Christmas Photography Workshop. After all, you’ll need to be quick to catch Santa emerging from the chimney. (Dec 3, 10:00; Guldsmeden Hotels, Vesterbrogade 66, in front of Greenhouse, Cph V; free adm)
Join the ‘Creative Processes & the Politics of Peacebuilding’ seminar led by Dr John Paul Lederach to learn more about peacebuilding and human rights (Nov 30, 12:30-14:45; University of Copenhagen, CSS Campus, room 1.1.18, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Cph K; free adm; cric.ku.dk)
Get into the holiday spirit by watching Love Actually along with a tasty meal at Restaurant Sult (Dec 7, 17:00; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; 210kr; dfi.dk)
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Are you a student? If so, join the Brain Waves: Diagnosis discussion with key scientists on brain research and its implications (Dec 1, 20:00; Den Sorte Diamant, Dronningesalen, Cph K; free adm; kb.dk)
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COMING UP SOON
Pictured bottom left are the 2016 champions: (Back Row, left-right) Savill, Wenande, Lars Peter Jensen, Goodley, Gjerløv, Mads Stenbjerre; (Front Row) Ken Klarskov, Hamilton, Christie, Christian Hickey, Martin O’Rourke and Myers. BEN HAMILTON
Are you in the mood for some Italian Christmas beer? Then ‘Meet the Brewer’ and enjoy the craft beer and Italian Christmas cake (Dec 1, 18:00-21:00; Il Locale, Åboulevard 50, Cph N; free adm) INA BILIC
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The CPHPOST Entertainment Guide Dec 2016/Jan 2017
T H E H O R R O R! JAN 26 - FEB 5
CTCIRCLE.DK
G3 • Classical, Jazz & Pop Piano • Music theory & rhythm • Courses for absolute beginners • Courses for children & adults
www.hmms.dk
Harman Music Methods
®
HUBERT BAUMEISTER
InOut
NEWS
25 November - 8 December 2016
ART G2 INOUT: THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
17:00, Sat 12:00-16:00; Gether Gallery, Flaesketorvet 77-79, Cph V; free adm; gerthercontemporary.com ZACH TAN
REFERENCING the famous HG Wells novel from 1933, The Shape of Things to Come, the four artists that make up the exhibition present their own aesthetic ideas and conceptions of ‘art’s resolve’. Consisting of works by Kenneth Alme, Ruth Campau, Amelie Jakobsen, and Jay Gard, the exhibition is laid out in the small but open gallery of Gether Contemporary – affording each work enough space to allow them the projection of their respective artist’s vision. Through a variety of mediums, from oil on canvas, to acrylic and plywood, to
steel and oil, this small exhibition freely expresses the ideas of the four. Their individual artistic realisation remains extremely prevalent, however, with their artistic direction taking separate but powerful stands that show their attachment to the thoughts and concepts they seek to convey. Amelie Jakobsen’s UNTITLED series, consisting of three separate but connected 3D geometrical shapes is the first to capture your attention as you enter the gallery. Potently minimalistic, her deconstruction of simple geometric shapes is brought together with the strength of their deep red colours, providing a thought-provoking reflection of space, form, and colour. Overall, a trip to Gether Gallery’s exhibition won’t take up much of your time, but the way these four artists portray and communicate their artistic conception for and of the world makes the visit worth it.
GETHER_DAVID STJERNHOLM
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME ongoing, ends Dec 17; Tue-Fri 12:00-
December 2016/January 2017
ART OF THE MONTH
OVERGADEN.ORG
DAVIDMUS.DK
COLOURS OF DJIBOUTI Nov 23-April 16, Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, Wed 10:00-21:00; David Collection, Kronprinsessegade 30, Cph K; free adm; davidmus.dk PETER Bonnén’s photo series brings us to the small Muslim country of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. Displaying scenes of buildings in vari-
ous states of wear – reflecting the needs and requirements of the city at a specific time – Bonnén’s photos are marked by strong motifs of colours and lines. Since the 1960s, Bonnén’s primary medium of sculptures have been prominent throughout Denmark. As such, this represents an interesting opportunity to see Bonnén’s work with photography at the David Collection, a venue that is no stranger to the world of Islam. (ZT)
social and psychological structures though which we understand the world”. Using science fiction as a common departure, Lislegaard presents us with exongoing, ends Jan 8, Tue-Sun 13:00-17:00, perimental works in a variety of mediums Thu 13:00-20:00; Overgaden, Institute – including 3D animations, sculptures, of Contemporary Art, Overgaden Neden Vandet 17, Cph K; free adm; overgaden.org and sound and light installations. Lislegaard references popular and imYOUNG TALENTED ARTISTS portant motifs, CONSISTING entirely of new works, EXTRACT – YOUNG ART PRIZE – CPH 2017drawing inspiration from Lislegaard KUNSTFORENINGEN utilises “an alternative approach subjects ranging from Ada Lovelace to scifi GL STRAND to language, gender identity, and the films like Contact. (ZT) 21 Januar y – 5 roles, March 2017
Prospect, Retrospect, Additions, Subtractions and Divisions ongoing, ends mid-Jan, Wed-Fri 12:00-17:00, Sat 11:00-15:00; Last Resort, Borgergade 2, Cph K; free adm; lastresortgallery.com A state of flux is the only constant as the contents change weekly in a process of perpetual contemplation and evolution. Peruse with beers on Fridays. (ZT)
V1 GALLERY
Zven Balslev: Human ongoing, ends Dec 17, Tue-Fri 12:00-18:00, Sat 12:00-15:00; Marie Kirkegaard Gallery, Holbergsgade 17C, Cph K; free adm; mariekirkegaard.com Balslev focuses on surprising and strong drawings and graphic art – with a wide range of works including monotypes, silkscreen prints, and ink drawings. (ZT)
LOTTE NIELSEN, YAOI (STILL IMAGE), 2016. © SINE VADSTRUP BROOKER
LASTRESORTGALLERY.COM
MARIEKIRKEGAARD.COM
GALLERIFORMAT.NU
Floating Point ongoing, ends Dec 18, Wed-Fri 14:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 13:0016:00; fotogalleriet, Friisgatan 15B, Malmö; free adm; galleriformat.nu Floating Point highlights the artistic process by showcasing photos that shed light on the creative progress and journeys of artists. (ZT)
ANN LISLEGAARD: SPINNING AND WEAVING
EXTRACT Jan 21-March 5, Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00, Wed 11:00-20:00; GL Strand, Gl Strand 48, Cph K; 68kr; glstrand.dk For the sixth consecutive year, EXTRACT is showcasing art from seven young, up and coming graduates from top art academies in Beijing, London, and Copenhagen. (ZT)
A Spoon with the Bread Knife Nov 25-Jan 14, Wed-Fri 12:0018:00, Sat 12:00-16:00; V1 Gallery, Flæsketorvet 69-71, Cph V; free adm; v1gallery.com V1 Gallery is presenting a new solo exhibition by UK-born, LAbased artist Danny Fox. He has exhibited previously at Sotheby’s in NY and LA, with groups at V1. (ZT)
INOUT: PERFORMANCE G3 THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
December 2016/January 2017
Jan 26-Feb 5, 19:00 every day (except Jan 30), 14:00 on Jan 28-29, Feb 4-5; Krudttønden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; 160kr, under-18s: 80kr, discounts available for groups of adults: 10-19: 140kr, 20+: 125kr, tickets@ctcircle.dk, ctcircle.dk BEN HAMILTON
SINCE the winter of 2011-12, the Copenhagen Theatre Circle has been delighting both young and old with its annual pantomime, bringing gentle vibes, laughter and weather to this good kingdom. Yes … indeed, weather, for it is a little known fact that the Norse god Thor is an ardent fan of British pantomime, and that he has been mercifully kind as a result, bringing only partial snow and cold tempera-
tures. (Oh yes he is.) But look behind you Copenhagen, because a storm is approaching in the form of Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula and his bride, werewolves, witches, zombies and (worst of all) villagers. They have banished the sun, brought three months of snow from the mountain-tops of Transylvania and set up shop at Krudttønden theatre to wreak havoc (that will get a few clicks) with two hours of ritual singalongs, interactive fun, slapstick, cross-dressing dames and best boys, and ghouls by the gallon-load. Prepare to be whisked away to the creepy setting of Cemeteria in the company of a promising cast that includes old hands Patrick Presencer and Mr Elastic Face himself, Mario Paganini, playing characters with weird and wonderful names such as Dame Bloodengutz and Boris van Rental.
TIVOLI.DK
DOCKEN
BREAKDANCE
THE NUTCRACKER 1 Dec 1-30, Tue-Thu 19:00, Sat-Sun 13:00 & 17:00; Docken, Færgehavnsvej 35, Cph Nordhavn; 295-465kr, teaterbilletter.dk; 165 mins (incl break) ANYONE growing up in the 1980s will probably remember trying to bust out the robot moves to Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five’s ‘The Message’.
Now the glorious beat-street days are electric boogie-ing their way back onto stage featuring the legendary Japanese dancer Mori Koichiro, who is among the international dance stars performing in this Reumert Award-winning version of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece The Nutcracker. Also known as ‘The King of the Robots’, Koichiro has awed audiences all over the world over the past 29 years with his scintillating breakdance moves. (CW)
BALLET
THE NUTCRACKER 2 Dec 1-30, various days and times; Tivoli Concert Hall, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; 195-595kr, billetlugen.dk; tivoli.dk IT WOULDN’T be Christmas without The Nutcracker, and luckily the classic ballet has returned to Tivoli. The show first premiered at Tivoli Concert Hall in 2012 with Queen Margrethe as set and
DANCE
ICE HOT CPH 2016 Nov 30-Dec 4; Baltoppen LIVE, Baltorpvej 20, Ballerup; 90kr, dansehallerne.dk Dansehallerne has assembled five performances from the leading Nordic countries for a boogie blowout in Ballerup in early December. The Swedish instalment, Norrdans’s Lille Prinsen (Dec 2 at 18:00), looks like the pick. (BH)
costume designer. Since then, it has continued to enchant audiences of all ages. Join Clara as she is swept into the magical world of fairy-tales. The performance entails sparkling stars, sugar plum fairies and Tivoli’s own symphony, as well as an ensemble choreographed by ballet master Peter Bo Bendixen. Set in 1874 Tivoli, the show is bound to transport viewers to a new yet captivatingly familiar world. (SK)
BALLET
Alice in Wonderland Dec 3-Jan 6; Gamle Scene, Kongens Nytorv 9, Cph K; 95695kr, kglteater.dk The KGL’s feel-good Xmas ballet will take you down the rabbit hole to a world of enchantment. Among the other ballets this season are Waltz (Jan 14-22), The Snow Queen (Jan 27-29) and Aspiranteriet (Nov 25-29). (BH)
KURT-WEILL.DE
Opera2Go & Dans2Go Jan 10, Feb 2 & 21; Opera House, Ekvipagemestervej 10 Jan 10-14, 16-18, 21 & 23; Gamle Scene, Kongens Nytorv 9 200-245kr, kglteater.dk You know the score. Enjoy three to four vignettes lasting no more than 30 minutes from a good seat for a fraction of the normal price. (BH)
PICK OF THE MONTH
KGLTEATER.DK
OPERA/BALLET
DANSEHALLERNE.DK
Shakin’ Up Sherwood ongoing, ends Jan 12, Mon-Sat 19:30; Tivoli Glassalen, Cph K; 150-375kr, billetlugen.dk Sherwood Castle has been renamed Rump Tower for this instalment of the Crazy Christmas Cabaret as Vivienne McKee and her merry mob return to deliver another dose of daft, innuendo-laden cheer. (BH)
KGLTEATER.DK
THOMAS PETRI
CABARET
CTCIRCLE.DK
PANTOSTEIN
OPERA
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny ongoing, ends March 5; Operaen, Cph K; 125-795kr, kglteater.dk Mahagonny creators Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill (The Threepenny Opera) fell out over politics. What a waste. Elsewhere, catch Dead Man Walking (from Jan 24), Martyrdom (from Jan 28) and Maskarade (ends Dec 3). (BH)
EVENTS G4 INOUT: THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
Dec 4, 13:00-16:00; Islands Brygge, Havnebadet, Cph S; free adm; interbadbryggen.com HANNAH CONWAY
BATHING in the waters of Copenhagen Harbour is a popular activity in the summertime when the days are long and the heat borderline unbearable. but the winter bathing club Vinterbad Bryggen erases the power of the weather to dictate when you should and should not swim. For those who are not regular members of the club, you can now treat yourself to an icy dip in the misty waters of Island Brygge on the first Sunday of every month, which is reserved for guests – although this does not mean you have to know a member to try it out.
CHRISTMAS AT KONCERTHUSET Various times; DR Koncerthuset, Ørestads Boulevard 13, Cph S; dr.dk/koncerthuset FOR THOSE of you worn out by the voices of Mariah Carey and Michael Buble, Koncerthuset has a series that will bring harmony and joy to the season.
The jazz singers in Merry Christmas Baby (Dec 10, 20:00) channel Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra as they bend notes and scat-sing the Christmas classics. The all-girl choir DR Pigekorets JUL (Dec 17 & 18, 16:00) bring memories of childhood nostalgia. The National Symphony smash it out in the New Year’s Gala (Dec 30, 15:00). And Sigurd and Bear Bear (Dec 21, 15:30) bring pixie dust and Santa. (HC)
MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS ongoing, ends Jan 22, open 10:00-18:00; Rundetaarn, Cph K; over-15s: 25kr, under-15s: 5kr DROP BY the Round Tower and discover what it looks like when broken hearts donate their belongings of
EXPERIENCE
From Here to Ear Nov 25-Feb 5; Copenhagen Contemporary, Trangravsvej 1012, Cph K; 50kr, cphco.org A 600 sqm hall has been transformed by Céleste Boursier into a giant aviary where birds provide ambient music that changes according to the vibrations of the visitors. Challenge your senses! (AA)
sentimental value and stories to an exhibition. The artists have created a space where everyone is offered an opportunity to overcome an emotional collapse through art and creation by contributing to the collection items such as love letters, photos and even old underwear. Conceptualised in Croatia in 2006, the museum has been touring internationally ever since. (DG)
LEARN
Sushi course for beginners Nov 27, Dec 11 & 18, Jan 8 & 15, 15:00; Peder Lykke Skolen, Brydes Alle 35, Cph S; 605kr, register at info@sakana.dk This two-hour course presented by Japanese-trained chef and sake sommelier Zoë Escher will let you into the secrets of making perfect, affordable sushi. Escher also offers advanced and veggy courses. (BH)
HØJBRO PLADS 5-7 1200 CPH K WWW.TGIFRIDAYS.DK
PROTHOMAS ROUSING
Big Quiz Nights Nov 24, Dec 8 & 15, Jan 12 & 26, 19:30; The Globe, Nørregade 43, Cph K; 30kr, five per team Dec 5 & Jan 9, 19:30; Kennedy’s, Gammel Kongevej 23, Cph V; 25kr, four per team The winners get 1,000 kroner at the Globe, 800 at Kennedy’s. Both quizzes have beer rounds and other spot prizes.
ACTIVITY
ZOEESCHER.COM
QUIZ
© CÉLESTE BOURSIER-MOUGENOT, 2007
Marco Grob Iconic Portraits ongoing, ends Dec 31; Frederiksborg Castle, Frederiksborg Slot 10, Hillerød; 75kr For those who love Frederiksborg Castle and portrait photography, the Marco Grob exhibition is the perfect choice this holiday season. The exhibition includes 70 iconic portraits of the world’s most famous people. (AA)
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MARCOGROB.COM
EXHIBITION
Following the cold shivers, you can work your body temperature back up by taking a seat in a steamy sauna. This contrast therapy, shifting between the ice cold and the sweltering heat, is highly regarded for its health benefits. It flushes out your toxins and increases your blood circulation. So, if you had too much eggnog or hard cider at your Christmas party the night before, this Guest Day provides an unconventional relief to your hangover and a chance to experience what Vinterbad Byggen is all about. An annual membership lasts from October to April and costs 825 kroner (an initial 425kr membership fee, and an annual payment of 400kr). Vinterbad Bryggen is Copenhagen’s own version of the Icelandic Blue Lagoon, so take off your gloves and scarves, and put on a swimsuit, just like our intrepid reporters did last December (pictured here).
JOHAN KARPANTSCHOF
WINTER BATHING
December 2016/January 2017
EVENT
Christmas is Lit Nov 27, 16:00; Radhuspladsen, Cph K The Copenhagen City Hall Square Christmas Tree will be lit by Santa himself. Come out to hear Christmas carols and celebrate the official start of Christmas. There is a small parade that starts at Nyhavn Canal and heads towards Strøget. (AA)
INOUT: EVENTS G5 THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
December 2016/January 2017
Jan 20-22, Fri 14:00-20:00, Sat 10:0017:00, Sun 10:00-17:00; Bella Center, Center Boulevard 5, Cph S; over-12s: 80kr, under-12s: 20kr, discounts available for family tickets; campingibella.dk BEN HAMILTON
BELLA Center is still undecided over whether there will be a Holiday Fair this year, which might surprise many, given how it has been a regular fixture in Denmark’s dreariest month for so long – a welcome injection of endorphins as you visualise the rewards waiting for you if you can make it through another winter. But camping? It doesn’t quite fill you with the same level of anticipation. Freezing nights and mornings, trying to get the campfire started in a
WEDDING FAIR Jan 14-15, 11:00-17:00; Forum, Julius Thomsens Plads 1, Frederiksberg; 100125kr; denstoredag.dk HAS THAT holiday romance turned into something more serious? Is that the sound of wedding bells? Then head to Forum for the 2017 Wedding Fair. Prospective bridezillas and their
patient grooms can walk blissfully handin-hand among the 140 exhibitors. Survey luxury limousines, tiered cakes, beautiful bouquets, glistening rings and, of course, you’ll have the chance to say yes to the dress. Caterers will provide a taste of possible reception cuisine while you wait for the twice daily wedding fashion show. And there’s menswear too, so there are no excuses to sit this one out. (PS)
Party like Gatsby Dec 3, 21:00-04:00; Vega, Enghavevej 40, Cph V; 175-210kr, shop.partylikegatsby.eu Jay Gatsby invites you to party as if you were in the Roaring 20s. An underground speakeasy bar will take you back to a time of scandal and chaos when morals were looser and the liquor was downright illegal. (AA)
VOID FILM FESTIVAL Jan 26-Feb 4; most screenings at Cinemateket, Gothersgade, Cph K; voidfilmfestival.com IF YOU want Disney, forget about it – unless of course we’re talking about Fantasia, the backdrop of many trips into the great man’s self-conscious. Now in its second year, VOID is
SHOW
Trailer Park Show in town Dec 7, 20:00; Falconer Theatre, Frederiksberg; 296kr, rickyjulianbubbles.com Spend an evening with the main stars from the Trailer Park Show on Netflix, here for one night only. The Canadian mockumentary series about misadventures has been going strong since 2001. (AA)
ACTIVITY
Afternoon Singing Dec 7 & Jan 25, 17:00; Nørrebro Teater, Ravnsborggade 3, Cph N; 50kr, nbt.dk Singing in the shower not quite doing it for you? Under the expert guidance of conductor Jon Hollesen and pianist Mads Strandgaard, join fellow songbirds at ‘Fyraftenssang’. With celebrity guests appearances! (AA)
Pick up 25 kg. Gourmet-ice cubes or crushed ice 99 kr. in flamingo barrel Order at scotsman.dk
an international animated film festival aimed at adults that “celebrates animation as an art form that knows no limits”. VOID welcomes submissions from the public, providing the film was made after 1 January 2015, so expect a few experimental works on offer. In the meantime, if you’re looking for kid-friendly films, Cinemateket is showing a classic Disney season in the build-up to Christmas. (BH) DJROMANJ
PARTY
TOP THEATRE TRADEFAIR
PIXABAY
JASON BAIN
World AIDS Day Drag Bingo Dec 1, 17:00; Hard Rock Café, Rådhuspladsen 45-47, Cph K; 50kr, billetto.dk At this World AIDS Day drag bingo event, the glitter, glamour and entertainment will be abundance, along with over-the-top costumes and cocktails. Two fat ladies? Legs eleven? You bet! (AA)
PARTYLIKEGATSBY.EU
DIGBY FIRE DEPARTMENT
THEATRE HISTORY ACTIVITY
force-10 gale, setting up or dismantling your tents in the rain, and waking up being poked by a sharp object (feet in the face is unpleasant enough, but in the midriff, that tends to be illegal) – you wonder why you bother, or at least until you arrive and breathe in that country air and let your mind rest. More than any other holiday, camping offers a fantastic chance to get away from it all. Leaving all your electronic devices at home, it’s a welcome chance to switch off, recharge and ultimately count your blessings for all the modcons that make modern life such a breeze. Still, camping’s come a long way since our youth, when it was often perceived to be more of a punishment than a pleasure. Come and find out what modern caravans, motorhomes, tents and camping equipment look like. You’ll be surprised.
FLIP SCHULKE
CAMPING FAIR
ART ACTIVITY
Beer Pong Festival Jan 12, 18:00; Københavns Universitet, Nørregade 10, Cph K Is it childish? Probably! Will it be cancelled? Probably! But free beer is free beer, and should enough people sign up (organiser PulsEvents CPH says 1,000 are needed by the event sponsor!), this will be as good a reason as any to break your NY Resolution. (BH)
MUSIC G6 INOUT: THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK Dec 2, 20:00; Forum; 780-1,280kr YURI YUDELEVICH
WITH WORK that has featured in more than 500 television shows and films, the Italian maestro, conductor and multi-instrumentalist Ennio Morricone is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the past century. Throughout his more than 70year career, Morricone has worked with many famous film directors, actors and musicians. Names like Sergio Leone, Quentin Tarantino, Roland Joffe, Roman Polanski, Quincy Jones, Morrissey, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Jay Z and to an extent Clint Eastwood, among many others, have formed part of the composer’s creations. He has won four Grammys, and in 2016 at the age of 87, he became
the oldest artist to win an Oscar: Best Music Original Score for Quentin Tarantino’s movie The Hateful Eight, his first Academy Award surprisingly. Born with music in his veins, Morricone began composing at the early age of six. As his talent expanded, he became trained in classical music and developed a special interest in playing the trumpet. And as a way to help support his family, he played for various jazz bands, before he began composing for radio and Italian pop stars. While last century he belonged to Leone, this century has seen him become a Tarantino regular, working on Kill Bill, Death Proof, Inglorious Bastards, Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight. On tour, Morricone’s compositions are accompanied by 180-200 musicians and female vocalists whose voices are used as instruments that are blended in with the rest of the orchestra.
WILLYSKAL
THE SOUND STAGE
POP
PET SHOP BOYS Dec 4, 20:00; Operaen, Holmen; 525-825kr WITH 50 million records sold worldwide, it’s no surprise that the Guinness World Records named them as the most successful duo in music history. Synth electro-pop band Pet Shop Boys from London were formed in 1981 and have since recorded an astonishing 42 Top 30 singles.
Seen as the antithesis to conventional pop stars of the time such as Wham and Culture Club, their avant-garde fashion sense and progressive attitude positioned the duo as fashion icons and significant figures in gay culture. Their stage shows are something special to witness, as they combine elements of music, film and theatre, making them interact with a state-of-the-art light show, creating a unique visual impact. (YY)
POP
TIMEFLIES Dec 6, 21:00; Vega; 155kr EVER IMAGINED becoming a music star by posting your material on YouTube? That’s exactly what happened to Rob Resnick and Caleb Shapiro, the two artists behind Timeflies. They hit it off at a university party back in 2010, when Shapiro started rapping
METAL
Meshuggah Dec 9, 21:00; Amager Bio; 270kr Taken their name from the Yiddish word ‘crazy’, Meshuggah are one of the world’s most extreme metal bands. Known for their complex, polyrhythmic songs, they blend death and thrash metal with progressive and jazz fusion elements. (YY)
over Resnick’s beats, and shortly after they began collaborating more seriously. The duo have quickly built their reputation thanks to the power of social media. Using YouTube as their main exposure platform, they have reached a truly global audience. Their original blend of pop with hiphop, dance and funk appeals to a wide audience, allowing them to market their music to fans of all genres. (YY)
INDIE ROCK
The Temper Trap Dec 12, 20:00; Vega; 300kr The Temper Trap are a successful indie rock and pop band from Melbourne, Australia. With a unique mix of choirboy vocals and ringing, their U2-influenced guitar sound has earned them significant buzz in the world of music. (YY)
AFUNK45
Kent Nov 26, 20:00; Forum; 400kr Kent are considered one of the biggest rock/pop bands in Scandinavia. They have released 12 albums and won 21 Swedish Grammy Awards. They’ve announced 2016 as the band’s last year, bringing an end to a successful 26 years performing. (YY)
MODERN CLASSICAL
UNDERWHELMER
ROCK
LEPOSAVA
Pretty Maids Dec 1, 20:00; Amager Bio; 250kr There aren’t many bands who can claim they influenced Led Zeppelin, but Danish rockers Pretty Maids are part of that exclusive club. They’re currently touring with their latest studio album, Kingmaker – another classic in the making. (YY)
PLYEN001
JOXEANKORET
ROCK
GEORGES BIARD
ENNIO MORRICONE
December 2016/January 2017
INDIE ROCK
The Head and the Heart Jan 16, 20:00; Vega; 160kr Formed in 2009, The Head and the Heart are an indierock and folk band from Seattle. Their success is heavily linked to television, having appeared on Conan O’Brien’s late night talk show, as well asseries like How I Met Your Mother and Chuck. (YY)
INOUT: KIDS G7
December 2016/January 2017
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK STIG NYGAARD
OAKLEY ORIGINALS
ACTIVITY
THE WOLF HILLS all year-round; Ulvedalene, Klampenborg; free adm WHO SAYS fun can’t come cheap? Filled with green wild grass in the summer and snowy and picturesque in winter, the Wolf Hills are the ultimate playground – all-natural and refreshing. A treasure well-known among
Dec 27, 18:30, Dec 28, 16:00; Valby Hallen, Julius Andersens Vej 3, Cph SV; 210-260kr; flyingsuperkids.com CIRQUE de Soleil crashes into High School Musical in a non-stop fast moving mix of acrobatics, gymnastics, music and comedy. Expect plenty of airborne twists and
turns as the Flying Superkids launch themselves skywards from trampolines and tumble energetically. A home-grown phenomenon, the troupe started in 1967 and has gradually evolved into an international act traversing over 35 countries. The young high-fliers are handpicked from the Gymnastikgården club in Aarhus and are aged between 7 and 21. (PS)
ON CHRISTMAS holidays the sky over central Copenhagen will be lit up by a rainbow of colours as Tivoli hosts its Fireworks Festival. This year’s festival is the 12th in
FREDERIKSBERG SKATING RINK Nov 26-Dec 31, Mon-Fri 11:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-21:00; Jan 1-Feb 26, MonFri 11:00-19:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-20:00; Frederiksberg Runddel, Frederiksberg; free adm, skate rental 50kr WHILE there are a number of rinks around town, few can compete with
ACTIVITY
Paper sculpting ongoing-Dec 15, Thu 15:0017:00; Gentofte Hovedbibliotek, Ahlmanns Allé 6, Hellerup; free adm, genbib.dk, ages 5-12 Just a tad of creativity, a piece of paper and your kiddies are all set up to participate in a fun papersculpting workshop at Gentofte’s main library. (KL)
Frederiksberg Runddel when it transforms itself into a winter wonderland. Perhaps you fancy yourself as the next Torville or Dean, or maybe you are more than happy to get a cold bum as you fumble your way around the other skaters by the entrance to Frederiksberg Garden. If you’ve got your own skates, then the rink is yours all day. For those of us less prepared, you can rent a pair. (AC)
ACTIVITY
In Detectives’ Shoes ongoing, ends Jan 29, Tue-Sun 11:00-16:00; Hirschsprung Collection, Stockholmsgade 20, Cph Ø; 95kr, hirschsprung.dk; ages 7-12 Can you find the hidden inscription on the painting? Can you tell what’s written on that crumpled newspaper? Bring your family and become art detectives equipped with binoculars. (KL)
BØRNEMUSEET
A Christmas Carol ends Dec 18, Mon-Fri 09:30 & 11:30, Sat & Sun 13:00 & 15:00; Open Air Museum, Kongens Lyngby; 40-165kr; natmus.dk The Bernhard Olsen Teater’s Danish-language version of the Dickensian classic has trimmed off the dark elements of the original to present a shorter version ideal for the little ones. (BH)
Tivoli’s history, presenting different fireworks dedicated to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. The classical Christmas colours will dominate from December 25-30, while a spectacular show to greet 2017 will take place on New Year’s Eve. You can experience the fireworks best from the area in front of the Open Air Stage – in front of the Glassalen theatre and Nimb restaurant. (KL)
ACTIVITY
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PERFORMANCE
GENTOFTE LIBRARY
NATMUS.DK
TIVOLI
Tivoli Xmas Season ends Jan 3; 99kr; tivoli.dk Enjoy enchanted walks under the countless fairy lights, get carried away by cheerful Christmas carols, visit a market bursting with festive treats and, if you did not eat too many honey-roasted almonds, take a jolly ride on one of the gutwrenching rollercoasters. (KL)
Dec 25-26, 21:00, Dec 29-31, 23:00; Tivoli Gardens, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; 99kr; tivoli.dk
JONAS SMITH
EVENT’ FACEBOOK PAGE
FLYING SUPERKIDS
FUN
FIREWORKS FESTIVAL
Danes, this opening in the middle of Dyrehave brings outs the hyperactive child in you. The different hills vary in steepness, accommodating different levels of adventurousness. Families who come here often bring rather primitive snow-gliding gear: a classic wooden bench-sledge, a snowboard or even just a cosplay superhero shield! (MC)
SPECTACLE
SPECTACLE
LEARN
Baking for children ongoing, ends Jan 22, every Sat 11:00-13:00; Children’s Museum, Svanholmsvej 3A, Frederiksberg; 1,050kr incl products (950kr for members); boernemuseet.dk You can forget about hiding the chocolate cookies! This is a workshop where the little ones learn to bake their own pastry treats! Don’t say we didn’t warn you. (KL)
MUSEUMS CORNER G8 INOUT: THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
December/January 2017
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas KATHRINE MARIA AMANN, GOLDEN DAYS
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ROM FESTIVE markets and beer and cookie-tasting to ‘gnome schools’ and
Christmas storytelling, there are heaps of magical things to do for the whole family during
this festive season, in and near Copenhagen. Browse through our guide for some advice on where to go and what to see to get a taste of the
traditional Danish ‘julehygge’.
Copenhagen Museums & Attractions
CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE CARLSBERG CHRISTMAS MARKET
Dec 3-4 & 10-11, 10:00-17:00, Kronborg Castle, Kronborg 2C, Helsingør
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NDULGE in the annual gathering of the Christmas Market at Kronborg Castle. In the rooms and halls of this historic Renaissance castle you will find a great variety of stands selling Christmas decorations, arts and crafts, unique
design, clothes, toys and small goods. Certainly, you will get in the right jolly spirit when the tall tree in the grand ballroom is lit and the children’s Christmas show comes on. The seasonal Christmas market at Kronborg Castle is a great opportunity to experience one of the most impressive buildings in Denmark and the mythical home of Hamlet.
GOING OLD SCHOOL
Dec 3-4, 11:00-16:00; Sagnlandet Lejre, Slangealleen 2, Lejre
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N THE BEAUTIFUL scenery of hills, forests, lakes and meadows you will find houses, cottages and gardens from the Stone Age, Iron Age, Viking Era and 1800s. And here you will also encounter Sagnlandet, Lejre’s annual Christmas celebration. Join the atmospheric fun when Sagnlandet turns the
entire scenery into a Winter Wonderland from the 1800s. Make your own Christmas candles, tin soldiers, sweets and elves – and get familiar with all the old-fashioned Danish Christmas traditions. There are candles in the paned windows and scents of Christmas cookies, homemade honey and sweets in the air. Don’t miss this exciting and cosy family experience: Christmas like in the Old Days!
Dec 2-4, 10:00-17:00; Visit Carlsberg, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, Cph V
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NJOY DELIGHTFUL Danish æbleskiver, mulled wine with beer, special beer-tastings and Carlsberg everywhere. Visit Carlsberg’s rustic beer garden sets the tone for a brand-new Christmas market where seasonal cheer
abounds, while you can buy tasty foods and drinks at the Jacobsen Brew House & Bar. Buy beer for your Christmas party, do some last-minute Christmas shopping and take a horse carriage ride with family and friends. It is a Christmas outing for the whole family – and even Dad will enjoy this one! Particularly as entrance to the market is free.
GNOMES GALORE
Cookie-tasting: Dec 3-4, 13:30-15:30 Gnome school: every Sat & Sun in Dec, 12:00-15:00 National Museum of Denmark, Prinsens Palæ, Ny Vestergade 10, Cph K
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NOMES, elves, Santa’s little helpers – it’s the season for small creatures with pointy red hats. Hear stories about gnomes on ships, church gnomes, farm gnomes and garden gnomes, when the National Museum’s gnome experts let you in on everything a proper Christmas gnome needs to know. This year,
the National Museum of Denmark is transforming into a ‘gnome school’ where potential little gnomes learn how to practise the difficult clog walk, how to write like a gnome and how to help in Santa’s workshop. If you pass all the tests, you will be considered a real gnome – and receive your own diploma. Meanwhile, the adults can indulge in the historic Christmas cookie-tasting. Encounter some of the traditional Danish Christmas delicacies – ‘pebbernødder’, ‘æbleskiver’ and ‘vaniljekranse’ – and hear the stories behind them.
FOR MORE INSPIRATION FROM THE MUSEUMS, VISIT COPENHAGEN MUSEUMS & ATTRACTION AT CPHMUSEUMS.COM
New Danish courses in January
YES, YOU CAN LEARN DANISH TOO Take a fast track Danish course and you will speak the language in no time. Our courses are designed for students who have a solid academic background and who want the highest level and the fastest progression. Choose between classes for beginners and non-beginners. Studieskolen is located in the city centre of Copenhagen.
studieskolen.dk
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HISTORY
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
No Danish Christmas is complete wihout sprucing up the tree JANE GRAHAM
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VER SINCE the curious citizens of Copenhagen peered through the windows of the Lehman family’s home on Ny Kongensgade in 1811, the tree has become a staple of Christmas celebrations all over the country. A fixture since 1811 THE YOUNG Doctor Lehmann, a priest’s son from Holstein in southern Jutland, had imported the custom from his rural region to Denmark’s capital. It was hardly surprising that the Holstein region was the very first area of the country to celebrate Yuletide with a tree in 1808, lying as close as it does to the German border. His innovations came about some 30 years before the British monarch, Queen Victoria, made the tree fashionable on both sides of the Atlantic in 1841 by allowing her German husband Prince Albert to introduce one at Windsor Castle. However, it was only by the 1890s, that it was truly established as a tradition in the United States. What was previously seen as a strange German custom spread rapidly in popularity across Denmark, with Hans Christian Andersen, the poet Adam Oehlenschläger, and popular writers Peter Faber and Johan Krohn all colluding to inscribe it into popular literature within a mere handful of decades. Endorsed by HC THE NATION’S greatest storyteller was a firm believer in the Christmas tree custom. Aside from his story of the little fir tree that doesn’t appreciate the magnitude of being a Christmas tree until it’s too late, HC Andersen also described the pleasures found in decorating them. “The fir tree was put into a great tub filled with sand,” he wrote. “The servants and the young ladies also decked it out. On one branch they hung little nets, cut out of coloured paper. Every net was filled with sweetmeats; golden apples and walnuts hung down as if they
grew there, and more than a hundred little candles, red, white and blue, were fastened to the different boughs. High on the summit of the tree was fixed a tinsel star. It was splendid, particularly splendid. ‘This evening,’ said all. ‘This evening it will shine.’”
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From picking it out in the forest, bringing it home and decorating it to finally dancing around it, it is central to the festivities
Literarily established ANOTHER great writer from Denmark’s Golden Age (which ran fairly concurrently with Britain’s Victorian era), the poet Peter Faber, immortalised the tree in ‘High up from the tree’s green top’. While Johan Krohn’s 1866 publication ‘Peter’s Yule’ – a poetic tale of a traditional family Christmas complete with trees, candles, presents and feasting – is brought to life in theatres nationwide even today. They speak to us in nostalgic overtones of a lost time of childhood and simple pleasures – of timeless traditions we can still enjoy. Pining for the spruce? WHETHER it’s the Norway spruce – introduced into Denmark in 1730 but present in the country’s colonies of Norway and southern Sweden much, much earlier – or the taller Scots pine, which has grown in the nation’s forests since the Middle Ages, the choice of Christmas tree is partly a question of taste and partly of regional variations. Here in Copenhagen, it seems the spruce has the edge over its competition. Some have argued that the pine tree was vital to surviving a Medieval Danish winter, as its wood made the perfect winter fuel. That’s why its name means just that: ‘fyr’ in Danish is not only a pine tree, but also the word for lighting a fire. A day of it ALTHOUGH artificial trees have become popular in other countries, it has to be the genuine article here, and Danish Christmas trees are exported all over the world. Even today, many families use the purchase of the tree as the perfect opportunity for a rural daytrip, picking out the one they want from the forest, helping to cut it down and then leaving it outside the house until the time comes to decorate it. It’s an activity the whole family involve themselves in. What
Not quite on the top though, is it
is used simply to store presents underneath in some countries is so much more here, whether it’s being danced around on Christmas Eve or even planted outside again once the season has ended. Incomplete without candles BEFORE the advent of electric lights, candles would have been hung on the Christmas tree, and the custom of lighting candles to celebrate Yuletide is much older than that of the tree. In DANCING AROUND THE TREE • The tradition is uniquely Scandinavian, although variants have been carried to other parts of the world • Each person holds hands and sings carols, moving in a pre-determined direction • A remnant of pagan beliefs, ancient Danes would dance around their chosen tree as a sign of respect for the natural world • Following Christianisation, this tradition was upheld − one of many examples of Christianity blending with existing beliefs
fact, Christmas in Denmark has been known for a long time as ‘the feast of candles’, which were made from the fat of the animals the villagers would slaughter to survive the long winter. By the time Christmas cards began to be introduced, trees went with Christmas like meat
MODERN TRADITION • The modern Christmas tree tradition originated in Germany in the 16th century – a Protestant invention sometimes credited to its father, Martin Luther himself • Triangular-shaped trees first began appearing in German houses in the 1520s – their shape represented the Holy Trinity and other triangular shapes were also favoured • Luther is also credited as the first person to put lighted candles on a tree. Inspired by the stars in the sky, the candles represented heaven and earth • The Catholic Church recognised the Christmas tree as an authentic Christmas representation in the early 1800s
with two veg. The country’s oldest known Christmas card was posted from Randers Post Office in 1888. Its motif is a simple Christmas scene of plenty of snow and … two fir trees.
ANCIENT USAGE • Decorating with evergreen trees to mark the winter solstice (Dec 20-21) pre-dates Christianity • Evergreen boughs, pines and spruce trees would be laid out to encourage the sun to return • The pagans believed certain trees warded off spirits and illhealth, and they accordingly tied trees and branches close to windows and doors • To celebrate Saturnalia in honour of the god of agriculture, the Romans would decorate houses and temples with evergreen boughs: a symbol for what the new planting season would bring • Ancient Egyptians also celebrated the end of winter, decorating their homes with green palm rushes in anticipation of the return of Ra
COMMUNITY
25 November - 8 December 2016
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Cometh the witching hour with Wonder Woman and Wednesday Here are the finalists in our Halloween photo competition. Thank you for your patience. We know it’s been a nail-biting wait. From The Donald to The Dude, the influences are far and wide: from the fantasy worlds of the Addams Family to Mexican Day of the Dead and the south London punk-rock scene.
Emiliye’s punk origins (right) are explained by her father being English and coming from the same area of London as Captain Sensible
They could laugh about it then, but the true horror of Halloween came late for Mark Walker (UK) and Sabine Hviid (Denmark)
of ude. And ) is The D S (U e k y p Wesley S e Russian at’s a whit course th
With her hands on the prize for best costume was Luisa Kyca (Canada/ Germany) as Wednesday Addams. It’s that Thing she does
passing eft) tried (l n a m o xico/ Wonder W Dinorah Curiel (Me y’s s a b ff o o but n od herself om Aarhus, st fr a t n le e – d u ty ti st n US), a that ide y b d le o fo going to be cKinnon (US) nM of all Aaro
The Mexican Day of the Dead was also a hit with Lithuania’s Inesa Lastauskaite
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RESTAURANT
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
The location may have changed, but the special atmosphere is the same ISTOCK
RESTAURANT HERCEGOVINA Mørk Hansens Vej 2, Frederiksberg; open Tue-Thu 12:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:00, kitchen open 12:00-21:00, closed Mon; special Christmas set menu 595kr; 3315 6363; hercegovina.dk ALYSSA ASHLEY
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S THERE anything better than goulash soup, live music and fine wine on a windy evening in Copenhagen? Didn’t think so. Experiencing a piece of Hercegovina in Denmark was not only mouth-watering, but a social and cultural experience that offers the perfect amount of indulgence. When Restaurant Hercegovina opened its doors this year, it reopened the hearts of many guests accustomed to the restaurant being located at Tivoli for the past 30 years. Now that Hercegovina has moved to the outskirts of Frederiksberg, the restaurant has established its own little corner with decorative lights that bring tranquility to the whole street. The atmosphere took me to a part of Croatia that I never thought I would get the opportunity to explore. With a belly dancer gracefully dancing around the restaurant in her white costume to the live music provided by an accordion player and guitarist, I was able to relax and experience a slice of life in the Balkans. Melting meatballs WHEN WE first walked in, we didn’t really know what to expect. Immediately confronted by the appetising buffet, we were shown to our seats and offered a choice of two menus: the affordable buffet selection or slightly pricier à la carte options. The Christmas buffet offers an array of Croatian specialties, including beef paprika with avjar sauce, air-dried, smoked tenderloin steak, fresh lamb, oksecarpaccio, cevapčići sausage, and prsut and cheese. The food has such cultural diversity, there is something for everyone’s taste! I can safely say it is hard to go wrong here. My favourite dish of the night was the frikadeller med surt: meatballs that melt
in your mouth and transform it with a smile. To accompany our mains, we opted for the Graševina Daruvar, a fresh, refined white packed with flavour that proved to be a good match for everything thrown at us, from the meat and fish dishes, to the salads and pasta. But the real star of our experience was the rakija, Croatia’s most popular for a good reason.
Try Maria’s favourite things! ALONG with the amazing food, what really made the night perfect was the manager Maria. Attentive to her customers, she offers advice on what to try and which combinations work together, along with thoughtful conversation. We spoke about everything from politics and American food to entrepreneurship, and she even offered advice
in regards to education. Dining in the company of Maria was like having a second mom with us, and the restaurant accordingly felt like a vacation spot. She really enhanced our dining experience: the undisputed star of our night. Here’s a tip: if you know what’s good for you, ask Maria
for a dessert recommendation. The fresh and fruity taste of the blueberry fromage was truly lifechanging. Coming to dine at Hercegovina was like escaping the real world and finding ourselves in a place where our tastebuds took centre stage. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
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FILM
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
The posters are puckering up for some lip-smacking action BEN HAMILTON
S
O, WHAT film will be on everyone’s lips heading into December? That’s easy: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (out on December 14), but you’ll have to wait for our next issue to find out more. Ahead of that, three films will be puckering up on the billboards from December 1, and judging by most of the reviews – their praise isn’t lip service. Side-by-side, their movie posters could not be more lippy. Sporting quite possibly the most iconic pair in history, we’ve got the latest in a long line of documentaries about the world’s favourite ageing band, the Rolling Stones, who remarkably (partly due to the quality of the drugs they’ve been able to afford) continue to defy the odds; lip-shaped alien spaceships (undeniably elliptic) – a smile or a frown depending on your navigation point; while Billy Bob Thornton has clearly been at the cherry brandy again and/ or visited Mary Christmas at the wrong time of the month again. Nobody moves like Jagger I REMEMBER really liking the 2001 TV documentary Being Mick. I didn’t realise it at the time, or until I just looked it up, that it was the work of Kevin MacDonald, the Oscarwinning director of One Day in September, whose following film, Touching the Void, is one of the most enthralling documentaries you’re ever likely to see. Being Mick, though, is also worth seeking out – it’s the alone time many of us secretly crave when we watch Stones documentaries and have to put up with the rest of them. It’s a reminder of the reverence we
should all feel for one of music’s true originals, and the scene in which he’s confused by the twist in the film he’s financing is hysterically funny. The 72 Metacritic rating for The Rolling Stones Ole, Ole, Ole: A Trip across Latin America (released on Nov 30), which follows the band’s historic tour across the continent to Cuba, is based on just four reviews, but they are arguably four of the most reputed publications in the world. Still, it just doesn’t sound cinematic enough to warrant a trip to the multiplex. Keenly-awaited arrival SCI-FI film Arrival (81; Dec 1), in contrast, is a must-see. Let the steady hands of French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve (Incendies, Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario) guide you through the kind of alien invasion film War of the Worlds threatened to be until the Spielberg slush machine took over in the final half an hour. It is both existential and exciting – the less you know about the plot the better. The cast, though, is an open book with the always dependable Amy Adams (picking up rave reviews – expect yet another Oscar nomination), Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. But if there is a curveball it’s the rising
star of Michael Stuhlbarg, who first got noticed playing Arnold Rothstein in Boardwalk Empire. 1980s Essex girl? ANOTHER likeable actor in the ascendancy, mainly because he’s so good at playing utter bastards, is Tracy Letts, who despite being named after an 1980s Essex girl is cornering the market for semi-smart, cantankerous, selfimportant middle-aged men. Just like Chazz Palminteri (who based A Bronx Tale on his childhood experiences), he playwrighted his way into Hollywood with several plays, including the Pulitzer Prizewinning August: Osage County. You might remember him as the director of the CIA in Homeland. As its score suggests, Indignation (79; Nov 24) comes recommended, but once again, too much plot could be a bad thing. As far as its big screen prospects go, it’s probably a safer bet waiting for this to hit Netflix, in all honesty. And the same could be said of the personal healing documentary The Space in between Marina Abramovic and Brazil (74; Nov 24). Lonely laughter COMEDIES, on the other hand, are often more enjoyable in company, although going to
see a film in Denmark that is very specific to the country of your upbringing – the Hunt/ Lauda film Rush was the last one in my case – can render you completely out of sync with the laughter track the rest of the audience are following. No such problems with Hunt for the Wilderpeople (81; Dec 1), unless you’re a Maori juvenile delinquent or a cranky Kiwi bushman (Sam Neill – all is forgiven for The Tudors!). The trailer is laugh-out-loud funny – this is the film the heavy-going series The Lake could have been if they’d only played it for laughs. And Bad Santa 2 (Not Released Yet; Dec 1) – well we don’t really know how this is going to turn out. Rule of thumb: don’t see sequels and you won’t be disappointed, which ironically enough is why so many choose to see them instead of taking a risk on an unknown quantity. You can never write off Billy Bob Thornton – he’s gone from miss to hit to miss all his life, and we’re not just talking about his six wives. Très jolie – coming soon NO PARTS for Billy or Jonny Lee Miller in Brad Pitt’s new film Allied (NRY; Nov 24), but a film with all three of her ex-husbands, it’s coming – ‘Très jolie’ is the working title
– mark my words! Apparently Pitt’s relationship with co-actress Marion Cotillard might have led to Pitt’s alleged altercation with his son on a private jet ... yawn. Once again, the trailer gives the whole film away right up until the will they/won’t they last-minute moment, which is a shame, as it looks ten times sassier, sexier and smarter than Mr and Mrs Smith. The ultimate movie kiss MEANWHILE, over at Cinemateket, the next ‘Danish on a Sunday’ film (with English subtitles) is Drømmen om Danmark (Dec 4, 14:15). The Technicolour season continues with screenings of The Wizard of Oz (Dec 8, 16:30) and Gone with the Wind (Dec 4, 19:00), while the indie horror films since 1968 season is serving up the 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead (Dec 8, 22:00). But if it’s full-on family entertainment you’re looking for, you can’t look beyond the Disney season, which includes Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Dec 4, 16:00), Bambi (Nov 30, 18:45), Peter Pan (Nov 26, 12:30), The Jungle Book (Dec 3, 12:30), and the lip-smackingly good Lady and the Tramp (Nov 26, 14:15).
TECHNICOLOR: COLORFUL VISIONS FROM HOLLYWOOD’S GOLDEN AGE Throughout December (re-)experience some of Hollywood’s greatest classics: ‘Gone with the Wind’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and other Technicolor masterpieces in the Cinematheque. We present some 50 films with English dialogue or subtitles every month. See what’s on at cinemateket.dk or visit us in Gothersgade 55
INOUT:TV
25 November - 8 December 2016
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
YOUTUBE
WORLD WAR THREE – INSIDE THE WAR ROOM DR2, NOV 30, 23:05
PICK OF THE WEEK
THE BBC’s controversial docudramaWorld War Three – Inside The War Room portrays Russian military involvement in the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia. It captures the drama and tension of the hypothetical war situation with military scenes set in Latvia cut with British strategists debating in the ‘war room’ on how to respond to Russia’s invasion.
There’s extra headroom under this desk should they get the three-minute warning
an account of how manufacturers deliberately started reducing the shelf-like of goods, from lightbulbs in the 1920s to IKEA today. Continuing with the dystopia, we’ve got Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies and Cyber Attacks (DR2, Dec 6, 23:05), We are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (DR2, Nov 30, 00:55) and the tellingly named Stupid Man, Smart Phone (BBC Brit, Dec 1, 10:30) – a reality show with no valid reason for existing.
COMING SOON
The sorority girl’s in charge, which is kind of kinky
Elsewhere, we’ve got S2 of espionage series Bletchley Circle (SVT1, Nov 25, 22:50); the American Music Awards (DR3, Nov 26, 21:00) will have a purple hue; We want our country back (SVT1, Dec 1, 22:45) investigates the rightwing English political party Britain First; and Pointless host Alexander Armstrong takes us around the Arctic Circle in Land of the Midnight Sun (DR2, Dec 3, 20:00). (BH)
DR2, Dec 7, 19:10 The men who made us spend
OUR FOUR recommended series this issue all have strong female leads. Legally Blonde meets Lisbeth Salander in Sweet/Vicious (Metacritic: 72), as a weeddealing hacker joins forces with a vigilante sorority girl to take down campus rapists. In Good Girls Revolt (65), the three leads are female researchers
in a newsroom paid considerably less than male counterparts they regularly out-perform. During filming, it emerged their male costars were paid more than them ... We’re joking! And in Search Party (78), a woman becomes obessed with tracking down an old college pal. “If you’ve ever wondered why all your friends are self-important
ALSO NEW
sociopaths, Search Party maybe the show you’ve been waiting for all your life,” said Reason.com, a website for sociopaths apparently. Finally, the new Netflix series The Crown (81) about Queen Elizabeth II is so brilliant, you’ll seek out the negative reviews to have a good laugh at how badly they got it wrong. Hold your head in shame, Time! (BH) ISTOCK
ISTOCK
GIL ABRANTES
LEWIS Hamilton has done brilliantly to take the F1 season to the final race, but you can’t help thinking he will need team-mate Nico Rosberg’s car to malfunction for him to win the title. Elsewhere, Chelsea vs Tottenham is the pick in the EPL, we’ve got plenty of NFL, NBA (every night, TV2 Sport) and Champions League (3+, Dec 6-7, 20:00) action. (BH)
The film attracted worldwide attention, not least from Russia Today, which observed that Russia was portrayed as “Dr Evil Incarnate, the villain that regularly plays opposite peace-loving NATO nations.” “It was a little clichéd” the Independent concurred, adding that “the Russians were the bad guys, the UK set lots of deadlines but ultimately wouldn’t commit to any action, and the US went in all guns (or nuclear weapons) blazing – but then clichés are always clichés for a reason.” INA BILIC YOUTUBE
REALITY TV. Adultery websites. Trump. Brexit. It’s as if the schedulers have said: “Enough!! There will be no more fiction, just the stark truth. And you will listen, stupid men with smartphones.” “Why have so few taken in the message Dawn of the Dead, in which zombiefied humans wander cathedral-like malls vainly trying to fill the existential holes in their lives with commodities?” asks the Guardian in its review of The men who made us spend –
23
SPORT OF THE WEEK 3+, Nov 27, 12:30 F1: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
3+, Nov 26, 18:10 EPL Chelsea vs Tottenham
FILM OF THE WEEK DR3, Nov 30, 22:00 The Way Way Back
SVT1, Nov 26, 22:30 About Time
TV3, Dec 7, 21:00 What to expact when you’re expecting
3+, Nov 27 & Dec 4, 22:10 NFL
COMING-OF-AGE dramedy The Way Way Back (DR3, Nov 30, 22:00) and time travel yarn About Time (SVT1, Nov 26, 22:30) are safe bets if you’re looking for family enterainment, but come with a feeling you’ve already seen better elsewhere. In the case of What to expect when you’re expecting (TV3, Dec 7, 21:00), it was entire series of both Friends and Coupling. (BH)
24
CHRISTMAS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
Sugar and spice and keeping the nisser nice at Jul time
ISTOCK
Almost everything you need to know about Danish Christmas JOE MOREL
G
ROWING up, I experienced the typical British Christmas: marked by opportunist mistletoe-clingers, cracker joke comedians and the havoc wreaked annually upon the charts by ‘The X Factor’. Traditions took a back seat to tinsel and Baileys. In Denmark, however, things are a bit more ‘hygge’. Origins of the name THE VIKINGS first encountered Christianity in the 8th and 9th centuries with the arrival of Christian monks and the increase in foreign trade. The first Danish king to convert to Christianity, Harold Blåtand (Harald Bluetooth), was baptised in around 965. Despite pressure from the church to call Christmas ´Kristmesse´, the Danes kept the term ‘Jul’ – a variation on the name of the historical Germanic peoples´ pagan festival Yule. Candles, calendars, chocolate DANISH kids are placated until the arrival of Julemanden – like children across the world – by bribing them with chocolate in calendars during Advent. Additionally, Denmark’s love of candles takes on an even bigger dimension at Christmas, as each house has an Advent candle with the days until Christmas marked on it. The candle is lit each day to burn it down to the next day’s date. While advent wreaths of evergreen twigs and ribbons hold four candles – one is lit on each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas.
Keep the elves nice with rice AS IF EXCITABLE children surrounded by chocolate and lit candles aren’t enough, the Scandinavian Christmas tradition has taken the idea of Santa’s helpers or elves and come up with ‘nisser’. These are devious, naughty elfin or pixie-like creatures dressed in grey trousers and red hats. As they have yet to be immortalised in a Will Ferrell follow-up to ‘Elf ’ or feature in a ‘Home Alone’ film, Danish
Copenhageners are known to pick up their trees with their bikes, cars and sometimes even their prams
folklore suggests that children leave out bowls of risengrød for them, the sweet rice pudding eaten throughout Jul. It certainly beats fuelling Santa’s alcoholism with sherry or brandy and encouraging sleighing under the influence. Feeling the Xmas spirits DENMARK being Denmark though, a beer is never far away. But Danes cannot drink with beer alone – Jul is also a time for Denmark’s take on mulled wine, gløgg. It includes the Christmas spices we’re familiar with, but also dried fruits and almonds. Alcoholic Christmas smoothie, anyone? Aalborg Akvavit’s limited Jule edition bottles are individually numbered and changed in design every year. Collectors around the world try and secure one of each design – although the contents are
just as appealing as the bottle itself. Nation’s sweet tooth FROM CHRISTMAS lunch parties of smørrebrød to the Christmas Eve dinner, food is a crucial part of Jul in Denmark. Bakeries and shops will stock sweets and cakes in the weeks leading up to Christmas and often create elaborate window displays to showcase their skills. Treats enjoyed throughout Denmark include the deep-fried lemony klejner, nutty gingerbread brunkager and tiny spiced biscuits called pebernødder. Traditionally on Christmas Eve, roast duck, pork or goose takes centre stage and is served with caramelised potatoes, braised red cabbage and a variety of pickled side dishes. This is followed by ris a l’amande – a mix of sweet rice
pudding, whipped cream and crushed almonds. It’s often served with a sauce made from winter berries, sometimes collected by children whilst out walking. A whole almond is hidden in the pudding, and the person who finds it wins the mandelgave, a gift purchased for the occasion. Glee around the tree DENMARK makes Christmas itself a multi-day affair. Lille Juleaften, or ‘Little Christmas Eve’, is on the 23rd and begins the festive period with a family dinner. The decorating of the Christmas isn’t completed until Christmas Eve – whilst everything else is prepared in the weeks leading up to Christmas, this important aspect waits until the 24th. Because Christmas isn’t Christmas without some unnecessary stress about burnt meat and cold potatoes, the fi-
nal decorating tends to happen at the same time as the main Christmas dinner being cooked. Whether by happy accident or cunning design, the children and pets can play with decorations and tinsel whilst the adults carry on with sneaking the best bits of food before it even hits the table. Following the Christmas dinner, everyone holds hands and dances around the tree singing traditional songs including ‘Nu Er Det Jul Igen’ (Now It’s Christmas Again) and the modern classic MC Einar’s ‘Jul – Det’ Cool’. The 25th and 26th are quiet days spent at home with more food, friends and family, recovering from the excesses of the previous days and looking forward to the party starting again at New Year. It’s good to know that wherever you are, some things don’t change.
C R A ZY C H R I S T M A S 2 0 1 6
GLASSALEN, TIVOLI NOV 15TH 2016 - JAN 12TH 2017
HERMANS, TIVOLI FRIHEDEN AARHUS JAN 17TH - 21ST 2017 TICKETS: 3315 1012 OR TEATERBILLETTER.DK OR BILLETLUGEN.DK LONDONTOAST.DK
26 It needn’t be lonely this Christmas with no-one to hold CHRISTMAS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
No excuses for spending the festive period on your own with so many great events going on INA BILIC
I
T’S CHRISTMAS time and you can just feel the festive spirit overtaking the streets of Copenhagen. That means there are plenty of ways to celebrate in the capital – whatever your age. Discover what to do with friends and family in the coming days: from experiencing Christmas music performances to making your own Christmas tree!
CHRISTMAS TURKEYS
Lillevangsvej 6, Søsum, Veksø; 2063 6733, persgriseri@gmail. com; pers-griseri.dk This butcher is located about 20km northwest of Copenhagen, slightly beyond Ballerup, but we’re reliably informed that Per’s Griseri is the best place to source free-range, organic turkeys should you be making one this Christmas. However, tracking Per down is no easy feat. If he’s home, he’s open, but as his website says, when you travel there you “tag chancen”. Simon Longhurst, the British owner of fishmongers Fisk & Færdigt (HC Ørsteds Vej 37B, Frederiksberg,
info@simon-fisk.dk) who many of our readers might know as ‘The Codfather’, had no hesitation in recommending Griseri, but warned that customers will need to attend one of his oneday markets to snap one up. An 8 kilo turkey will set you back 1,024 kroner.
SPANISH CHRISTMAS
Dec 24, 17:30; Restaurant Pintxos, Nansensgade 63, Cph K; 495kr If you don’t feel like cooking and you want to spice up your Christmas with some Spanish flavour – you should head to Pinxtos. You can cosy up with your friends or family while enjoying a four-course Spanish-inspired meal. You’ll start your evening with some great cava, followed by grilled beef tournedos with mushroom sauce and truffle slices, and then finish the night with a tasty chocolate mousse.
DANISH CHRISTMAS DINNER
Dec 24, 18:30; Hereford Village, Frederiksberggade 21, 1 sal, Cph K; 625kr (250kr deposit per table) The restaurant on Copenhagen’s main shopping street offers a real treat for lovers of the traditional Danish Christmas dinner! The event starts at 18:00 and includes a classic three-course Christmas
25 November - 8 December 2016
meal. It begins with a glass of mulled wine, followed by roasted pork and delicious potatoes, and then finished off with homemade rice pudding. Be sure to book your table in advance, as reservations are necessary.
T’WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Dec 5, 19:00; Lyngby Kulturhus, Klampenborgvej 215, Lyngby; 150kr, under-13s: 75kr, ticketmaster.dk If you find yourself at Lyngby Kulturhus on December 3, you will hear a lovely mix of Christmas music performed by the Suoni Ensemble, the Suoni Chorus and the Copenhagen International Children’s Choir. The performance will include both new and familiar pieces, including fresh adaptations of old favourites.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE HARLEM VOICES
Dec 12, 20:00-22:00; Sankt Jakobs Kirke, Østerbrogade, Cph Ø; 295kr, billeto.dk If you want to experience a funky gospel performance this holiday season, then the Harlem Voices’ show is a performance you shouldn’t miss. The ensemble are known for their swing-beats, R'n'B, moving
choreography and glorious vocals. During their performance, you can clap, stomp and dance along with them.
CHRISTMAS ACROYOGA
Dec 7, 19:15-20:45; Skolen ved Bülowsvej, building D, basement, Fuglevangsvej 5; free adm Would you like to be more active during this holiday season and try something new? Well now you can, with this free intro class to Christmas Acroyoga to see if it is something for you! Acroyoga combines the power of acrobatics with the asanas of yoga. The event is open to everyone, and you can join whether you have experience or not.
PALAE BAR
Dec 24, 12:00-14:00; Ny Adelgade 5, Cph K; free adm Enjoy swinging jazz notes at Palae Bar, where their Christmas Jazz fixture will makes sure that you feel truly festive this holiday season.
RED CROSS CHRISTMAS
Sign up before Dec 23 at rodekors. dk/jul/julevenner Share this Christmas with someone special by joining the Red Cross’s scheme whereby Christmas hosts with extra places
around the table are paired with people who have nowhere to go. You can sign up at their website as either a host or a guest. The Red Cross will then contact you no later than December 23 to tell you who you’ve been paired with. Sign up and spread the joy!
COPENHAGEN CHRISTMAS TOUR
Nov 27, 15:00-17:00; Pop-up Tours, Kongens Nytorv Metro, Cph K; 100kr per person If you’ve always wanted to learn more about the city, you should hop on the tour around the illuminated old city of Copenhagen. You will learn about Danish Christmas traditions and hear many stories, from the one about the Christmas rose to tales of mythological creatures called ‘nisser’.
DIY CHRISTMAS TREES
Nov 28-Dec 20, open Sat & Sun; Ryegaard og Trudsholm Godser, Munkholmvej 380, Rye, Kirke Såby; carriage rides 30kr per person, trees priced by size; ryegaard.dk You want a little break from the city? Then you should visit Ryegaard, located just 35 minutes away from Copenhagen by train. You can experience the holiday spirit by taking a horse carriage ride through the
Don’t be a naughty boy and miss the Messiah And don’t forget to stand during the Hallelujah or you’ll be sent to stand in the corner INA BILIC
F
OR MANY Danes, it wouldn’t be Christmas without an evening out to listen to one of the most popular pieces ever composed, George Frideric Handel’s ‘Messiah’. The two hour-plus masterpiece was written by the German composer in 1741 in only 24 days, taking extracts from both the Old and the New Testament to tell the story of the life of Jesus. As well as his operas, he constructed the piece in three dramatic acts: the birth and life, the passion and death, the resurrection and ascension. Churches around the city will offer performances from
early December, so if you are in town, be sure to check out this magnificent piece of music! And don’t forget to stand up during the bombastic ‘Hallelujah’ chorus – a tradition since Britain’s King George II first did so during one of its first performances.
BAROQUE VERSION
Dec 11 & 12, 19:30; Holmens Kirke, Holmens Kanal 21, Cph K; 275kr, students 175kr; billetnet. dk or at the door This promises to be a distinguished performance! The Mogens Dahl Choir are this year singing Handel’s ‘Messiah’ to music performed by the London-based Age of Enlightenment baroque orchestra. Listen to the classic performed on instruments that you might not be familiar with – performed like it would have been in olden days.
CHAMBER CHOIR CAMERATA
Dec 18, 20 & 21, 19:30; Holmens Kirke, Holmens Kanal 21, Cph K; 245kr, billetnet.dk If some of the other performance times are too early for you, you can enjoy a performance closer to Christmas courtesy of the Chamber Choir Camerata. Founded in 1956, the choir consists of 25 experienced singers conducted by Jakob Hultberg. Every year their performances tend to attract lots of people, so be sure to buy your ticket soon!
AT COPENHAGEN CATHEDRAL
Dec 14, 19:30; Vor Frue Kirke, Nørregade 8, Cph K; 180kr There’s only one performance at Copenhagen Cathedral (also known as Vor Frue Kirke and Københavns Domkirke) this year. Sit back and enjoy as the Academic Orchestra of Copenhagen and the Academic Choir
fill the massive venue with Handel’s classic oratorio.
CONCERT ON STRØGET
Dec 16 & 17, 19:00; Strøget, Cph K; 195kr, under-12s free adm; billetnet.dk or at the door Handel’s ‘Messiah’ will be performed on the ‘shopping street’ by the Copenhagen Oratorio Choir. The soloists for this night will be soprano Signe Schreiber, mezzosoprano Johanne Højlund, tenor Jonathan Koppel and bass Jacob Vad. Students under 18 only pay 100kr.
SØBORG MOTET CHOIR
Dec 12, 15:00; Sions Kirke, Østerbrogade 192, Cph Ø; 100kr, under-15s free adm; sionskirke.dk or at the door The masterpiece will be performed by Søborg Motet Choir. Founded in 1942, the 50-member choir will be conducted by
Thomas Hovgaard. Soloists include soprano Nickie Johansson, mezzosoprano Johanne Højlund, tenor Peter Hindsberger and bass Rasmus Thomsen. Tickets available at the church’s office.
CAMERATA ØRESUND & PETER SPISSKY
Dec 10, 19:30, Herlufsholm Kirke, Næstved; Dec 12 19:30, Koncert Kirken Blågårdsplads 6A, Cph N; 120kr, billetto.dk Camerata Øresund and Peter Spissky’s rendition of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ is billed as probably the most authentic one in the city – as close to Handel’s version as you could get without travelling back in time to 1742! The instrumentalists and singers in this ensemble perform without a conductor, and they manage to do so effortlessly. For many, it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if you missed out.
CHRISTMAS
25 November - 8 December 2016
woods. You will also have an opportunity to find your perfect Christmas tree and take it home with you! Later on, you can warm yourself up with some gløgg and æbleskiver at the park.
IRISH CHRISTMAS
Open every day of Christmas, including late on Dec 24 & 25, kitchen open until 22:00; Irish Rover, Vimmelskaftet 46, Cph K; theirishrover.dk This Irish pub opens its doors on Christmas Eve and Day, offering a festive three-course menu for 259kr a head. Start with the winter vegetable soup, and for the main course you can choose between roasted turkey, cod, pasta or chicken salad and you then finish the night with a warm apple pie.
CHRISTMAS MINUS XMAS
Dec 24-25; Den Grå Hal (The Grey Hall), Christiania, Refeshalevej 2, Cph K
If a traditional Christmas is not your thing, enjoy an artistic and quirky Christmas-less Christmas instead! The Grey Hall serves up a wonderful meal and it’s the place to go if dinner with the family (or lack thereof ) is too hard a thought to handle. Celebrations are held over the 24th and 25th. No entry fee is required and the food is also free, but donations are gladly welcomed.
ANGLICAN CHRISTMAS
Dec 24, 12:00 & 23:30, Dec 25, 10:30; St Alban’s Church, Churchillparken 11, Cph K; stalbans.dk You can join St Alban’s Church to celebrate Christmas Eve at its Children’s Carol and Nativity Service at 12:00 or the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at 23:30. On the 25th, they celebrate with a Christmas Day Sung Eucharist starting at 10:30. All services are held in English.
CATHOLIC CHRISTMAS
Sankt Ansgars Church, Bregade 64, Cph K; 24 Dec at 16:00, 24 Dec midnight mass at 23:30, 25 Dec at 11:00; sanktansgar.dk The oldest Roman Catholic church in Copenhagen celebrates Christmas Eve with a mass on the 24th starting at 16:00, mostly intended for children and their families. The Pontifical Mass starts the same day at 23:30, including a special piece of music before the service.
RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS
services on Dec 28 & 29 and Jan 1 & 6; Bredgade 53, Cph K; ruskirke.dk The distinctive Alexander Nevskij church in the heart of Copenhagen will celebrate the birth of Jesus from December 28 to January 6. The services are offered in Slavic languages and Danish.
COPENHAGEN POST
MULTICULTURAL CHRISTMAS
Dec 24, 13:30-15:00; Copenhagen Christian Centre, Drejervej 11-21, Cph NV; copenhagenchristiancenter.dk The Copenhagen Christian Centre will hold its annual Christmas Eve Service for the whole family. You can join for snacks and hygge, and stay for the Christmas service afterwards, where you can sing together with the congregation!
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Nemlig.com Sourcing special ingredients for a Christmas meal can be hard, and in the old days, no table was complete without a backstreet forage in the likes of Vesterbro or Hellerup in your quest for all the trimmings. Fortunately these days, you don’t even need to leave the couch. Just visit Nemlig.com and peruse its 7,300-plus items. Every year in November they expand their range to ac-
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commodate Christmas, and they also include a wide range of vegan, gluten-free, organic and locally-produced products, as well as having collaborations with many of the best specialty shops in Denmark.
TGI FRIDAYS
Højbro Plads 5-7, Cph K; open daily 11:00-24:00; children’s menu: 59kr (main and soda), milkshakes 59kr, smoothies 49kr; tgifridays.dk From November 21 onwards, take advantage of the TGI Fridays Christmas menu, which offers a welcome drink, soft drink refills, an appetiser, a main, a dessert and hot beverage all for 400 kroner. And on Black Friday (Nov 25), the kitchen will be open until 23:00 for the latenight shoppers on Strøget.
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FESTIVAL 2016 This supplement was brought to you by The Post in association with the Chinese Embassy in Denmark
PUBLISHED: JANUARY 2016
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28 Feel the ‘hygge’ at Copenhagen’s Christmas markets CHRISTMAS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
ISTOCK
From Christiania and Carlsberg to Hamlet and HC Andersen, consumer contentment is guaranteed
25 November - 8 December 2016
ASHLEY SMALLEY
A
S WE APPROACH the darker days, these festivities will surely bring some light to this time of year. So bundle up and get cosy with some spiced gløgg and a warming atmosphere. Denmark is known for these annual markets, and Copenhagen is home to some of the best ones in the country. See what the city has to offer this time of year, and take a walk through what resembles a winter wonderland. The best around THERE are many markets around town to choose from, but how do you know which ones to check out? We’ve done our research, so read on to see what we recommend as the best markets happening this year. Whether you’re visiting Denmark or you live here, these markets will give you a true feel for a hyggelig Danish Christmas experience!
FAMILY XMAS MARKET
Nov 25-27, Fri 15:00-20:00, Sat 26 & Sun 27 Nov, 10:00-16:00; Bernstorff Slot, Jægersborg Alle 93, Gentofte; over-12s 75kr, under12s 25kr, under-3s free adm The organisers are promising a magical Christmas experience for the whole family – at these prices, it better be! Santa and his elves will be in attendance, along with 90 stalls selling the finest festive crafts, and musicians aplenty. This could be the Danish julehygge experience you’ve been looking for.
CHRISTMAS MARKET IN TIVOLI
Nov 19-Dec 31, open Sun-Thu 11:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 11:0000:00, Dec 24 11:00-16:00; Dec 25 11:00 - 23:00; Dec 31 11:00 - 00:30; Vesterbrogade 3, Cph K; entry: 120kr, under-8s free adm; tivoli.dk The city’s biggest Christmas market will teleport you into a fairytale. Besides the obvious rides and games, try the appetising culinary delicacies and hot drinks, get inspired by great gift ideas or just simply walk around an astonishing place that is always surrounded by laughter.
She’s got Christmas by the balls
THE ROYAL CHRISTMAS MARKET AT KRONBORG CASTLE
Dec 3-4 and 10-11, open 10:00-17:00; Kronborg Castle, Helsingør; 50kr; under-4s free adm; kongeligeslotte.dk The famous Hamlet Castle will be holding its annual Christmas market this December. Treat yourself like royalty and enjoy all of the magical Christmas festivities, such as horse-drawn carriage rides and watching the Fairy Tale Theatre in the great ballroom. Take the opportunity to find special, handmade Christmas products from the 100 stalls at the market as well as participate in gift-making workshops. Guided tours will also be provided for those who want to learn more about Christmas at Kronborg.
LYNGBY CHRISTMAS MARKET
Dec 3-4 & 10-11, open daily 10:00-16:00; Lyngby Nordre Mill, Lyngby Who said Tivoli was the only
themepark with a Christmas market?! Bakken, the oldest in the world (founded in 1583), is moving some of its Christmas stands to Lyngby.
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS MARKET IN HØJBRO PLADS
Nov 18-Dec 23, open Mon-Wed 11:00-19:00, Thu 11:00-20:00, Fri 11:00-21:00, Sat 10-21, Sun 11:00-18:00; Højbro Plads 9, Cph K; free adm; julemarked.nu Experience an old-fashioned Christmas like in the good old days with decorated trees, 80,000 sparkling lights, elves, reindeer and Santa’s sleigh. Don’t miss out on the delicious German barbeque sausage and gløgg.
CHRISTIANIA CHRISTMAS MARKET
Dec 9-20, open 12:00-20:00, last day 12:00-18:00; Grey Hall, Refshalevej 2, Christiania; christiania.org Every year during December, the Grey Hall in Christiania is
transformed into a Christmas market that offers untraditional experiences when you get tired of the crowded shopping malls. Instead, enjoy the cosy and warm atmosphere, gløgg with less familiar flavours and the pleasant smell of roasted almonds.
DRAGØR CHRISTMAS MARKET
Dec 3, open advent weekends 10:00-16:00; Dragør Borgerforening; free adm This is the 25th year of this special Christmas market, and one you don’t want to miss. Since 2014, the Dragør Christmas Market has been celebrating with a “time travel” theme that they borrowed from “Tidsrejsen,” the DR1 julekalendar TV program. Enjoy the charm of the beautifully decorated Borgerforeningen hall, while sipping on mulled wine and tasting the markets classic fritters. There is also the opportunity to take part in the Santa lottery. Along with the various stalls selling Christmas
hearts, woolen goods, and traditional tree decorations, join in on all of the different Christmas festivities that Dragør has to offer.
DESIGN XMAS MARKET
Dec 2-4, Fri 12:00-19:00, Sat & Sun 12:00-17:00; Victoria Ceramic Studio, Vesterbrogade 24B, Cph V; free adm Normally the home of six potters, Viktoria Ceramic Studio will for the sixth year in a row transform into a shopping wonderland where you can purchase goodies such as Copenhagen’s finest ceramics, jewellery, leather, knitwear and more unique items. Source sample products that you will not be able to find anywhere else, including work by designers such as Kasper Kasper and Tina Marie, while CPH Handmade offers exquisite ceramic products. As well as shopping, you can visit the cosy café and enjoy some fresh pastries, hot drinks, and mulled wine.
CHRISTMAS
25 November - 8 December 2016
ØSTERBRO’S HYGGELIGSTE XMAS MARKET
Dec 3-4, 10:00-16:00 (Santa 13:00); Remisen, Blegdamsvej 132, Cph Ø; 10kr; under 16s free adm Named by Antik & Auktion magazine as one of Copenhagen’s best, the Christmas edition of the well-known flea market will serve up countless possibilities for presents. As the organisers proudly proclaim, it’s the “market where people meet”.
HC ANDERSEN XMAS MARKET
Nov 18-Dec 22, open daily 11:0019:00; Fri-Sat 11-20:00; Axel Torv, Cph K; julemarked.co After a successful opening year in 2014, the carousels are returning to the centre of Copenhagen. So jump onboard HC Andersen or Santa Claus – all kids’ ages are catered to.
HAVESELSKABETS HAVE CHRISTMAS MARKET
Nov 19-20, open 11:00-17:00; Frederiksberg Runddel 1, Frederiksberg
This gorgeous Christmas market in Haveselskabets Garden is a lovely tradition that attracts thousands of people every year. It specialises in unique crafts, greenery from the garden and lots of materials to make your own decorations from!
NYHAVN CHRISTMAS MARKET
Nov 11-Dec 23, open SunThur 11:00-19:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-20:00; Nyhavn, Cph K; markedskalendaren.dk Can you imagine a more beautiful place in Copenhagen for a Christmas market than Nyhavn? Swing by the charming harbour and taste local treats such as æbleskriver and gløgg, whilst listening to traditional Danish Christmas hits.
CARLSBERG XMAS MARKET
Dec 2-4, 10:00-17:00; Visit Carlsberg, amle Carlsberg Vej 11, Cph V Hop aboard for what is probably the best Christmas market ever arranged for dad. Sample special beer, stock up on your festive
brew and tick off the chore of buying a tree while you’re nicely sozzled. And if your kids behave, treat them to a horse-drawn carriage and æbelskiver.
VESTERBRO XMAS PARTY
Nov 27 15:00-17:00; Enghaveparken, Cph V Wrap up warm and head over to the park to decorate recycled Christmas trees. Your reward is risengrød bubbling away with festive spirit, music, dancing and, if you’re lucky, Santa might grant you a wish.
FLID’S XMAS MARKET
Dec 3-Dec 4, 11:00-17:00; Nørrebrohallen, Cph N; over12s 30kr, under-12s free adm: flidmarked.com Entrepreneurs, craftsmen and other exhibitors will be selling their one-off knick-knacks. Prints, jewellery and ceramics will heavily feature. Cards and Mobilepay accepted! Check the website for a list of the 100-odd stall holders.
NORWEGIAN XMAS MARKET
Nov 25-27, Fri 25 Nov, 14:0019:00, Sat 26 Nov, 11:00-16:00 & Sun 27 Nov, 12:00-16:00; Sjømannskirken, Ved Mønten 9, Cph S; 10kr Enjoy Norwegian delicacies at this bazaar. The festivities include a performance by the King Haakon Church Choir (Sat 14:00) and a liturgy to mark the first Sunday of Advent (Sun 11:00). Enjoy pinnekjøtt, lutefisk, cookies, waffles and more.
KADK XMAS MARKET
Nov 29, 10:00-17:00; Philip De Langes Allé 10, Cph K; free adm; kadk.dk/en Every year the students and employees at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation (KADK) sell their own creations such as sculptures, Christmas decorations, jewellery, ceramics, prints and paintings – stuff they’ve made during their studies. Don’t forget to bring cash.
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BAGHUSDK XMAS MARKET
Dec 13-14 & 20-21, 10:0016:00; Vesterbrogade 107B, Cph V; free adm The Danish furniture, ceramics and jewellery designers at BaghusDK sell prototypes, discontinued goods, samples and exhibition products – all of their own creation. Look out for the discounts in their big Christmas sale and check out their range on the Facebook page.
CHRISTMAS AT KØDBYEN (MEATPACKING DISTRICT)
Dec 10-11, 10:00-18:00; Kødbyen, Flæsketorvet, Cph V; koedbyensmadogmarked.dk An event at Kødbyen always ensures a down-to-earth yet edgy urban atmosphere. Enjoy a weekend in the food district filled with churros and sandwiches as well as many Christmas dishes and treats. There will also be lots of live music to enjoy while sipping your hot cocoa.
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CHRISTMAS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
The early Christmas gift that keeps on giving Crazy Christmas Cabaret presents ‘Shakin’ Up Sherwood’ MAGNUSSEN RASMUSSEN
ongoing, ends Jan 12, Mon-Sat 19:30; Tivoli Glassalen, Cph K; 150-375kr, billetlugen.dk
I
T WAS A thunderous reception that greeted Vivienne McKee when she stepped out onto the stage on premiere night at Tivoli’s Glassalen.
ld
Two merry newcomers NEWCOMER Jefferson Bond plays the leading man in tights, and his portrayal is more akin to the Disney version of the character, rather than Errol Flynn. He has a love of poetry and we learn that his reputation as a killer may be slightly exaggerated. He is joined by his trusty companion Little John, played by another newcomer, Christopher Smart, who with his Scottish accent steals the limelight on many occasions. Pay particular attention to his juggling and banjo-playing skills which are a delight! With the action taking place predominantly in a forest, this
Hasse Ferrold
Hasse Ferro
A seasonal institution FOR THE past 18 years, the iconic building has been the home of McKee & Co’s annual Crazy Christmas Cabaret, a show that has as little to do with Christmas as Coca Cola, but to many has become a mainstay of the festive season. Incredibly, this year’s ‘Shakin’ Up Sherwood’ is the 34th edition of the show – a truly impressive run and one which, judging by a jam-packed Glassalen, does not appear to be ending anytime soon. With each year’s show revolving around a central theme, ‘Shakin’ Up Sherwood’ takes on the legend of Robin Hood, the 13th century fictional British outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Being the Crazy Christmas Cabaret however, expect a loose and silly interpretation of the story, sprinkled with a healthy dose of risqué humour, dazzling costumes, well-choreographed musical sequences and, crucially, plenty of improvisation!
thing stick together, and he has a real affinity with the audience.
Thomas Petri year sees the return of the character Legoklods from 2006’s ‘Bored of the Rings’. He is played by audience favourite Bennet Thorpe, whose physicality on stage makes for a very funny interpretation of the famous movie elf. Trump’s big role AS IS CUSTOMARY, McKee includes in her script satirical nods and references to events that have taken place within the last year. Mentions of Brexit, Morten Messerschmidt and Iceland’s heroics at the Euros are seamlessly woven into the story. The biggest news of the year, unless you have been living under a rock, has undoubtedly been Donald Trump’s ascendency to the highest office in
the US. It comes as little surprise then, that the villain of the show, the Sheriff of Nottingham, is based on the president elect. Only here his name isn’t Trump, but Rump: Ronald Rump to be exact! His evil plans include building a great big wall around Nottingham and making the foreigners pay for it (sound familiar?). Rump is played by David Bateson – a Crazy Christmas stalwart – who gives his best impression of the infamous New Yorker. Dressed to thrill NO SHOW is complete without a strong female cast, and as is to be expected, McKee and Katrine Falkenberg both deliver
solid performances. McKee transitions perfectly between her characters, from ditsy blonde Alania D’Ell (who hails from Slovenianka) to everybody’s favourite Danish detective, Dr Van Helsingør from Elsinore! Falkenberg is known for her powerful vocals, and in portraying Lady Marion she is given free licence to showcase her skills. Finally, a special mention must go to Andrew Jeffers who barely needs an introduction. He has donned elaborate costumes and taken on impossible-to-remember, long names a staggering 19 times in his role as ‘the Dame’. He is the glue that makes every-
Stunning finish all round THE STRENGTH of the show has always been its characters, but it is important to remember that a great amount of work has gone into these productions. A special mention must therefore go to Kirsten Brink, who year after year has designed the sets and extravagant costumes that feature in the Crazy Christmas Cabaret. Throughout the night, the audience was ever-present, laughing and interacting every step of the way. It is remarkable how the show does not simply cater to one specific demographic. Here pensioners rub shoulders with giggling teens, tweens, singles, couples, Danes and foreigners – to name but a few. As they left Glassalen three hours after they entered, it was clear that Vivienne and her merry gang had done it once again – the Crazy Christmas Cabaret is the gift that keeps on giving!
CHRISTMAS
25 November - 8 December 2016
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Taking the hygge dial all the way up to eleven BEN HAMILTON
OLE SCHULTZE HENRIKSEN
Everyone’s invited to the International House Copenhagen and CPH POST’s event ‘Christmas Coziness’ on December 15
L
OATHED as we are to start yet another piece with a mention of the ‘hygge’ phenomenon, there’s no denying it’s been a breakout year for this quintessentially Danish feeling of contentment, which has been the subject of countless books and media scrutiny in 2016. In mid-November, it lost out to ‘post-truth’ as the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year, which described it as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)”. A victim of timing, some might say. Had the vote been post-Christmas instead of postpresidential election, it would have stood a much better chance of winning.
Hygge times ten AFTER all, nothing can compete with ‘julehygge’ when it’s in full song, contends Vivienne McKee, the founder of the Crazy Christmas Cabaret and CPH POST columnist. “Julehygge consists of julemad, julebryg, julepynt, julegaver, julenisser, julesang, juleschnapps and the firm’s Christmas party, which is known as the julefrokost,” she explained in her column last December. “These office parties involve And suddenly the head of the Santa Lucia procession burst into flames ... who put the foreigner in charge of the pyrotechnics? all of the above to excess, and often end a day or a week later. Julehygge is hygge times ten!” this festive dynamite presents Danes, your julehygge experi- since 2013, it is converting its Anglophone Christmas songs. Along with fun activities for when it’s placed in the wrong ence runs the risk of ending in downstairs reception room into Festive dynamite a big fat ‘julebugger’. hands. a festive fantasy land of snowy the children, the actor Ian Burns THE MOST important thing to Turn the hygge dial up too roads, spiced shortbread and will be popping by to give us a know about julehygge, therefore, high at Christmas time and you Requires expert help pleated paper hearts to host the festive performance or two, as is isn’t its impenetrable definition, risk serious overheating. This NOBODY knows better how event ‘Christmas Coziness’ on the big man in red and white, or its alarming tendency to be could be anything from lighting important it is to help interna- Thursday December 15 at 5 pm. with his ever-giving sack of the cause of everything good too many candles or outdoor tionals settling in Denmark to goodies. and solution to everything bad. gas heaters to setting fire to your acclimatise to local ways than In- More the merrier Christmas tree or the hair of the ternational House Copenhagen. EVERYONE is welcome providNo, it’s the leader of the Santa Lucia incendiary As the go-to centre for help ing you register beforehand on procession. danger with your CPR number and resi- IHC’s homepage at ihcph.kk.dk. Without dency paperwork, employment Bring family, friends and colexpert guid- prospects and leisure possibili- leagues – the more the merrier, CHRISTMAS COZINESS ance ties, it has become a permanent particularly as it is free entry. • Dec 15, 17:00-19:00; Interfrom favourite among the foreign conA number of activities await national House Copenhagen, the tingent, and now it is turning its you, including creating your Gyldenløvesgade 11, Cph V; attention to julehygge. own decorations, tasting some free adm, register at ihcph. In collaboration with CPH Danish biscuits and singing kk.dk POST, itself a resident at IHC along to traditional Danish and
32 NEWS
THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK
25 November - 8 December 2016
Restaurant Hercegovina in Frederiksberg invites you to
THE YEAR’S MOST FESTIVE COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY The party starts at 5pm We have the recipe for the perfect evening – all we’re missing is you • Welcome drink • Deluxe Christmas buffet, with all that entails, all spiced up with our own Croatian specialities • Ris a l’amande for dessert, with coffe and a glass of cognac/liqueur • Beer and mineral-water, along with selected wines, served ad libitum throughout the evening • A genuine gypsy band • Belly dancer • Attentive waiters • Thank you and goodnight at 23:00
Deluxe Chri stmas buffet
5p 95DKK er per
son, including VA T
We stoke up the grill and make sure that the glasses are always full!
Order now on 33 15 63 63 Restaurant Hercegovina Mørk Hansens Vej 2 · 2000 Frederiksberg · Tlf. 33 15 63 63 · www.hercegovina.dk