Danish Royal Family Christmas: 2003, 2004, 2006-2014, 2016-2023

[Muhler]

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/1-december
(Here also in English.)

Our Nisse-family again this year.

They have been sleeping since last Christmas in a chandelier, it's hard work being a Nisse, you know...
When they were rudely awakened by the chandelier being cleaned.
What a commotion!
Seeking refuge from all that activity on the balcony they learn that Amalienborg is busy due to QMII's upcoming Golden Jubilee.

So Nissemor and Nissefar (You might just as well learn the Danish names, eh? Rush up to attic to find their children.)

 

[Prinsara]

This is the best time of year.

My gosh, when will the Queen have time to put in an appearance in this one?

 

[iceflower]

December 2:

"The elves (..) hold a family reunion in the attic and agree that they will find the Christmas angel. Maybe the angel can help the four little puppets become wiser about the Royal House's 1000-year history?"

** instagram post **

 

[Lady Daly]

Wonderful fun to see the Queen and the Nisse family getting a start on what appears to be an historical Christmas this year! ?

 

[eya]

And today 3 December! The Nisse-family go to the stable!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXArSC2jYlZ/

 

[Muhler]

Yes, to Christiansborg in fact. (Perhaps they went by bus?)
Christiansborg is the seat of the Parliament, but it's also royal representation and the royal stables are located here as well. And this is where we find our Nisser today.

They hope to hitch a ride for Frederiksborg Palace, which is today the seat of the National Archive. Because Nissefar struck a deal with the Christmas-angel, who lives at Frederiksborg, that he could have an eleven week long nap after Christmas, provided he stayed up to date in regards to the line of Danish monarchs - but he's become a little rusty, and now wish to brush up on who they were and in what order.

The Nisseboy has been working in the stables for a while, so he knows all the hiding places for the family, so that they can get to Frederiksborg unnoticed.
Because the horses and carriages are regularly taken for a ride through Copenhagen to get some air and practice the commotion. - And perhaps they ride all the way to Frederiksborg?

See here in English:
https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/3-december

I find it interesting that DRF also publish these daily stories in English. There appears to have been some considerable foreign interest for this little tradition. - And who knows perhaps some of QMII's colleagues follow the journey of our Nisse-family as well?
Most are no doubt familiar with her quirky story-telling.

 

[eya]

Today 4 December!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXDZTZzgvi_/

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/4-december

And today 5 December!

"To reach the top of Frederiksborg Palace’s big tower, you have to climb 165 steps, give or take a few. That goes for both humans and elves! Up on top, the slightly breathless Royal House elves find the palace’s carillon, which is Denmark’s oldest concert carillon with a total of 28 bells...."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXF-ZK9g5wV/

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/5-december

 

[iceflower]

The Crown Prince Family has decorated the Christmas tree and "wishes a happy second Sunday in Advent with this little video made by Her Royal Highness Princess Josephine":


** instagram post **

 

[polyesco]

Love that Josephine made the video! Excellent song choice. Just lovely the way the kids have participated in some Instagram posts as they gotten older.

 

[Tarlita]

Yes, to Christiansborg in fact. (Perhaps they went by bus?)
Christiansborg is the seat of the Parliament, but it's also royal representation and the royal stables are located here as well. And this is where we find our Nisser today.

They hope to hitch a ride for Frederiksborg Palace, which is today the seat of the National Archive. Because Nissefar struck a deal with the Christmas-angel, who lives at Frederiksborg, that he could have an eleven week long nap after Christmas, provided he stayed up to date in regards to the line of Danish monarchs - but he's become a little rusty, and now wish to brush up on who they were and in what order.

The Nisseboy has been working in the stables for a while, so he knows all the hiding places for the family, so that they can get to Frederiksborg unnoticed.
Because the horses and carriages are regularly taken for a ride through Copenhagen to get some air and practice the commotion. - And perhaps they ride all the way to Frederiksborg?

See here in English:

I find it interesting that DRF also publish these daily stories in English. There appears to have been some considerable foreign interest for this little tradition. - And who knows perhaps some of QMII's colleagues follow the journey of our Nisse-family as well?
Most are no doubt familiar with her quirky story-telling.

This is always an enjoyable time of year, hearing about the exploits of the Little Nisse.
Many Thanks Muhler for keeping us up to date. I love your Danish traditions.


Many Thanks to you also Eya for your contributions. I always appreciate your posts about the Little Nisse.

 

[eya]

Today 6 December the calendar continue!!


"The elves have spent most of the night trying to become wiser about what the Christmas Angel meant by “a red thread runs through it all, and you need to find out where it begins.” Elf Mother has no doubt that it has something to do with needlework. Just like Her Majesty The Queen, she likes to create things with needle and thread – and preferably something with red."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXIZFs4AE_Z/

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/6-december

 

[Lady Daly]

Today 6 December the calendar continue!!


"The elves have spent most of the night trying to become wiser about what the Christmas Angel meant by “a red thread runs through it all, and you need to find out where it begins.” Elf Mother has no doubt that it has something to do with needlework. Just like Her Majesty The Queen, she likes to create things with needle and thread – and preferably something with red."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXIZFs4AE_Z/

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/6-december

Those elves are so clever!
"Therefore, the red cardboard elves have found their way to Bjørn Nørgaard’s sketches of the 17 Gobelins that were woven and hung up in the Great Hall at Christiansborg Palace at the beginning of this millennium. The wall tapestries were a gift to The Queen in connection with Her Majesty’s 50th birthday in 1990, and today they make up one of the largest representations of Denmark’s history on tapestries. In colorful imagery, the Gobelins interweave scenes of historical events, kings and queens with objects, symbols and ornaments typical of the various periods.

So, this must be the perfect place to become wiser about the Royal Lineage, which stretches back more than 1000 years in time. But the elves soon run into problems – because who are all the many persons depicted on the tapestries? The Christmas Angel says the tapestries are divided into different time periods: the Viking Era, the early and late Middle Ages, the Reformation, the aristocratic regime, the early and late absolute monarchy, the late 1800s, the Second World War, the present and the future. But all four of the elves agree – this doesn’t make them any wiser.

Suddenly, Elf Father thinks that he might be able to find the beginning of the red thread in the first tapestry. That’s to say, the one about the Viking Era. With hopeful eyes, he looks at the Christmas Angel and asks, “How can I find out about that?”

“Fly with me to Kongernes Jelling, the Home of the Viking Kings, and let’s begin a Christmas journey there!”

Pictures of the tapestries
https://bjoernnoergaard.dk/en/works/kunst-i-det-faelles-rum/tapestries-queen-denmark-gobelin

 

[eya]

Today 7 December!

"The sun has just risen up over the Danish landscape when Elf Father and the Christmas Angel land on top of the Jelling monuments, which consist of two rune stones that the Viking kings Gorm the Old and his son Harald Bluetooth erected in the 900s."


https://www.instagram.com/p/CXK_62KgV19/


https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/7-december

Today 8 December!!

"When Elf Father gets near a ship, a boat or even an inflatable swimming ring, he gets seasick. So, it has always been problematic when he, as a Royal House elf, has sailed on the Royal Yacht Dannebrog. Thus, Elf Father’s excitement is not the greatest when the Christmas Angel introduces him to five original Viking ships found decades ago in Roskilde Fjord. All five of the ships are from the late Viking Era – that is, just after the end of the first millennium, and it was shortly after the time when the Viking kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth erected the two rune stones in Jelling, which Elf Father visited yesterday."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXNjaF8gTQD/


https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/8-december

 

[Muhler]

Svend Tveskæg = Forkbeard is considered the last true Viking king of Denmark, because he worked for a return to the "old ways" of conquest and raids and glory on the battlefield. Rather than his father Harald Bluetooth, who saw the writing on the wall and knew that Denmark had to become an accepted member of the European Christian kingdoms, in order to survive in the long run as a nation.
So Bluetooth was progressive, while Forkbeard was regressive, so to speak.
Anyway, for the last of the 1000's and through the 1100's Denmark became a "modern" country with a centralized government and administration - the king.
By 1200 that system was well established and Christianity was finally becoming the dominant religion in DK and this is where a century of civil war and feuds within the same extended family took place for what branch of the then DRF should sit on the throne.
It culminated with the most famous assassination in Danish history, the murder of King Erik Klipping in 1286.
The political chaos following that assassination led to what must be considered an agreement between all the feuding factions that this simply cannot go on! It's will only lead to chaos and a constant and expensive spiral of conflict and murder. - And Denmark has enough external enemies to worry about as well. The Vendoles and Norwegians were raiding the Danish coasts.

So Erik Klipping ended up being the last Danish king to be assassinated.

The story about his assassination is a thriller in it's own right!

 

[eya]

Today 9 December!!

"The Christmas Angel has taken a tired Elf Father under her blue wings and flown him to a large, open field situated by the town of Thorning in Central Jutland. Elf Father has not been able to sleep all night, as the Christmas Angel suggested yesterday that today could end up being rather bloody - and that says quite a lot when the elf and the angel have spent time the past few days in the company of Vikings!"

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXQHhxFA-3Y/


https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/9-december

 

[Muhler]

The monument seen in the photos marks the approximate place of the Battle of Grade Moor. King Svend was killed during the rout after his defeat to King Valdemar.
The pretenders all called themselves king, so we had at some point no less than three kings.

A peculiar thing about Danish monarchs who were either killed in battle or assassinated is that they were always buried locally.
If they died from natural causes or accidents they were taken somewhere else for burial.

Why that is so, is a mystery. Perhaps it had something to do with old superstition? Perhaps it was an ancients custom that has long since been forgotten? Perhaps it was to prevent the soul of the dead king becoming a ghost?

So King Svend was also buried nearby after being killed.

 

[Prinsara]

Perhaps one of them will be found in a parking lot, or are they all accounted for?

 

[Muhler]

Perhaps one of them will be found in a parking lot, or are they all accounted for?

Yes, no surprises waiting there.
IIRC Svend was buried at Viborg Cathedral. Not far from the battlefield.

 

[eya]

Today 10 December!!

"With only two weeks left until Christmas Eve, Elf Father is more than busy, because there’s still more than 800 years of history that must fall into place before he can celebrate Christmas with the Elf Family at Amalienborg. Thus, Elf Father and the Christmas Angel have arrived in Denmark’s oldest city, Ribe, where the two friends land in the area where the old royal castle Riberhus once stood. It was many, many years ago that kings and queens lived here, but the Christmas Angel says there was a high level of activity at the castle in the Middle Ages.."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXSsSD7D-ny/

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/10-december

 

[Muhler]

There is a medieval poem about Queen Dagmar, mentioned in the text.
The title is: Queen Dagmar lies in Ribe ill.

From memory: No one dared to tell the King that Queen Dagmar was dying or at least in serious danger. (The kings at the time was constantly on the move throughout the realm, so he was quite a distance away.) So they send a boy. They fearful boy couldn't utter a word, but the King knew instinctively when he saw the boy and rushed out and jumped on his horse.
100 men followed him, but when he came to Ribe gate, there was only the King, the rest had been left behind unable to keep up with the desperate King.
But, oh voe, he was too late. Queen Dagmar had just died.

- She died after giving birth and quite young.
It's a sweet poem about royal love and a devoted king. Queen Dagmar, who came from Bohemia, was presented as a ideal virtuous Catholic woman.

I'd say that this year, clearly has QMII's thumbprints all over it!
This is for someone, who really know Danish history and for those who listened at school when they taught about the Danish monarchs; The Line of Kings as it was called. That was mandatory in school until the 70's. I was so fortunate to have a very good and also traditional Danish teacher, who taught about old Danish and Scandinavian literature. Including this delightful story.

ADDED:
It so happens that a YouTube channel I follow, about an American family settling in DK, has posted this video about the town of Ribe today:

 

[eya]

Today 11 December!

"It may well be that it’s December and that Christmas is right around the corner. But, for Elf Father, this Christmas is not like it normally is, with Christmas coziness, banter and relaxation at the royal palaces. Instead, he’s on a Christmas journey through the Royal Lineage, fighting against time before Christmas Eve and the 50th anniversary of The Queen’s accession to the throne next month. The old royal castle Koldinghus is the next destination on the journey. Elf Father and the Christmas Angel land in the castle garden, where a Christmas market in underway."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXVV4d0AG_n/

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/11-december

 

[Muhler]

Koldinghus is located, surprise, in the town of Kolding, where one leg of the Royal Run will be held next year.
Historically it's one of the most important castles in Denmark. Lots of things, especially political, happened there. Latest in 1809 or so, where a part of the castle burned down. It so happened that Denmark joined Napoleon after the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807 by a British expeditionary force.
Before that in 1801 there had been the Battle of Copenhagen, where Nelson put the spyglass in front of his blind eye.
Those two things combined led to a state of war between Britain and Denmark, who at that time had been at peace for at least 500 years, quite astonishing in European context.
So Napoleon dispatched troops to DK to help fend up additional British expeditions. Those troops were mainly Spanish. And they were not accustomed to the cold and gloom of the North! And one night in 1809 they turned the heat up way to high in one of the castle's medieval fireplaces with the result that it suddenly got very warm!

Koldinghus was actually a ruin until fairly recently, when it has been carefully restored, but in such a way that you can clearly see what is original and what is the modern restoration.
The place is always worth a visit for anyone remotely interested in history.

The Spanish garrison in Koldinghus wasn't the only one. There were Spanish troops stationed in several places in the general area. Including on some of the many islands nearby. And there is a sweet account from a vicar's wife from that period, telling how she found her kitchenmaid sobbing. She had become pregnant with a Spanish soldier. That wasn't her greatest worry though, but instead how was she to understand the child when it was born, she couldn't speak Spanish.

Eventually Spain switched sides and the Spanish troops were evacuated by British ships. That included a cavalry detachment. But the horses had to be left behind on the beach.
And there is a most remarkable account by a British navy officer of what has been known as the Horse Battle at (can't remember the place off hand).
Cavalry horses, especially heavy cavalry horses, were stallions - they are bigger, stronger and naturally aggressive.
These stallions were left on the beach, and in an enclosure nearby were some mares and the horses started fighting among themselves for the right to these mares. But in cavalry style.
The horses formed up in squadrons as they were used to, formed a broad attack line, with the horse normally ridding by the officers in front and then they charged each other.
Cavalry horses were trained to fight, in addition to their natural aggressiveness, so they kicked with front and hindlegs and bit each other.
After a brief fight, they retreated, reformed their line and charged each other again.
That happened several times and in the end several dead and wounded horses were seen lying on the beach.

- You will see it sometimes with horses of the Guards Hussars here in DK. They know what to do, being well-trained.
When they hear a signal by the trumpet they react instantly to that signal, - regardless of what their silly conscript rider think they should...
And when they form up in a line, it's sometimes the horses who form the line - correctly - and not the riders.

 

[eya]

Today 12 December!!

"The calendar candles have now burned halfway down, and it’s the third Sunday in Advent. At this time of December, Elf Father and the whole Elf Family are used to tiptoeing around Amalienborg and keeping up with the Christmas preparations that are made. But, this year, Elf Father is on a long Christmas journey and, instead, the little cardboard elf all of a sudden finds himself in front of the Goose Tower at Vordingborg. The 26-meter-high tower is the only remnant of the city’s once-mighty Middle Ages royal castle, which had a total of nine towers of the same size."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXYAILmgYVZ/

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/12-december


"The Christmas mood is spreading. Happy third Sunday in Advent �� �� ��

- The Crown Prince's family."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXZCCeLg1ry/

 

[Muhler]

The Goose Tower.

The weather-bane in the form of a goose was to mock the Hanseatic League, who used IIRC an eagle as coat of arms.

The Hanseatic League was a union of many towns and cities, at the time completely dominating the trade in northern Europe. It was actually a very successful precursor to the European Union today and in a number of ways worked in a similar manner - just more heavy handed.

King Valdemar Atterdag, who was the formidable father to the even more formidable QMI, was like most kings in northern Europe not particularly happy with the Hanseatic League. Too much power, too much influence and too much money.
The Hanseatic League eventually fell. Very simplified because there were too many conflicting interest in a trade-empire that lacked the means of fast communication and a central political control, that could react fast to problems and not least check that things were done according to what was decided.
At the same time the neighboring kingdoms, DK being one of them, had matured and evolved into states with centralist governments and a proper tax-collecting system. They didn't have the money the Hanseatic League had, but they had man-power and determination and they shared a deep resentment of the Hanseatic League with other kings.
Merchants are not happy about wars, it's bad for business. And fighting a war in one end of the Hanseatic League, while feeling under threat locally, wasn't that palatable.
At the same time the Hanseatic council, representing almost 200 towns and cities couldn't agree and whether it was day or night.
So the league fell. - It's interesting to speculate what would have happened had the League somehow survived, just for five hundred years.

Back to King Valdemar Atterdag. Atterdag means something like "day again" or "a new dawn."
DK had, due to a disastrous policy, ended up pretty much being pawned away and for eight years we really didn't have a ruling king.
This culminated in the killing of the Bald Count. One of the most successful special forces operations in Northern Europe ever. (I've described what happened elsewhere here in the DRF section.) In contrast to popular belief, typical warfare in medieval times was not battles, they were actually pretty rare. One or two per campaign at most. Raids and sieges and sometimes special forces operations were much more common.

Due to a lot of hard work and determination and not always by fair means King Valdemar managed to get Denmark together again as a realm under a Danish king. The Hanseatic League had no problems with that, as long as someone was in control of DK. - Danish waters were notoriously pirate-infested. And as long as the Danish king adhered to their trade-conditions and paid them.
That was of course unacceptable to King Valdemar, so war was declared.
- A very critical situation actually!

But combined with political instability within the Hanseatic League and the Danish navy doing what it has always done when threatened from the south. I.e. blockading the nearest and richest Hanseatic towns and cutting off the trade links, Denmark prevailed.

Combined with the (German) Bald Count ending up with an axe in his head - in his bed! Inside a castle and despite having a large retinue with him and a small army within a days march. And the trade links in risk of being cut off anytime, there was a general lack of enthusiasm of taking over the place - might result in a serious and permanent splitting headache...
They are pretty much still savages up there!

They got the message: Leave Scandinavia to the Scandinavians.

 

[Izzie]

Wonderful photos from the CP Family for the 3rd Sunday in Advent. Gorgeous decor.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXZCCeLg1ry/?utm_medium=copy_link

Beautiful photos taken by Mary on her evening walk..with Grace making an appearance. She's a great photographer!

https://www.facebook.com/detdanskekongehus/posts/470077591156790

 

[An Ard Ri]

What a beautiful decorations and also a very lovely church from Crown Princes Mary's photos.

 

[eya]

Today 13 December!!


"“Why do we have to look at dresses?” exclaims Elf Father, a little perplexed, when the Christmas Angel shows him a golden dress that has been on display in a showcase at Christiansborg Palace in recent times. In his wildest fantasy, Elf Father had not imagined that the next clue about former sovereigns in the Royal Lineage would be an article of clothing."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXabSI_j5dK/

https://www.kongehuset.dk/julekalender-2021/13-december

 

[iceflower]

To mark today's Lucia Day (December 13) the Palace has released some photos of Princesses Margrethe and Benedikte taken in 1944. The Lucia celebration has its origins in Sweden:

"During the German occupation in 1944, the first public Lucia procession took place in Denmark, and at the same time Princesses Margrethe and Benedikte together with their mother, Crown Princess Ingrid, helped to introduce the celebration of Santa Lucia in Denmark as Lucia bride and star boy respectively":


** instagram post **

 

[Muhler]

The Lucia processions is a pretty big thing in DK, but in Sweden it's huge!

We only use one song.
In Sweden they have an entire repertoire.

Here are a couple of pics.
And because we prefer living on the edge here in DK, we have a preference for placing live candles on the heads of the girls. - That'll teach 'em to walk slow.
https://cdn.nord.bazo.dk/images/65f19aaa-b7da-4b0f-9959-36d404a410bb/d/16-9/s/2000
https://bt.bmcdn.dk/media/cache/resolve/image_1240/image/141/1410275/23288851-lucia.jpg

We are also a little oldfashioned. The Lucia brides here are almost exclusively girls of the female kind.

In Sweden they do things slightly different. They also include different headgear that, on the face of it, could resemble a certain tripple-letter association. But rest assured, it is not.
Pointy headgear are not uncommon in traditional religious processions.
As well as what appears to be a kind of fairy-wands.
Perhaps one of our resident Swedes can explain?
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c7/bf/cd/c7bfcdcec13b4b48035d3abbdce5b06f.jpg
https://si.se/app/uploads/2019/12/lucia_aberdeen.jpg

The Lucia processions stems from a Catholic custom, I'm led to believe. But for whatever reason it managed to survive in the Nordic and very Protestant countries.

 

[TLLK]

The Lucia processions is a pretty big thing in DK, but in Sweden it's huge!

We only use one song.
In Sweden they have an entire repertoire.

Here are a couple of pics.
And because we prefer living on the edge here in DK, we have a preference for placing live candles on the heads of the girls. - That'll teach 'em to walk slow.
https://cdn.nord.bazo.dk/images/65f19aaa-b7da-4b0f-9959-36d404a410bb/d/16-9/s/2000
https://bt.bmcdn.dk/media/cache/resolve/image_1240/image/141/1410275/23288851-lucia.jpg

We are also a little oldfashioned. The Lucia brides here are almost exclusively girls of the female kind.

In Sweden they do things slightly different. They also include different headgear that, on the face of it, could resemble a certain tripple-letter association. But rest assured, it is not.
Pointy headgear are not uncommon in traditional religious processions.
As well as what appears to be a kind of fairy-wands.
Perhaps one of our resident Swedes can explain?
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c7/bf/cd/c7bfcdcec13b4b48035d3abbdce5b06f.jpg
https://si.se/app/uploads/2019/12/lucia_aberdeen.jpg

The Lucia processions stems from a Catholic custom, I'm led to believe. But for whatever reason it managed to survive in the Nordic and very Protestant countries.

Muhler-Tak for the photos and the information on the difference between Danish and Swedish Lucia traditions. You Danes do live on the edge with those live candles but they're so lovely with their soft glow. The LED ones just don't have the same warmth IMO but I can understand why many don't wish to place a crown with live flames on their daughter's head these days. . I especially love the last photos with the older kids/young adults in their Lucia robes and Converse sneakers. ?