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

[eya]

And the Christmas Journey begins!! Enjoy it!!!

"The countdown to Christmas Eve has begun, and in the basement under Frederiks VIII's Palace at Amalienborg, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine begin the Christmas month by making a calendar candle decoration"


https://www.instagram.com/p/ClnU8Xkj-vx/

 

[Tarlita]

As this thread is about Christmas, I hope I can put this here. It is Thursday night and I am about to watch, Europes Greatest Christmas Markets, exploring the festive cheer in Copenhagen. The ads for this have looked really good. So I will be thinking of our Danish friends while I watch it. Cheers.
It was a great show - great hygge.

 

[polyesco]

And the Christmas Journey begins!! Enjoy it!!!

"The countdown to Christmas Eve has begun, and in the basement under Frederiks VIII's Palace at Amalienborg, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine begin the Christmas month by making a calendar candle decoration"


https://www.instagram.com/p/ClnU8Xkj-vx/

Vincent and Josephine are just too cute. And I guess the candle is going to the Queen.
"When the 11-year-old twins have finished the Christmas decorations, Princess Josephine asks:
- Who do you think we should give it to?

To which Prince Vincent replies:
- Don't you think grandma wants it? I think she really likes these beautiful colors. There is a lot of explosion in everything possible"

https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongeli...ns-vincent-giver-farmor-den-soedeste-julegave

 

[Prinsara]

I'm not sure I understand "explosion" in this context, although they definitely seem to be HM and PH's grandchildren.

Edit: I didn't realize there are no nisse this year. I do hope they make a cameo or two.

 

[Muhler]

No, it does appear to be a kind of behind the scenes look at what the various members of the DRF are up to during December.
I shall look forward to that.

The room must be from a private apartment, whether it's at Amalienborg or Kancellihuset at Fredensborg is not clear to me.

We can tell they have been making Christmas decorations like this before - like I dare say most DK children. It's also good to see the dynamics between the twins. Not much discussion about what should be done - as you might expect between other siblings.

I think Vincent is meaning a "pang-effect" with colors bombarding your retina. In that context this decoration is pretty tame. - I'll go into more details about this type of homemade (they are the most fun and personal) decorations in the Christmas thread.

The cookies they are eating are Brunkager = brown-cakes and Jødekager = Jew-cakes.

Let's take Jødekager first. I have no idea why they are called that, but they are a favorite among children, because they are delicious and very easy to make, even for small children, say age 4-5.
It's basically dough cut in circles using a drinking glass, and topped with cinnamon and most often but not always with pieces of almond as well.
https://spisestuen.dk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/jødekager-16.jpg
https://mambeno.dk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Joedekager-scaled.jpg
https://newyorkerbyheart.dk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/billede-med-joedekager.jpg
Here is a recipe in English:
https://nordicfoodliving.com/jewish-cookies-jodekager/

The Brunkager is perhaps more an acquired taste - personally I love them (as well!) There are various differences in how they taste, depending on your preference and interpretation of the recipe. The taste is relatively strong but still delicious.
When we buy a bag in the supermarket I can easily wolf a whole bag myself. Something about the cookies turning bad overnight if not eaten. I don't know, have never had any brown cakes surviving into the night in our home...
https://www.valdemarsro.dk/wp-content/2013/12/brunkager-opskrift.jpg
https://stinna.dk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Brunkagemaend-2.jpg
https://www.oetker.dk/Recipe/Recipe...eDetailsLightBox/brunkager-til-udstikning.jpg
But if you should ever need a reference in how they should taste, I will recommend this brand should you be able to get it online or otherwise:
https://karenvolf.dk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/814661-Karen-Volf-Brunkager-250g.jpg

And here is a recipe:
https://nordicfoodliving.com/danish-brown-cookies-brunkager/

 

[Prinsara]

"We have read that this cookie got the name, Jewish cookie, because it was made and sold by Jews' bakeries back in the 1700 century."

Muhler, do you think anyone ever ate these while being on guard for the Wandering Jew, or is that too much of a contradiction?

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

No, it does appear to be a kind of behind the scenes look at what the various members of the DRF are up to during December.
I shall look forward to that.

The room must be from a private apartment, whether it's at Amalienborg or Kancellihuset at Fredensborg is not clear to me.

The text on Instagram says the video was filmed in the cellar below Frederik VIII's Palace.

 

[Izzie]

No, it does appear to be a kind of behind the scenes look at what the various members of the DRF are up to during December.
I shall look forward to that.

The room must be from a private apartment, whether it's at Amalienborg or Kancellihuset at Fredensborg is not clear to me.

We can tell they have been making Christmas decorations like this before - like I dare say most DK children. It's also good to see the dynamics between the twins. Not much discussion about what should be done - as you might expect between other siblings.

I think Vincent is meaning a "pang-effect" with colors bombarding your retina. In that context this decoration is pretty tame. - I'll go into more details about this type of homemade (they are the most fun and personal) decorations in the Christmas thread.

The cookies they are eating are Brunkager = brown-cakes and Jødekager = Jew-cakes.

Let's take Jødekager first. I have no idea why they are called that, but they are a favorite among children, because they are delicious and very easy to make, even for small children, say age 4-5.
It's basically dough cut in circles using a drinking glass, and topped with cinnamon and most often but not always with pieces of almond as well.
https://spisestuen.dk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/jødekager-16.jpg
https://mambeno.dk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Joedekager-scaled.jpg
https://newyorkerbyheart.dk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/billede-med-joedekager.jpg
Here is a recipe in English:
https://nordicfoodliving.com/jewish-cookies-jodekager/

The Brunkager is perhaps more an acquired taste - personally I love them (as well!) There are various differences in how they taste, depending on your preference and interpretation of the recipe. The taste is relatively strong but still delicious.
When we buy a bag in the supermarket I can easily wolf a whole bag myself. Something about the cookies turning bad overnight if not eaten. I don't know, have never had any brown cakes surviving into the night in our home...
https://www.valdemarsro.dk/wp-content/2013/12/brunkager-opskrift.jpg
https://stinna.dk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Brunkagemaend-2.jpg
https://www.oetker.dk/Recipe/Recipe...eDetailsLightBox/brunkager-til-udstikning.jpg
But if you should ever need a reference in how they should taste, I will recommend this brand should you be able to get it online or otherwise:
https://karenvolf.dk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/814661-Karen-Volf-Brunkager-250g.jpg

And here is a recipe:
https://nordicfoodliving.com/danish-brown-cookies-brunkager/

The caption from the Instagram post of the video says that they are in a room in the basement (I assume they mean lower level) of Frederik VIII's at Amalienborg.

I also think this is much better way to do this. Much more eye catching, fun and shows the family doing what (I assume) most Danish families do in preparing for the holidays. A step in the right direction re social media. This has the M&F written all over it.

Plus, they actually posted it on the youtube channel posting 2 videos, one with Danish title and one with English title w/some English subtitles at the end so you can see what the kids are saying.

 

[Muhler]

"We have read that this cookie got the name, Jewish cookie, because it was made and sold by Jews' bakeries back in the 1700 century."

Muhler, do you think anyone ever ate these while being on guard for the Wandering Jew, or is that too much of a contradiction?

No doubt, but they huddled up inside while eating them. After having taken ploughs and other farming tools inside. Lest the Wandering Jew should rest his weary body on such a tool and thus ruin the field forever.
Many a strange and terrifying creature (not all of them alive!) roamed the Earth during Christmas, especially on Christmas Night.
Here is an interpretation by the Danish painted Brendekilde:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...lde,_Den_evigt_omvandrende_jøde,_udateret.jpg
He is one of my favorite painters and he made some fantastic rural paintings.
https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udslidt#/media/Fil:H._A._Brendekilde_-_Udslidt_(1889).jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/H._A._Brendekilde_-_Sæbebobler_(1906).jpg
https://media.lex.dk/media/19919/standard_HA_Brendekilde.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPSoPj7Jy...ersen-brendekilde-boern-paa-landevej-1892.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...ag_med_skolebørn_på_vej_ud_i_sneen_-_1900.png

The text on Instagram says the video was filmed in the cellar below Frederik VIII's Palace.

Thanks, failed to notice that.

The caption from the Instagram post of the video says that they are in a room in the basement (I assume they mean lower level) of Frederik VIII's at Amalienborg.

I also think this is much better way to do this. Much more eye catching, fun and shows the family doing what (I assume) most Danish families do in preparing for the holidays. A step in the right direction re social media. This has the M&F written all over it.

Plus, they actually posted it on the youtube channel posting 2 videos, one with Danish title and one with English title w/some English subtitles at the end so you can see what the kids are saying.

Agree. This is what I have been looking forward to and I should be extremely mistaken is such informal episodes of the day to day activities of the DRF does not end up being an all time favorite.
And now that Google translate has become so good, why indeed not include English subtitles.

ADDED:
One of the comments on Instagram mentioned that an Australian detail was added: What was that?

 

[Prinsara]

There is something (probably) unintentionally hilarious about Vince saying "explosion" and then Josie striking a match. Those two probably will blow something up one day, hopefully not during the holiday season and preferably before they are teenagers.

I think the Australian reference was in one of the plants.

You're welcome for the yummy cookies, goyim, but just because something's old and abstract doesn't it make any more palatable. Whether that's positive racism (Christmas cookies) or negative (Christmas monsters).

 

[Muhler]

There is something (probably) unintentionally hilarious about Vince saying "explosion" and then Josie striking a match. These two probably will blow something up one day, hopefully not during the holiday season and preferably before they are teenagers.

I think the Australian reference was in one of the plants.

You're welcome for the yummy cookies, goyim, but just because something's old and abstract doesn't it make any more palatable. Whether that's positive racism (Christmas cookies) or negative (Christmas monsters).

??

Goyim? What does that mean?

Are you referring to the Jew-cakes?
I don't think they are connected. Cinnamon is a relatively new spice in DK, certainly for ordinary people, probably going no more than a couple of hundred years back.
And the myth about "Die Ewige Jude" is almost unknown in DK today. Has probably been next to unknown for several generations now.
Jew-cakes is the modern name for a very simple cookie, that has probably had many local names beforehand.
IMO for something to be racist, positive or negative, it has to be meant to be racist. Otherwise absolutely everything can be interpreted as racist or offending or whatever. I don't think that's the case for a much loved cookie.

 

[Izzie]

No doubt, but they huddled up inside while eating them. After having taken ploughs and other farming tools inside. Lest the Wandering Jew should rest his weary body on such a tool and thus ruin the field forever.
Many a strange and terrifying creature (not all of them alive!) roamed the Earth during Christmas, especially on Christmas Night.
Here is an interpretation by the Danish painted Brendekilde:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...lde,_Den_evigt_omvandrende_jøde,_udateret.jpg
He is one of my favorite painters and he made some fantastic rural paintings.
https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udslidt#/media/Fil:H._A._Brendekilde_-_Udslidt_(1889).jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/H._A._Brendekilde_-_Sæbebobler_(1906).jpg
https://media.lex.dk/media/19919/standard_HA_Brendekilde.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPSoPj7Jy...ersen-brendekilde-boern-paa-landevej-1892.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...ag_med_skolebørn_på_vej_ud_i_sneen_-_1900.png



Thanks, failed to notice that.



Agree. This is what I have been looking forward to and I should be extremely mistaken is such informal episodes of the day to day activities of the DRF does not end up being an all time favorite.
And now that Google translate has become so good, why indeed not include English subtitles.

ADDED:
One of the comments on Instagram mentioned that an Australian detail was added: What was that?

I love they took advantage of the youtube channel, provided English subtitles. I think people will anticipate who will star in the videos each day...they also said that the four-legged members of the family will be included which should be fun to see.

 

[Prinsara]

It means "non-Jewish people". Quite literally.

To put it quite simply: I don't want to be reduced to a cookie, you all are missing out on the other Jewish cookies (we have more than one kind), and minorities shouldn't be associated with food (like people with dark skin are no longer described as "coffee" or "cocoa" colored).

While I can see why the Jews of Denmark were baking with cinnamon earlier than the rest of the country, the fact that it's the modern (and widely adopted) name isn't exactly an improvement.

Labeling an entire group of people with a cookie (particularly when there is absolutely no reason they couldn't have another name... like cinnamon cookies?), no matter how beloved or delicious, is still racist and rather problematic. I'm afraid it's easier to see when you're outside the country and actually of the group involved.

 

[Toledo]

??

Goyim? What does that mean?

Are you referring to the Jew-cakes?
I don't think they are connected. Cinnamon is a relatively new spice in DK, certainly for ordinary people, probably going no more than a couple of hundred years back.
And the myth about "Die Ewige Jude" is almost unknown in DK today. Has probably been next to unknown for several generations now.
Jew-cakes is the modern name for a very simple cookie, that has probably had many local names beforehand.
IMO for something to be racist, positive or negative, it has to be meant to be racist. Otherwise absolutely everything can be interpreted as racist or offending or whatever. I don't think that's the case for a much loved cookie.

First I loved your post about food, it made me go to the kitchen and grab a cookie...or three.

I don't think naming a dish, or a deliciously described pastry after its Jewish origin is meant to be with a race undertone. Here in the USA, we have everywhere the name used in markets and stores for kosher products as 'the Jewish aisle' where people Jewish and not Jewish go to get healthy food. Just like we have Italian restaurants, Soul Food (African American) restaurants, Asian markets, etc.
I think I need another cookie

 

[Prinsara]

I don't think naming a dish, or a deliciously described pastry after its Jewish origin is meant to be with a race undertone. Here in the USA, we have everywhere the name used in markets and stores for kosher products as 'the Jewish aisle' where people Jewish and not Jewish go to get healthy food. Just like we have Italian restaurants, Soul Food (African American) restaurants, Asian markets, etc.

Possibly because not everything in the kosher aisle is labeled as "Jew Food X" or "Jew Product Y", for one thing. (Nothing is, actually.)

As a fellow American, have you ever seen anything labeled or marketed as "Jew cookies"? (not kosher. There's a difference.)

You haven't. There's a reason for that.

 

[Muhler]

It means "non-Jewish people". Quite literally.

To put it quite simply: I don't want to be reduced to a cookie, you all are missing out on the other Jewish cookies (we have more than one kind), and minorities shouldn't be associated with food (like people with dark skin are no longer described as "coffee" or "cocoa" colored).

While I can see why the Jews of Denmark were baking with cinnamon earlier than then the rest of the country, the fact that it's the modern (and widely adopted) name isn't exactly an improvement.

Labeling an entire group of people with a cookie (particularly when there is absolutely no reason they couldn't have another name... like cinnamon cookies?), no matter how beloved or delicious, is still racist and rather problematic. I'm afraid it's easier to see when you're outside the country and actually of the group involved.

Sorry I cannot accept that premise. In fact I will not accept it.

Jew-cakes are in no shape, form or intention the least bit anti-Semitic, nor is it Zionist for that matter or related to Israel or Judaism.
It's just a cookie that forever reason has been named Jew-cake. There is no malice intended.

There are countless tools, food items and other products that are named after cultural, ethnic, professional or geographic groups of people.

Are you seriously telling me you are having an issue with a cookie in a foreign country half a globe away?
If so, aren't you being a little too sensitive?

And if we are to continue down that road: Kindly remove all references to Vikings in your country that are remotely stereotypical. Thank you.
That's cultural appropriation and offensive.

- Of course I would never demand that. My culture, heritage and history is perfectly fine, just because someone in Canada depicts Vikings as horned-helmeted barbarians.
We have Africans (from Africa, Kenya IIRC) coming to DK (and UK) to reenact being Vikings, dressed up and all. Strictly speaking that's cultural appropriation. But if someone associate my history and heritage with something positive or educational, they are more than welcome to it.

So again, I genuinely fail to see your problem.

 

[JR76]

??
IMO for something to be racist, positive or negative, it has to be meant to be racist. Otherwise absolutely everything can be interpreted as racist or offending or whatever. I don't think that's the case for a much loved cookie.

Like it or not, but the way racism is defined by many today is that if a person belonging to a certain group finds something offensive then it is offensive. All part of our very emotive based modern culture. A fact that (the very tasty) jødekager is so named because it originated within the Danish 17th century Sephardic community wouldn't be a valid excuse to continue using the name if modern Danish Jews found it offensive.
For instance here in Sweden we have the fika staple n*egerbollar (N*gro balls) that most people today call chokladbollar (Chocolate balls) because the black community made it known how offensive they felt the name was. There's also the very recent example of Susan Hussey who I'm sure didn't realise that what she said could be seen as racist, but it definitely was.

 

[Prinsara]

Sorry I cannot accept that premise. In fact I will not accept it.

Jew-cakes are in no shape, form or intention the least bit anti-Semitic, nor is it Zionist for that matter or related to Israel or Judaism.
It's just a cookie that forever reason has been named Jew-cake. There is no malice intended.

There are countless tools, food items and other products that are named after cultural, ethnic, professional or geographic groups of people.

Are you seriously telling me you are having an issue with a cookie in a foreign country half a globe away?
If so, aren't you being a little too sensitive?

And if we are to continue down that road: Kindly remove all references to Vikings in your country that are remotely stereotypical. Thank you.
That's cultural appropriation and offensive.

- Of course I would never demand that. My culture, heritage and history is perfectly fine, just because someone in Canada depicts Vikings as horned-helmeted barbarians.
We have Africans (from Africa, Kenya IIRC) coming to DK (and UK) to reenact being Vikings, dressed up and all. Strictly speaking that's cultural appropriation. But if someone associate my history and heritage with something positive or educational, they are more than welcome to it.

So again, I genuinely fail to see your problem.

And whether there is malice intended or not, and whether you see the problem or not, does not actually make it any less racist. I am not blaming you, but your delicious cookies could use another name.

I've attempted to explain in the name of education, the way we do on all the other threads with all the other concurrent racial and problematic issues, and I'm happy to do so elsewhere. I won't drag this thread further off-topic. Chag sameach — happy holidays.

 

[Muhler]

What are pastries also often called in english?
Danish, correct?

So if i do not want me, My country and fellow citzens being associated with pastry, then it should No longer be used?

Grand Danois. I do not want to be associated with a dog. The breed should be renamed.

Or is this getting a little silly?

BTW we do have Jews in DK. To the Best of My recollection, they do not have a problem with the cookies.

 

[iceflower]

Time to move on and look forward to the next calendar entry! Thank you!

 

[Izzie]

Day 2 December 2nd
YouTube Video

Don't know what he's making but it looks yummy. Nice that these videos are letting us see parts of the palaces we may not normally get a glimpse of.

The post on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Clp5jWtqoKF/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Also the recipe has been posted on the DRF website.

I'm impressed with the first two posts this year. A very needed improvement tbh. Much more interactive and interesting.

 

[Sun Lion]

Mary spoke about missing this part of Sydney in a feature about her in “The Australian Women’s Weekly” a few years back.

I haven’t seen photos of her in her Mary Donaldson or her Crown Princess days on this coastal track … one of many along the edge of the city, and several around around the Harbour … but she used to live in this part of the city and obviously knows it.

As the family will soon be heading down, here is a link to a nice Ultra High Definition video of this walk she mentioned in the interview.

There are many videos put up on YouTube by people who have filmed their walk, this one is relaxing with pleasant background music and shows several of the beaches. (The walk continues onwards, but this video covers probably the most popular section.)

This gives a good taste of summer in Australia Muhler.

 

[Muhler]

Me too, Izzie.

The first two segments have really been good. I look forward to what they will come up with next.
It's a neat detail that PH is still remembered.

Thanks, Sun Lion.
A nice video.

Surely Mary must often miss the scents, sounds and light of Australia. These past few years must have been hard for her.
I hope that when or if we see the family in Australia and perhaps have them say a little, we will also learn when impressions M&F's children take in. They are now all so old that they notice and reflect on what they see in earnest.

 

[eya]

Today 3 December:

"In The Yellow Palace at Amalienborg is The Royal House of Denmark’s own, small post office.

From here, all of the letters and packages sent daily to The Royal Family and the Court’s employees are sorted, and it’s here that the office clerks carry out parts of their daily work."

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClseKHvDxuh/?hl=el

 

[Muhler]

I clearly remembered when the postman still wore their red uniforms. And were a part of the "Etaterne" = the uniformed branches of the civil service. Like police, the engine drivers and conductors on trains as well as the King's bailiffs. (None of your neighbors were in doubt, if you owed money!) And so on.

I guess the postal service to and from Amalienborg is top quality.
Because for the rest of us, it sure isn't!

Quite a number of years back in the holy name of efficiency, it was decided to privatize Danish Royal Mail. So now the service has gone from post being delivered six times a week, to twice - at best, if it arrives at all...
So surprise people have stopped sending letters, so has the public authorities, businesses and so on. In fact the last two letters to me found in our mailbox - was the election card prior to the general election on 1st November and the bi-annually bowl-cancer-home-test-kit last week.
So what do you do, if you are an organization dedicated to delivering letters to people? You push the price for postage way up and cut down the delivery times. So we are now in the astounding situation that Post Nord, as Royal Mail has been renamed, now takes just as long to deliver a letter as they did in the 1600s!
It will be cheaper and faster for me to hire four guys and a sedan chair, to carry me and my letter to Copenhagen than it would to send the letter by mail.

It's a pity the service was privatized, because while being more expensive, it was a respected and popular job to be a postman. Wearing a uniform usually meant a certain bearing and standard of personal grooming as well - some of the Post Nord dudes in contrast look like cavemen. - Talks like cavemen as well...
Being a postman, meant a job for life and very good pension so they took pride in their jobs and offered extra services. And in places like Sweden, they were to regularly check up on people who lived in isolated places, to make sure they were alive and well.
In DK a postman in rural places could expect a cup of coffee several times a day and he doubled as the local, cycling newspaper. No wonder it took all day to deliver mail in the countryside.
Of course there were downsides to being a rural postman as is evident in this photo from 1907: https://www.stamps.dk/image/158797/...dpost-olsen-sanatorieposten-fotokort-u-no.jpg
And there was no such thing as bad weather hindring the post from being delivered as is evident from this photo from 1968: https://filweb.azurewebsites.net/filer/visning/c9a7fea68421442795e77d6f027edab6

Well, perhaps they deserved their coffee and cookies.

 

[EML]

Eml

The same thing has happened in UK. Very infrequent service in many parts of the country and at the moment threats of various days of strike action leading up to Christmas!

 

[polyesco]

I love these Christmas posts from instagram. We learn much, thanks to our forum members here too.
The US postal service still delivers 6 days a week but it's barely holding on.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Has Queen Margrethe II or Crown Prince Fredrik and Crown Princess Mary used any heirloom or antique ornaments on their Christmas trees?

​

 

[iceflower]

The video of December 4 shows how a special advent wreath was built at the carpenter workshop of the royal family at Amalienborg:


** instagram video **

 

[Muhler]

This carpenter shop, that is located in the buildings behind the mansion where the museum, Benedikte and J&M's apartments are located, is a very sought after place to work. (*)
The salary may not be stellar, but the jobs are a carpenter's dream come true. And in contrast to so many other places there is no compromise in regards to quality. Imagine going to work and being allowed to do your very best every single day. That's heaven for most true craftsmen.

(*) Along with other jobs under the ministerial department that looks after state owned castles, mansions and similar building. Even though these craftsmen are employed by the court.