Summary of article in Billed Bladet #51, 2010.
Far kommer til Jul - Dad is coming for Christmas.
Written by Ulrik Ulriksen & Anna Johannesen.
http://www.billedbladet.dk/Kongelige/ArticleFolder/2010/12/Marys%20bedste%20gave%20Far%20kommer%20til%20jul.aspx
Unsurprisingly the main theme of this issue is Christmas, - and a lot of it!
Having now in earnest moved in at Amalienborg M&F will also celebrate Christmas here. And this year, they will for once be hosts and in charge themselves.
Mary has adopted the Danish Christmas traditions, which are of course different from Australian traditions.
And this year John Donaldson and Susan Moody will join them for Christmas Eve. (*)
Mary told our reporters: "We look very much forward to it. We sure do". (**)
During the Day of Christmas Eve (24th December) the CP couple will wish those members of their staff who at Amalienborg a merry Christmas and share a glass (wine presumaly) and a cookie.
Perhaps Christian and Bella will watch the traditional Disney Christmas Show. (***)
M&F's staff will tale care of the dinner, before it's time for a cosy time at the Christmas Tree. It's questionable whether they will dance around the Christmas tree, as the vast majority of Danes do, as this has never been tradition within the DRF.
After a few psalmes it's time for the presents.
(*) I hope they are already here, considering the problems in European airports.
(**) It is not clear from the article whether the brief conversation took place outside Rigshospitalet or on the telephone. My guess is the hospital.
(***) Alas I rarely have time to watch it myself. The show consists of a number of clips from Disney cartoons, including the absolute most romantic scene, ever made in movie history:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av6AucgbL24&feature=related
Translation of three Q&A in Billed Bladet #51, 2010.
Q: Is QMII decoration her Christmas tree with flags (Danneborg), a Bjarne Jensen asks.
A: Jon Bloch Skipper replies:
The tradition about hanging flags on the tree isn't particularly Danish. Many Swedes and Nowegians among others do it as well. Here little Dannebrogs were taken into use as Christmas decorations in the mid 1800's (*), where also drums trompets and cornets began to be used. (**) I know that a major Danish newspaper one wrote that the Queen always decorate her Christmas tree with flags, but that as far as I know is wrong. The pictures I have found show that the royal tree each year is decorated by among other things red candlelights, Christmas hearts, cornets, balls and golden mica, but not flags. The Majesty prefer a simple tree with warm colours - mainly red and gold. If she has time she often create new Christmas decorations during December.
(*) As a result of the patriotic mood during the First Schleswigan War 1848-50. Before that commoners were not allowed to fly Dannebrog, it was only used by the king, the army and as a sign of nationality, like on merchant ships as well as warships.
The war changed that complety and we are to this day very enthusiastic about flying the flag.
Q: A Jonathan Christensen wish to know, whether Frederik and Joachim celebrate Christmas apart because they are not on friendly terms.
A: Jon Bloch Skipper replies that it's the most natural thing to do as Mary now is heavily pregnant.
Both Joachim and Frederik have several times denied rumours of there being a strain between the two of them.
Q: Aase Erichsen would like to know why QMII do her Christmas shopping in London, rather than in DK, thus helping Danish businesses.
A: Jon Bloch Skipper responds:
In my opinion it's an innocent and incidentally private Christmas tradition. The Queen had done the majority of Christmas shopping this way for a number of years, just as usually use the yearly mini-holiday in early December to visit her younger sister in the British capital. That the shoping takes place here ensure an even higher degree of privacy for the Majesty than she would have had here at home. Wonder if a journalist or two might not come up with the idea of revealing the contents of the royal presents, if she purchased them in ordinary Danish shops? That would be a shame, for the Queen as well for the persons the presents were meant for.
(**) The completely novel concept of dragging a tree into the living room at Christmas and decorating it came to Denmark from Germany in the early 1800's.
(***) We use candles on our tree when we dance around in and in the hours after that, otherwise it's electric lights.