I certainly miss not being able to watch Dinner for One.
Yes.
DR 1 dared to take that comedy off once in the mid 80's and there was such an outcry that they have shown it every New Year since!
If we are to speculate about how a typical Danish New Year celebration involving families in their late 30's or early 40's like Joachim and our Marie and M&F as well might be. Then I won't go out in the deep end if I say the guests arrive between 17-18, certainly before QMII give her speech at 18.00.
Then a toast and shortly after the dinner is served. Fish or something light is most common. Washed down with schnapps and beer or wine.
For the next three or four hours people remain seated around the table having a merry time, while the mood is getting slightly more animated. And of course wearing paper hats. Interrupted by the males going out to "assist" the kids in setting off some of the fireworks.
Somewhere between 23.30 and midnight someone invariably turn on the TV, because at that time Dinner for One is shown, before they cut to the clock at Copenhagen Townhall.
Midnight. Toasting all around and then it's outside with the eager kids and just as eager parents to let off some fireworks. While out there you wish the neighbors and everybody else Happy New Year.
Once inside it's time for a midnight snack, usually in the form of two or three smorgas sandwiches washed down with beer and/or schnapps. By this time the music has been turned up a notch or five and there is often some dancing. Very amusing to watch for those who have pulled chauffeur duty and don't drink.
Around 02.00 or so we all begin to realise we're getting too old for this and the kids have collapsed as well, so it's about time to head home.
If you have guests sleeping over, you end up quietly chatting until 04.00 or so, after having cleared the tables.
My guess is that the younger royal's New Year celebrations didn't differ too much from this.
However, a quiet New Year alone or just with a couple of close friends ain't bad either. Especially when you've reached the age where it takes two days to recover from a party.
My previous remarks about the board games may not be typical, but the concert from Vienna and the ski jumping was no joke!
When I was a child we always had an uncle and aunt sleeping over and even though they went to bed around 04.00 they insisted on getting up at way too early to watch the concert and ski sports. To the quiet annoyance of my mother who was a B-person and didn't understand the deeper purpose of watching someone jumping from a mountain with boards strapped to their feet.
You've reached the age, where you need a solid nap in the afternoon before going to a nightclub.
