Why the midsommers night celebration was not on the solstice has been lost in the fog of time. Regardless it is called Sankt Hans Aften and is celebrated by a shared song around a bonfire. We went to the Kulturehuset via the ferry and experienced the ceremony. First there was a band that was a weird mix of lilting vocals with grungelike guitar. Then a man spent five minutes introducing the main speaker who spoke for 15 minutes, running 10 minutes over her allotted time. Lots of moaning and even some heckling from the crowd did not disuade her from droning on. We had front row spot at the bonfire and while waiting a man came right up to us by the fence. We had to ask if he needed to get inside but he said he was looking for the guy to start the fire. Soon this guy showed up in the bonfire area but he seemed a bit confused and even got his phone out to consult it. Apparently he was to start the fire just as the second verse of the song started and he was making sure that he hit the mark. The pile of wood had been pre-soaked with some sort of accelerant so it flamed up fast. The flames got to be too much and we had to step back from the sparks and smoke. Then it was time to bet back on the ferry and head back home.
Swans and signets
Copen-hell is over so many metalheads are wandering the streets
Fresh mural painting
Is it vintage?
Nice metal sculpture
A bathhouse
It is a day for group activities
Deadheading the blooms
Gardening while cooking
Watching outside out windows while preparing dinner
Off we go to the bonfire
An odd mix of old architecture and art
Some concrete work
Folks filing in for the celebration
Band!
Wispy clouds
The band was not our cup of tea
The wood is stacked up and there are 13 water filled buckets surrounding the fire
We could smell some sort of accelerant that had been pre-applied
Hopefully he is not looking up "How to start a bonfire"
We thought that this guy was long winded, but the next speaker ran 12 minutes over time. At one point she was heckled bu folks in the crowd.
Passing out the lyrics
The fire has been lit at the specific time
Sing to the flames
It took off pretty fast
Eventually we had to leave our spot
No need to burn our clothes
I was tempted to start singing Ring of Fire but the Danish song ran long
Got to step further back
It is still very light for 10PM
We stepped away just in time
Full blaze more
The sunset shining through this building
Nice glow starting
Folks still out on the water
Cool reflections
Nice sized boat
Good night Copenhagen
Reached the next to last stop
Power Station
