Danish Sisterhood News December 2017

News

Danish Sisterhood

In this Issue: • • • •

Lodge Updates Christmas Greetings Danish Christmas Traditions Tivoli Musings

Serving the Danish Sisterhood of America since 1947

December 2017

President’s Corner

News

Danish Sisterhood

www.danishsisterhood.com Volume 70, Number 12

Honorary Member Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Published by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America, (Dansk Søster Samfund) as its Official Publication.

DANISH SISTERHOOD NEWS (USPS 148-200) is published monthly by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America. Office of publication at 1555 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463. Periodicals Postage Paid at Rochester, MN.

Sindy Mikkelsen, National President

This is such a wonderful time of year. For many, it’s about being together with family and friends, sharing special treats and giving from your hearts. For others it may be a quiet reflective time, looking back on 2017. Regardless how you spend your holidays, I do hope it’s enjoyable.

At this time (all year really) I reflect on what an amazing team of Sisters I work with.

Julie, Carol, Glenda, Linda, Christine, Karin, Lauren and Amy, you share so much of your heart and lives to serve the Sisterhood and I want to thank you! You make my role so much easier by doing all you do for our membership. I’m blessed to be part of this with all of you.

May all of you, our Sisters and Brothers, have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Glædelig jul og godt nytår Sindy Mikkelsen.

Editor: Lauren C. Nielsen (507) 206-9099

Email: editor@danishsisterhood.com

Articles for publication in the Danish Sisterhood News must arrive to the Editor no later than the 1st day of each month previous to publication.

Subscription: Members $12 (US) Non-Members $20 (US) Officers of the Supreme Lodge National President: Sindy Mikkelsen, Lodge #126 2938 Sweet Grass Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707) 755-0260 president@danishsisterhood.com National Vice President & Website: Julie Morrison #126 2368 Hood Ct, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 (707) 360-8377 vicepresident@danishsisterhood.com National Secretary: Glenda Madrid, Lodge #177 1555 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463 (805) 448-7631 secretary@danishsisterhood.com glenda_madrid@hotmail.com National Treasurer: Carol Faruolo, Lodge #12 19 Fenway Street North, Milford, CT 06460 (203) 878-4924 Fax: (203) 8784924 treasurer@danishsisterhood.com dsstreasurer@gmail.com

Left: A traditional Danish Christmas decoration.

National Trustee & Butikken Chairman: Linda Holz #102 4400 EP True Pkwy Unit 47, West Des Moines, IA 50265-5615 (515) 225-0951 trustee1@danishsisterhood.com

Editor’s note: This decoration in particular was made by my cousin’s little boy, Niels Noa. They wanted to share this traditional Danish decoration with us all. Photograph by Anja Birch Nielsen.

Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DANISH SISTERHOOD NEWS, 1555 Oak St. Solvang, CA 93463

National Trustee & Scholarship Chairman: Christina Sallee #81 16116 SW Deline Ct, Beaverton, OR 97007-3425 (503) 848-0837 trustee2@danishsisterhood.com National Trustee, Membership Chairman & Tivoli Lodge Liaison: Karin S. Wasler #68 814 S Sherbourne Dr #7, Los Angeles, CA 90035 (310) 903-8837 trustee3@danishsisterhood.com National Past President: Lizette Burtis, Lodge #24 1462 Trombetta Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707) 545-6023 lburtis@sbcglobal.net Copyright 1946-2017 by the Supreme Lodge of the Danish Sisterhood of America, All Rights Reserved

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Velkommen

Lauren C. Nielsen, Editor

Dear Sisters, It is Christmas once again! This week, I’ve started getting into the holiday spirit, and seeing all of your wonderful holiday greetings for the Danish Sisterhood News was definitely a great way to start the season.

Last week, while I was working at my computer, I thought I’d turn on some Christmas music. I listened to many of the classics for quite some time and then Silent Night came on. It was then that I started singing along in my head... but in Danish! Each Christmas, my father and I (and sometimes a few other family members and friends), attend a Danish Christmas Eve service at Bethania Lutheran Church in my hometown of Racine, WI. It is, perhaps, my favorite thing about Christmas. We sing Christmas songs in Danish, listen to the lessons read aloud in Danish, and right at the end of the service, we light candles and sing Silent Night (in Danish, of course!). It is one of the most beautiful things I’ve experienced.

So, as I was listening to Christmas music while working at home, I searched for some Danish Christmas music. I was so lucky to find some! I’m now ready for Christmas Eve once more.

I hope that each and every one of you may find some beauty and joy in your surroundings and experiences this holiday season.

Glædelig jul og Godt Nytår...

Until next year!

Lauren C. Nielsen, Editor

In this Issue President’s Corner................................p 2 Editor’s Welcome.................................p 3 Lodge Updates.................................p 4-5 Denmark Island Tour.........................p 6-7 Tivoli Musings......................................p 8 Lodge Christmas Greetings............p 9-11 Butikken ...................................... p 12-13 Danish Christmas Traditions..........p 14-15

Youth Birthdays Happy December Birthday to: Names Taylor Pietrok Chloe Myers Isabella Guyer Magnus Hansen

Lodge 131 78 78 68

Age 16 9 15 7

On the Cover Title: Christmas at Tivoli Region: Copenhagen, Denmark Photographer: Karla Lorence Lechner Perhaps one of the most festive spots in the world during the holiday season is Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. The gardens are decked out in their holiday best, and Danes come from near and far to celebrate the season at Tivoli.

Submit Your Cover Photo!

Do you have a photo that you’d like to see on the cover of the Danish Sisterhood News? Send in your submissions and yours could be featured next!

Photographs must be high resolution and should be accompanied by a short description of the photo’s content. Photos from Danish events, Sisterhood meetings, travels around Denmark, Danish culture and more are all great topics.

Send photos to: editor@danishsisterhood.com 3

Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

Update from Katherine Lodge #20, Kenosha, WI November 13th at 6:30PM the November meeting was held. As the Sisters gathered they enjoyed coffee, non-alcoholic glogg and sweets. Our meeting location is the Community Room at Festival Foods in Kenosha, WI.

Per our By-Laws, four board positions were on the ballot this fall. Next fall the remaining four positions will be on a ballot. Each Officer serves for two years. Those who were nominated this fall, accepted the nomination and voted into office for two years were: Bette Lasch, President; Majbritte Andersen-Stewart, Vice President; Jonna Chiapete, Marshall; and Lisa Rasmussen-Zanin, Trustee. They join Past President Kirsten McVey, Secretary Anna Nielsen, Treasurer Marge Orth, Trustee Toni Hansen and Guard Vita Andersen to make up a full board of directors.

Old business from October, a letter was received from the Danish Sisterhood National Board Members requesting a donation to support Sisters across the country that experienced, fires (CA), hurricanes, floods (TX, FL and LA) to help with any restoration of purchased needed to re-establish their homes. At the October meeting we voted to mail a Charity Check for $200.00 to the National Treasurer. Marge reported the check was sent to the National Treasurer. This lead to the change in our Christmas Exchange policy.

The annual Christmas Party will be held December 10th at 4PM at the Tuscan Restaurant, HWY 50 and I-94 Frontage Road. Chairman Majbritte Andersen-Stewart outlined information and asked Sisters review the menu and make a selection when they make their reservation. Checks for $25.00 must be sent to Marge Orth by Dec. 5. A tradition for Katherine Lodge has been the annual Christmas Ornament exchange at the Christmas Party. A suggestion and discussion by the Sisters present at the meeting, we will not have the gift exchange this year. Sisters decided to purchase socks, mittens, and under garments for the women and children living in shelters within our communities. Majbritte and her community will gather the donations, split the items between Kenosha and Racine shelter homes. The committee will deliver the donations prior to Christmas.

The board will meet in January to set a calendar with meetings and programs. The Book Club has selected the book The Year of Living Danishly written by Helen Russell. The Book Club Leaders are Lisa Rasmussen-Zanen and Jonna Chiapete.

Book Club discussion is at the February Meeting.

From Lodge #20 to fellow Sisters and families with Danish Heritage we send a warm Merry Christmas and Happy 2018.

HAABETS FREMTID LODGE #78, TROY, NEW YORK About 20 of us gathered for dinner and meeting on November 12, 2017 at the home of Judy and Harry Jensen in Cohoes, NY. It was a wonderful sunny day and some people traveled a distance to join us for our annual Medisterpolse dinner. Judy and Harry were so gracious to open their home to all of us and everyone had such a wonderful time.

While Judy was busy in the kitchen cooking our Medisterpolse, Harry was busy serving herring, salmon, cheese and crackers along with rye bread and drinks. The meal also consisted of red cabbage cooked by Jane Hansen, creamed potatoes by Marj Wheeler and the meal was topped off by a delicious danish layer cake, baked by Gladys Christensen.

This was a good opportunity to present Marilyn Dore and Mildred Shea with their 25 year pins.

The meeting brought lots of business to disDanish Sisterhood News, December 2017

cuss and plans to make. We received notice that the EGC will be hosting our convention in April. Marilyn Dore was chosen to represent our Lodge with Anne Taylor as first alternate and Marj Wheeler will be second alternate.

Plans were finalized for our Christmas Party to be held in December. We hope to include some of our members we have not seen for a while, as well as their children and danish friends from our community, We also extended an invitation to our Sisters in Schenectady.

Everyone went away with happy faces and full stomachs knowing we had a great time in Danish company. Thank you Judy and Harry for all your hard work to make this day so enjoyable.

Marjorie Wheeler, Treasurer 4

Fall Catchup with Amber Lodge #186 in Brainerd, MN Amber Lodge members had a fun time seeing one another at the October 21 meeting. It was a full and busy summer, so many members had not seen one another for several months. It was wonderful to have 12 members and a guest in attendance for a book discussion, business meeting, and potluck at Evelyn Mathies Studio at the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd, MN. The meeting started out with a discussion that was led by Nealna Gylling on the book Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Each attendee had an opportunity to share with the group what they enjoyed about this book. Many comments were made that it was an informative and easy book to read. Although this book is written for a young readers audience, adults could relate to the storyline. The author covered historical information about Denmark in WWII as well as Danish geographical and cultural points.

Laurie Cappellin gave a report on the 2017 Heartland District Convention that was held at the Danish American Center in Minneapolis, MN on September 8-10, 2017. Laurie Cappellin, Annette Walberg and, Barb W attended from the Amber Lodge. They enjoyed the Friday night Smorbrod supper that was prepared by the Danish Brotherhood as well as the music that followed. On Saturday guests could visit the American Swedish Institute the Norway House, the Guthrie Theatre, Vikings Stadium, and The Mill City Museum. Saturday Evenings dinner was followed by entertainment by pianist Lisa Jensen and her goddaughter.

Plans are in place for a November cookie baking meeting as well as a Christmas party in December. The holidays are a wonderful time to pass on Danish traditions to younger family members and friends.

Heidi Haase Amber Lodge #186

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Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

2018 Denmark Island Tour

By now the readers of the DSS News are well aware of the 2018 Sisterhood sponsored tour of Denmark. This exciting tour will take place September 20 – 30, 2018, so there is plenty of time to plan your vacation time and maybe save up some extra spending money for this extraordinary experience. The organizer and tour guide will again be Benedikte Ehlers, who has treated us to two fantastic tours of Denmark in the past few years. The 2016 tour saw many “repeat-travelers” - a good sign that they enjoyed the first trip enough to be ready for more exciting adventures and insights into Danish every-day life and culture.

This trip will again feature some of Denmark’s most beautiful islands – all different from the islands visited during the 2016 tour. The itinerary in 2018 will include the islands of Læsø, Samsø, Bornholm, Christiansø, and Frederiksø. An added bonus for this trip will be a drive through southern Sweden visiting the cities of Malmø and Ystad. This is necessary in order to most efficiently reach the Danish island of Bornholm, which is actually located in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Poland, giving it a character much different from the rest of Denmark. Unlike the previous two trips, this one will start in the morning of September 20th with a “Welcome Meeting” at the Wake Up Hotel in Copenhagen. Participants are asked to arrive in Copenhagen no later than the evening of September 19, 2018 – that is the day prior to the start of the bus tour - to ensure a timely departure from the hotel at 9:30am on September 20th. This hotel stay will not be included in the price of the trip. The Hotel Wake Up is recommended by Benedikte, as it is centrally located in Borgergade, near Nyhavn and Kgs. Nytorv – two very popular areas of Copenhagen. The Wake Up Hotel is very modern, has very small, very clean rooms with good beds, and it is very reasonably priced by Copenhagen standards. Benedikte Ehlers has indicated that she is willing to facilitate your booking at this hotel if you would like her to do that for you.

If you wish to make your own arrangements with the Wake Up Hotel, please note that there is more than one hotel by that name in the Copenhagen area, so you want to make sure you get the Wake Up Hotel in Borgergade. The address and contact information is: Wake Up Hotel, Borgergade 9, 1300 Copenhagen K Phone: 45- 44 80 00 90 E-mail: borgergade@wakeupcopenhagen.dk

Following is a list of the accommodations we will be using during the trip, in case you would like to contact – or google – them, along with the itinerary Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

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to give you a feel for the pace of the trip. Benedikte always makes sure we have plenty of stops along the way to stretch your legs and maybe enjoy a little refreshment – both very important to Danes! I hope this itinerary will sound just as exciting to you as it does to me. I lived my first 21 years in Denmark and never had the opportunity to visit Læsø, Samsø, Christiansø, and Frederiksø - places that most American tourists will never find included in their travel plans, either. It will be real treat!

Itinerary

Thursday, September 20, 2018 9:00am “Welcome meeting” at the Wake Up Hotel, Borgergade. The bus will then be loaded and we will head for Frederikshavn, a city in northern Jutland, where we will have dinner at 7:00pm and spend the night at Hotel Jutlandia, a modern hotel located right on the busy harbor.

Hotel Jutlandia, Havnepladsen 1, 9900 Frederikshavn, Phone: 45- 98 49 83 44 Friday, September 21, 2018 9:00am Leave the hotel after breakfast to catch the ferry to the small island of Læsø at 9:40am.

11:10am We arrive on the beautiful island of Læsø, where we will explore the salt production for which Læsø is famous and visit the Læsø Spa, which has found its home in an old church.

4:00pm The island only has 3 hotels and does not have a one big enough to accommodate the entire group, so we will be using Hotel Lærkely and Østergaards B&B, but have dinner together.

6:30pm Dinner at Hotel Lærkely, originally built in 1820.

Hotel Lærkely, Nordmarksvej 1, 9940 Læsø Phone: 45 - 98 49 83 44 Østergaards B&B, Museumsvej 2, 9940 Læsø Phone: 45 – 98 49 11 72 Saturday, September 22, 2018 9:30am Depart the hotels for a day of sightseeing around the island, with a visit to the Museum of Læsø among other things.

6:30pm Dinner at Lærkely - with a visit from local people, who will tell us about everyday life on Læsø.

Sunday, September 23, 2018 8:00am We leave the hotels and head for the ferry back to Frederikshavn, arriving there at 11:10am and heading for Hou, a small town south of Aarhus, for

another ferry ride.

2:30pm Board the ferry to Samsø, where we will arrive at 3:30pm.

4:00pm Check in at Hotel Ilse Made – where our accommodations will be in hotel rooms as well as cabins – all with good views of the water – Kattegat.

6:00pm Dinner at Ilse Made Restaurant.

Hotel Ilse Made, Vesterløkken 16, 8305 Samsø

Monday, September 24, 2018 9:00am Sightseeing on Samsø with stops at the lovely town of Nordby, as well as Mårup, Langør, and the Samsø Vinyard.

6:00pm Again dinner at Ilse Made Restaurant.

of Bornholm.

2:00pm Ferry leaves for our return trip to Gudhjem, where we’ll tour before returning to our hotel in Svaneke.

6:30pm Dinner at Hotel Siemens Restaurant.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 9:30am Visit to Samsø Energy Academy. Samsø is 100% energy self-sufficient using only renewable energy sources, so that should be very interesting. We’ll also visit the towns of Tranebjerg and Balle, as well as the manor house called Vadstrup 1771 and the lighthouse on the southside of Samsø.

6:00pm Dinner at Ilse Made Restaurant.

Sunday, September 30, 2018 8:15am We will drive to Rønne and board the ferry for Sweden at 10:30am, arriving in Ystad at 11:50am.

From there continue to Copenhagen.

2:00pm Arrival at the Wake Up Hotel where we will bid farewell to our wonderful guide and friend Benedikte as well as our travel companions before heading back to the USA or maybe in different directions visiting other people and places.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 6:00am Early departure from Ilse Made Hotel to catch the 7:00am ferry to Kalundborg on Sjælland.

8:15am Arrive in Kalundborg and drive to Copenhagen, from where we will cross the bridge to Malmø, Sweden, where we will tour before heading to Ystad, Sweden.

6:30pm Ferry from Ystad to Bornholm, arriving in Rønne at 7:50pm after a quick dinner onboard the ferry.

9:00pm We arrive at our hotel for the next 4 nights - Hotel Siemens Gaard in the lovely little town of Svaneke ( population 1049 at last count), situated on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Hotel Siemens Gaard, Havnebryggen 9, 3740 Svaneke, Bornholm, Phone: 45 – 56 49 61 40 Thursday, September 27, 2018 Spend your first day on Bornholm at leisure to relax after the long day yesterday - or strike out on your own to explore the neighborhood. Svaneke light house is only 1 km from the hotel.

6:00pm Dinner at Hotel Siemens Gaard Restaurant.

Friday, September 28, 2018 9:00am Depart for Gudhjem – idyllic little town – to board the ferry at 10:00am for a 55 minute ride to Christiansø and Frederiksø , two tiny islands north east

Saturday, September 29, 2018 9:00am We’ll spend the day visiting all the highlights of Bornholm, including the small quaint towns of Tegn, Sandvig, Allinge, the old ruin Hammershus on Bornholm’s northernmost point, Rønne – the “capital”of Bornholm, the famous round churches of Østerlars and Østermarie, as well as the southern part of the island.

6:30pm Dinner at Hotel Siemens Restaurant

The price for the 11-day guided tour, including transportation in a 4/5 star coach, 10 nights lodging, ferries, bridge tolls, entrance fees, as well as all breakfasts and dinners will be: • $2,460 per person for Sisterhood members – double occupancy rate • $2,660 per person for non-members – double occupancy • Single room additional fee is $800.

A deposit of $1,000 per person is due prior to May 15, 2018 and the final payment is due July 20, 2018.

Should you cancel your reservation before April 1, 2018, your refund will be $750, between April 1 and June 1 the refund will be reduced to $500, and after June 1, there will be no refund unless your place can be filled from the wait list.

Reservations are made by sending the $1,000 per person deposit to: Connie Schell 246 Foster Road Fort Covington, NY 12937 (518) 651-1789 Cschell4dss@aol.com

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Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

Tivoli Virtual Lodge #300 Musings Seeing a Gift Live On at the Danish Home by 300 member Susanne Hohlen Monticello, Minnesota shohlen@uslink.net

esting to learn about these folks and their lives in the US.

After the luncheon we were given the grand tour of the facility, inside and out. The place gave you a feeling of dignity and true care for its residents, and the traditional Danish decorations added to the comfort.

What caught my eye at the lower level was a glass display of Danish Christmas seals – including ones I had donated to the Home. It was so nice to see them on display for others to enjoy, rather than collecting dust on my book shelf.

I had also acquired a Danish DVD series in recent years with a certain Mads Mikkelsen playing one of the lead roles. Sure, I could have sold the series and filled up my gas tank for the trip from Chicago back to Minneapolis. I decided instead to donate this to the home in hopes it would bring entertainment to the residents during the winter months connecting with their old country and Danish language (with subtitles)as I enjoyed the series.

Our last stop was a visit to the lovely gift shop, managed in part by residents. We were each given a small treasure as a reminder of our beautiful and memorable day. I went home not only with the small gift, but also but also with the knowledge that our gifts to the Danish Home are appreciated and shared with residents and visitors.

Thank you to The Danish Home, its wonderful staff and President/CEO Scott L. Swanson for this opportunity to experience firsthand the beautiful life you create for your residents.

While attending the Danish American Heritage Society Conference in Chicago early October, the organizers offered two outings on Saturday afternoon. A nice way of getting outside of the confines of the otherwise wonderful hotel having saturated ours head with lectures. I had chosen the tour to the Danish Home of Chicago. Having seen the ads in the Danish Pioneer for many years, I felt it would be interesting to visit, and am I glad I did.

The Mission statement from the Danish Home website reads:

“The Danish Home, founded in 1891 in the Danish tradition of caring for its elderly, is a not-for-profit organization, privately financed and endowed, providing a comfortable, dignified community for the elderly.”

From the minute you set foot inside the building, you felt you had entered grandma’s Danish living room. This place exuded an air of “home” and not an institution by any stretch.

We were ushered to the dining area, Danish paintings as prime wall décor, all tables decorated with red tablecloths and Royal Copenhagen plates. A spectacular Danish-style lunch (smørrebrød) was provided, accompanied by Danish beverages with more than a soda content. Okay, I think I could handle being a resident at that place.

Each table also seated a Danish home resident, either Danish or of Danish descent, at each table for the luncheon. It was very inter-

SAVE THE DATE! 2018 DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

DISTRICT

NATL REP

CALIFORNIA

DETAILS APRIL 27-28, HOST: LA LODGE #68

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

APRIL 6-7, HOST: ENUMCLAW, WA #75

LINDA HOLZ

MOO (MI/OH/ONT)

MAY 4-5, HOST: PORT HURON, MI #100

CAROL FARUOLO

NEBRASKA/COLORADO

DATE TBD, HOST: LINCOLN, NE #113

GLENDA MADRID

HEARTLAND

SEPT 14-16, HOST: DAVENPORT, IA #3

LINDA HOLZ

MIDWEST

APRIL 28, HOST: KENOSHA, WI #20

KARIN WASLER

EAST COAST (EGC)

TBD

SINDY MIKKELSEN

Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

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CHRISTINA SALLEE

Glædlig Jul Christmas & New Year Greetings from the

Mt. Hood Lodge #81, Portland, Oregon wishes all of our Sisters God Jul og Godt Nytår.

Glædlig Jul

THUMB of MICHIGAN Northstar Lodge #100, Marlette, MI Established March 26, 1907

I ønskes en Glædelig Jul med lys og hygge, og et Godt Nytår med mange dejlige overraskelser.

Christina Sallee, National Trustee

from Fjeddronning Lodge #131, Ferndale, California

Merry Christmas A Very Happy New Year To All Our Sisters

Glæd lig Jul & Godt Nytår from Amber Lodge #186, Brainerd,, Minnesota.

Dorthea Lodge #65

Wishing all a year of gratefulness, health, love and safety. from National President, Sindy Mikkelsen & Family

Festive Holiday Greetings from Lodge #126 Petaluma, CA 9

Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

Glædlig Jul Glædelig Jul & Godt Nytår

The Sisters and Brothers of Freden Lodge #12 in New Haven, CT wish you all a Glædelig Jul og Godt Nytår.

GLÆDELIG JUL Fra og GODT NYTÅR

Ønskes alle fra Western Star Katherine Lodge #20 #113 Kenosha, Wisconsin Island, Nebraska Grand

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas And a Happy New Year Enighed Lodge 84 Best Wishes to all our Sisters

from Princess Marie Lodge #86 Philadelphia, PA

Glædelig Jul

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Western Star Lodge #113

Vi ønsker all Søstre nær og fjernt en rigtig Glædelig Jul og et Godt Nytår

from Flora Danica Solvang Hilsener#177 fra alle Mange

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Søstre i

Margrethe Lodge #24

Vi ønsker jer og jeres en dejlig jul og et nytår fyldt med lys og kærlighed.

We wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a new year filled with light and love.

Dear Tivoli/300 Members & Sisters Everywhere,

Ellen Lodge #21, Denver Colorado

Wishing you all a joyous Holiday Season.

Glaedelig Jul og Godt Nytaar from Susanne Hohlen, 300 member Monticello, MN Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

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Glædlig Jul Glædelig jul!

from Dagmar Lodge #4 Chicago, IL

Sending heartfelt greetings to all from Dronning Margrethe Lodge 15 Milwaukee, WI

Glædelig Jul og Godt Nytår!

Wishing all our Sisters & Brothers

A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Glædelig Jul og Godt Nytår Thyra Lodge 19 Tacoma/Olympia

Lodge #3 Davenport, Iowa

DOGWOOD LODGE 179

WISHES ALL SISTERS IN CANADA & USA A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON

Merry Christmas

Bonne Année

During this Christmas Season our family wishes all of you a happy and healthy holiday. We wish to thank those that helped us when it seemed we lost it all. Our family made it out of the fires unhurt, and although the loss of everything we own is gone, we will rebuild and have much to be grateful for. The gifts you have given us will help. Thank you!

Merry Christmas Stella, Stuart and Samuel Watson 11

Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

The Danish Sisterhood Marketplace Butikken DanishSisterhood.com

Contact Linda Holz for shipping and handling charges.

Red plastic heart-shaped paper clip $1.00 Letter Opener $4.00 Black baseball cap with heart logo in sequins $20.00

Black baseball cap with heart logo in satin stitch embroidery $20.00

Hygge T- Shirt  Red with white print M, L, XL, XXL $20

Frik T- Shirt Red with white print (Front and Back Shown) M, L, XL, XXL $20

Laser cut boxes (unassembled) for table favors $ 0.75

To order contact: Linda Holz Email: trustee1@danishsisterhood.com Phone: 515.225.0951 4400 EP True Pkwy, Unit 47 West Des Moines , IA 50265-5615 Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

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The Danish Sisterhood Marketplace Butikken DanishSisterhood.com Contact Linda Holz for shipping and handling charges.

SALE Sisterhood License Plate Frame Frame has dual fastening holes at the top of the fame. White with red DSS logo. $4.00 each or 2 for $6.00

Red ball point pen with Sisterhood website address $5.00

DSS Fleece Jacket Available Red and Black $37.50

Coral Pendant with Silver Filigree Red and silver necklace pendant $45.00

Wine Bottle Opener Red with black trim, danishsisterhood.com printed on side. $10.00 SALE PRICE $5

Denmark Flag Enamel Earrings pierced $10/pair

Onesie Red with white print 6 mo - 12 mo - 18 mo $15.00

Heartscarf Available in Red and White $15.00

To order contact: Linda Holz Email: trustee1@danishsisterhood.com Phone: 515.225.0951 4400 EP True Pkwy, Unit 47 West Des Moines , IA 50265-5615 13

Danish Sisterhood News, December 2017

Danish Christmas Traditions

By Birgitte Jappe Ross Jul (Christmas) Jul, the Danish word for Christmas. Jul is often After the presents have been opened, it’s time celebrated throughout the entire month of for more snacks and sweets. It’s chocolate, December in Denmark. Many families have a marzipan, nuts and fruit. Sometimes also gløgg, Christmas candle with printed numbers from 1 which is a hot drink made with red wine, spices, to 24 and children may have calendars for the raisins, and sliced almonds. countdown to Christmas, December 24th. These calendars may have small presents or chocolates. Kirkegudstjeneste (Church service) Some of these calendars might be cross-stitched In Denmark there is a tradition to go to church and appliquéd with Christmas motifs. on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, December 24th. Most churches also have a Christmas Juleaften (Christmas Eve) is the main event. service on both other official holidays, the 25th In the evening, an elaborate dinner is served and 26th of December. About a third of the and enjoyed with family. The meal consists of Danish population attends. pork roast with crackling, roast duck stuffed with apples and prunes, caramelized potatoes, red Julefrokoster (Christmas lunches) cabbage and brown gravy. For dessert, we eat Throughout the month of December many risalamande, which is a cold rice pudding and it’s julefrokoster (Christmas lunches) are held. served with a warm cherry sauce. It is tradition to Oftentimes, work places, unions, schools and have a whole almond hidden in the risalamande sports teams arrange them. These lunches and the lucky winner who finds the almond gets involve lots of food, beer and snaps (akvavit). a prize. I remember as a small child, that the The parties are usually held on a Friday or prize was a pink marzipan pig. However, things Saturday. A typical julefrokost starts with have changed and now it could be anything. different seafood dishes, such as pickled herring, shrimp, breaded plaice filets with remoulade, The rice for the risalamande is cooked with milk sometimes gravlax with Sennep sauce and usually made the day before, December (mustard and dill sauce), and smoked eel. Most 23rd. We therefore have the rice (risengrØd) of this is served on rugbrød (pumpernickel). served warm with a dollop of butter and a Next a variety of cold and warm meats are sprinkle of cinnamon and brown sugar. With it, served, such as flæskesteg (Pork roast with we drink a sweet malt beer maltØl. crackling) with rødkål (red cabbage), ham with italiensk salat (Italian salad), leverpostej (liver After the big meal on Juleaften, December pate) with bacon and mushrooms and roastbøf 24th, the family dances around the Christmas (roastbeef) with remoulade and roasted onions, tree and sings carols and hymns, such as Et barn all this and much more. After the meats the er født I Bethlehem (A child has been born in different cheeses are served with crackers, Bethlehem), Højt for træets grønne top (High grapes, clementines and other fruits. During on the green tree’s top) and another popular this meal, people will call out skål (toast) and carol Nu har vi jul igen (Now it’s Christmas everyone will stop eating and take a drink. again). The dancing around the tree helps after Sometimes popular drinking songs will be sung all the delicious food. After all the singing and such as “den hæves op, den sænkes ned” of dancing, it’s time for the presents. The presents “It’s raised up, it’s lowered down.” After the (Julegaver) have been placed under the tree cheese, coffee and tea is served maybe with before the dinner and the children usually take some chocolates. This entire julefrokost will last turns handing them out. for many hours.

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Julebag (Christmas baking) During the month of December a lot of baking takes place, cookies such as pebernødder, klejner, brunekager and many other kinds.

Other treats created is marzipan goodies. Aslo different types of cakes are baked, like loaf cakes and heart shaped chocolate cake.

Adventskrans (Advent wreath) Adventskrans is usually a circular decoration with four candles. On the four Sundays before Christmas Eve we light a candle and we make æbleskiver and gløgg. The æbleskiver are served with jam and powdered sugar.

Julemanden (Santa Claus) Julemanden (Christmas man) arrives on a sleigh drawn by reindeer and he delivers the presents while the children are asleep. His helpers, julenisser (Christmas elves) are believed to be living in barns, attics or similar places.

The children put out milk and risengrød (rice pudding) for them in the afternoon on December 24th, and of course it’s all gone by Christmas morning. The children also like to decorate with kravlenisser (crawling elves), which are cut out of cardboard and hung on painting and bookshelves. This tradition started already in the early 20th century. Also the julehjerter (Christmas hearts) made out of paper and hung on the Christmas tree is an old tradition.

Juletræet (Christmas tree) The first Christmas tree in Copenhagen was on Ny Kongensgade in 1811. These days there are lit Christmas trees in many places in Copenhagen. However, the big one is the one on Rådhus Pladsen. In Denmark it is a pine tree and in the old days, and in some cases still, it is decorated with real candles and Danish flag garlands, different baubles mostly in red and gold, hearts and stars and many more beautiful things. On the top of the tree a star is placed.

The presents are placed under the tree.

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