Danish Tradition

This is the e-mail I received:

 

Next week, on Tuesday 29^th of January Peter and Christa have been married for 12½ years. And yes, we know it’s crazy! But that is actually something we celebrate in Denmark. We call it at copper wedding anniversary.  In Denmark it’s traditionally celebrated by friends, neighbors and family arranging a surprise breakfast party. And since you are our friends, neighbors and family here, please come help us make this a special morning for Peter and Christa.

 

According to tradition, the celebration will be like this:

 

Monday the Danish families will meet to prepare half an arch (the full arch you make for couples celebration silver anniversary =25 years J). We will go to Peter and Christa’s apartment at put the half arch in front of their door late Monday night.

Tuesday morning 6:15-6:30:We all meet in the hall way in front of the elevator, level 1 in Banjinwan, building 9. At 6:30 we take the elevator to the 9^th floor and try to squeeze together in front of Peter and Christa’s door. Then we will wake them up by making as much noise as possible. For this purpose each family should bring a pair of pot lids!  After Peter and Christa opens the door (we hope they will J) it is custom to sing a few songs. We will try to find appreciate English songs – or maybe we will just sing the Danish ones – let’s see…Hopefully Peter and Christa will then ask all of us to come in.  After that we will all have a quick and simple Danish breakfast: Danish bread, cheese, butter, jam, juice, coffee and of course a few traditional Danish breakfast shots J. If there are other things you really need to have for breakfast, please bring your own…

 

So, at 6:15 a.m. today Ileana and I were jumping in her van with all the kids.  Our husbands decided not to go.  We got to Banjingwan, went up to the 9th floor.  All the Danish started singing while the kids beat lids together and made all kinds of noise.  It took a good 3 minutes until Peter finally opened the door.  We completely woke them up.  It was cool.  We completely invaded their apartment.  Everyone enjoyed a Danish breakfast and some really, really nasty shot.  Thank goodness it was really small because it was horrible.  It is Danish tradition.  They should drop that part.  All the Danish sang another song.  I asked Anna (one of their girls) what they were saying.  She said "I don't even know what they are saying.  They are singing old Danish".  It sounded amazing whatever it was.

 

Everyone was gathered in the hall.  Luckily the other apartment
on that floor was empty.

They finally opened the door.

Peter and Crista looking surprised.

It was very early for a lot of these kids.

Going in for breakfast.

The Danish were singing to Peter and Crista.

Peter was thanking us all for coming.

We found the kids watching Chinese Tom and Jerry cartoons.

Peter and Crista were completely shocked and overwhelmed.  They didn't think the tradition would carry on in China.  Crista said she heard noise and she kept trying to turn the snooze off on the alarm.  She then realized it wasn't the alarm making the noise.  That is when Peter started to investigate and then opened the door with a shocked look on his face.  So cool.

 

By 7:15 we were back in the van heading home.  Off to school at 7:45.  What a crazy morning.  It is so cool that we were able to partake in this Danish tradition.  Love that we now have friends from all over the world and love that they share their traditions with us.