[This post is a repeat from last year. I don't usually do that, but I loved these two songs and the whole background to the way Christmas is celebrated in Denmark.]
I’m always fascinated by how Christmas is celebrated in other parts of the world, since Americans seem to forget that the holiday started in Europe and they have their own spin on it.
Thanks to Hans (a friend-of-a-friend), here’s a little background on Christmas in Denmark:
“In Denmark, like many other things, Christmas is steeped in long standing traditions, that modernize little by little over the years.
“Jul is the 24th in Denmark. The traditional ‘Nu er det jul igen’ is a children’s song ‘Now It’s Christmas Again’ which points to how the Danes get ready for Christmas starting in December, including the 24-day countdown calendars, and the 4 advent days. This ‘quickening’ occurs as you get ready with all of the planning, decorating (though the tree isn’t usually trimmed until the afternoon of the 24th) and gift buying. Basically, celebration takes place over all of December (and oh, yeah, the julefrokosts – company and club (soccer, basketball) ‘Christmas Lunches’… that’s part of the ‘quickening,’ too).
“Another big part of the countdown is the media-based broadcast of the ‘julekalender’ – Christmas Calendar. Typically for Children, this is a serial broadcast for kids, telling a story leading up to Christmas. Recently there have been adult Christmas Calendar broadcasts, which are simply edgier, and sometimes probably not appropriate for younger viewers.
“So, suddenly, it’s the 24th. First, you eat in the evening, and then you light your Christmas tree candles (surprisingly you don’t get too many fires!), and dance and sing around the Christmas tree. This is the song you sing last because it’s fast, and you then run around the house holding hands.
“Then julemanden (Santa Claus) knocks on the door, brings in the presents, and mayhem begins. Depending on how much you have to drink at dinner, mayhem can ensue when you start dancing.
“This song dates back to the 1850s, as you can see here.”
That’s all the set-up to two Danish songs I’m presenting here. Now, back to Hans.
“The first song ["Jul Igen"] is really scrooge-like take on Christmas. Basically taking a cynical look at all of the aspects of Christmas. I ran the lyrics through Google translator and then doctored them a bit.”
Here’s just the beginning:
And then it’s Christmas again
and so it’s Christmas again
and so it’s Christmas again!
Christmas trees, Christmas hearts, Christmas movies
Christmas in the merchant’s house, Christmas in karate club
Christmas in Copenhagen inn
Christmas ending, Christmas, Christmas meal
Porkroast Christmas, red cabbage and red beet Christmas
rice pudding and rice almond porridge Christmas
Christmas in the pipeline since Christmas
“The second song ["Jul På Vesterbro"] is from an adult julekalender… It takes place in Vesterbro – arguably the most urban/edgy, and recently the most hip area for young families.”
Now DET JUL again and what do I care?
My life is in his autumn and there is an ulcer on the way!
My gold tooth is broken and it’s not fucking funny to damn,
when you have a hemorrhoids as an egg!
And I have beds and paw degree and renal failure,
yellow teeth, liver cirrhosis, heart failure ledger!
I have a nightmare where my dog Rollo the Ask a fiddler
whether it should get me into heaven when it dies.
So hey, Lillemor? (Go away!) Do you decline? (Go away!)
Waste of time, so grab a stesolid!
So, here you go.
Dan Türell & Halfdan E – Jul Igen
Stewart Stardust M.Fl. – Jul På Vesterbro
UPDATE FROM 2010: There’s more to the song about Christmas in Vesterbro. Consulting Wikipedia:
Anders “Anden” (“The Duck”) Matthesen (born July 6, 1975) is a Danish stand-up comedian, actor and rapper. … [the] television “Julekalender”, Jul på Vesterbro, featured fourteen characters of his invention, all of them played by himself. These included the drunken, prostitute-addicted sailor Stewart Stardust, and his junkie son, Danny.
Here’s a video of the song “Jul På Vesterbro” from that television series.