St George’s Day Celebrations
Saddle up those horses and defeat that dragon, the damsel’s life depends on it! Yes, this Monday is St George’s Day – a feast day dedicated to England’s patron saint. St George was born to Christian parents in Cappadocia (now eastern Turkey) in 270 AD before moving to Palestine with his mother and becoming a high-ranking Roman soldier. After quitting his military post and protesting against his leader, Emperor Diocletian, St George suffered a torturous imprisonment yet refused to give up his Christian faith. The furious emperor then had St George dragged out onto the streets of Turkey and beheaded on 23 April, 303 AD.
St George has been heralded for his bravery since that time, and in the 1400s, the holiday was even as important as Christmas. St George’s Day fell in popularity after England’s union with Scotland at the end of the 18th century, but has in recent years gained back some momentum. Traditional customs include wearing a rose in your lapel, flying the St George’s flag and singing the church hymn ‘Jerusalem’ on the Sunday falling nearest. These days, beer is a big focus, with a supplement of dancing, Punch and Judy shows and eating hearty English food. St George’s Day is celebrated in countries across Europe (particularly eastern Europe), Canada, and now, of course, Denmark. St George’s Day Celebrations
Various venues in Greater Cph; Monday April 23
St George’s at Sankt Nikolai – All of you expats living in Copenhagen needn’t miss out – St Nikolai’s Pub is running an assortment of fun and games to get you into the spirit of the day …
Sankt Nikolai Restaurant and Pub, Nikolajgade 18, Cph K; 14:00–late
Saving the Damsel – St Nikolai’s owner Martin Popplewell will play St George on the day, clobbering through the streets with John the hunchback peasant. Suddenly, a dragon wrestles the damsel from St George’s clutches. Will our hero rescue the damsel in time? If you are a Monty Python fan, this street pantomime is just for you.
Outside Sankt Nikolai; approximately 18:00
Traditional food & drink deals – With Lancashire hot pot, fish and chips and Cornish pasties on the menu, you can expect a hearty feast fit for the knights of the round table. There will be food and drink deals on all day – a Lancashire hot pot and pint will set you back just 99kr. It’s happy hour all day too – with real cask ale to get those glasses clinking.
Sankt Nikolai; all day
English pub quiz – Test your St George’s Day knowledge in a pub quiz. Players will be divided into teams of four, with a St Nikolai’s food and drinks voucher up for grabs for the winning team.
Sankt Nikolai; approximately 19:00
Somerset Cider Tasting – If Champagne is the crème-de-la-crème region for sparkling wine, Somerset is the top spot for cider. If you like your apples, the pub’s Somerset cider tasting is sure to satisfy.
Sankt Nikolai; all day
All-English playlist – The best of Britain will blast through the speakers all day. Spanning eras from the 60s to now, the list will feature favourites like Pink Floyd, The Who, The Beatles, Queen and The Stone Roses.
Sankt Nikolai; all day
St George’s Day for kids – Knights, dragons and princesses! When you think about it, St George’s Day has it all for the little ones in our lives to whom fairytales are still real, and as usual the home of Hans Christian Andersen doesn’t disappoint with a range of activities available. SA
Various venues; Monday April 23
Dragon Playground – This playground in Kongens Have is the perfect place for little knights to get some dragon-slaying practice. It has two giant wooden dragon sculptures surrounding a large bronze dragon egg. It even comes with its own castle in the form of Rosenborg Slot. A little café and changing facilities are available. SA
Kongens Have, Øster Voldgade 4B, 1350 Cph K
Live Role Play – Dressing up for group activities in the fresh air is a wonderful way for older children to participate in quests or fight strategic battles. Participate in ‘The Riddle of the Forest’ and dress up as a knight following the clues given by all manner of mythical creatures. You can book a family day experience with www.rollespil.com. SA
Flags and Treats – To mark St George’s, Abigail’s British Food Store will be giving away free English flags and treats to all children who visit the shop. It’s also a good opportunity to stock up on all those favourite goodies you miss from home. Perfect if you’re planning a roast dinner, bangers and mash, or good old fashioned fish and chips! SA
Abigail’s British Food Store, Peder Hvitfeldts Stræde 17, kld. 1173 Cph K; all day Mon; www.abigails.dk
Horse Riding – Every knight needs a knobble steed and what princess isn’t pony-obsessed? For children over ten years old, you can book riding lessons or a tour at frederiksens-isheste.dk. If your little ones are very little, then take a trip to Copenhagen Zoo. Every weekend until the autumn holidays for 30kr you can enjoy a very short walk on a very small pony. Or Visit Denmark has a list of all the various stables around Denmark if you are feeling more adventurous. SA
www.visitdenmark.com, www.frederiksens-isheste.dk, www.zoo.dk
Stories of Dragons – ‘Stories of Dragons’ is a collection of funny stories about dragons, and it comes with a CD that reads along. The Usborne Young Reading series was developed with experts at Roehampton University to help young readers grow in confidence and ability. Stories of Dragons is available to buy at Books and Company (the English-language book shop in Hellerup). SA
Books and Company, Sofievej 1, 2900 Hellerup; www.booksandcompany.dk
The children’s listings were contributed by Sarah Andersen.
