New Year: near and worth a peer and where to steer clear

Kirsten Pedersen

When celebrating New Year’s Eve in Copenhagen, there are options to suit every taste. Danes love a good party and regardless of where you find yourself, you’ll be sure to see off the old and see in the new in style.

Such an evening includes a few must-dos such as watching the queen’s New Year’s speech on television at 6 pm as well as the live countdown from the big clock at Copenhagen City Hall – followed by a rendition of the national anthem.

Party food by the book
If you are invited for dinner at someone’s house, it’s guaranteed to involve a mountain of pretzels and salt sticks. New Year’s Eve dinner classically consists of cod in a mustard sauce served with various condiments like potatoes, boiled eggs, marinated beetroot, bacon, horseradish and capers. In Denmark food surrounds every tradition, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. When the clock strikes 12, kransekage (a marzipan-based cake) is served along with champagne. This dessert comes in different shapes and sizes and can be made into rather elaborate structures.

Rebels in disguise
If you happen to have experienced a quieter side to the Danes up until this point, New Year’s Eve is certain to reveal a different side to them. While Danes can come across as somewhat reserved at times, New Year’s Eve brings people out onto the streets drinking, singing and celebrating with everybody. Since Danes do not often engage in activities unless they’re scheduled (and preferably three weeks in advance), this behavioural blow-out is the people’s way of rebelling against the orderly way of Danish living!

Pre-New Year’s cleansing!
Make a splash alongside the rest of the mad winter swimmers at Vinterbad Bryggen for a pre-party endorphin kick with a New Year’s Jump at Island’s Brygge between 12:00 and 16:00. Learn more at vinterbadbryggen.com.

READ MORE: Testing the waters, winter bathing: Freeing the mind or just plain freezing?

Mi casa es su casa
Get invited to someone’s house – this is the usual way Danish people celebrate New Year’s – in good company with lots of food and drink. This way you’ll get immersed in the culture without having to work it all out for yourself. And prepare to take to the streets just before midnight as Danes are seriously into their fireworks. Some countries have heavy restrictions on the private use of fireworks – but in Denmark you can blast away merrily! And people do. Pre-purchasing a pair of safety goggles for this particular night is a very good idea.

Countdown in the centre
Join other party-happy Copenhageners at Rådhuspladsen (city hall square) for an open-air mass celebration as the crowds follow the live countdown being broadcast to the rest of Denmark. Do watch out for rogue fireworks as the place is known for getting a little sparky as the night continues. Danes are firework enthusiasts and on New Year’s Eve the streets come alive with blast-happy party-goers.

Gate-crasher’s free pass
Crash a neighbour’s party! Or even better – a neighbour who has a large rooftop terrace! This is the one night no-one will bat an eyelash at this kind of behaviour. Copenhagen is as flat as a pancake and so it is not hard to get high enough to watch the sky light up. Crashing parties is a popular activity on this particular eve and Danish people are great at throwingfun and lively affairs. These can get rather rowdy and always include lots of singing and dancing – so you probably won’t need to go anywhere else!

With new friends
If you are single and between the ages of 42 and 54, then join other singles for an all-singles party at the Radisson Blu Falconer this year! The Nytårs Running Dinner is being held for the 14th time. The organisers are apparently responsible for Denmark’s biggest singles events. Learn more at runningdinner.dk.

Toasting 2016 at Tivoli
This is a classic and sure to please as Tivoli is a magical place regardless of the occasion. There are various restaurant choices, although many do get booked in advance. You can enjoy the rides until 22:00 and watch the impressive fireworks display at midnight. Learn more at tivoli.dk.

Revelling with the royals
If you’re a fan of royalty there is always a crowd of Copenhageners gathered at Amalienborg square at midnight to watch the Royal Guard Parade and to wish each other a happy new year.

Celebrating at the circus
Wallman’s (Cirkus bygningen) features extraordinary New Year shows and this year includes an international musical show and various circus performances. Learn more at wallmans.dk.

TOP STORIES

  • Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    After more than a decade living in Denmark, Russell shares why she made the move, how she’s coping, what she already misses, and the exciting new projects she’s working on. “It’s been a very tough decision. I love Denmark, and it will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says.

  • Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    The new Gefion AI supercomputer is one of the world’s fastest and will accelerate research and provide new opportunities in Danish academia and industry.

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs