[Leica] Nathan's PAD 23/6/2015: Skt. Hans Aften in my hometown

[RicCarter]

great fun!

ric


> On Jun 27, 2015, at 1:18 AM, Nathan Wajsman <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote:
> 
> I have been in Denmark since the 20th. One of the nice things about being here in late June is that I got to see the midsummer celebration. June 24 is called Skt. Hans (St. John) and the evening before the tradition is to light a big fire with a figure of a witch on top, to symbolize the evil spirits and the darkness of winter being banished. In many places the witch figure is being dispensed with in these politically correct times, but the other traditions remain: the fire on the beach, the enjoyment of the long evening (sunset is only at 10:11 p.m. that day, and it does not really dark until after 11), a traditional song called “Vi elsker vort land” (“We love our country”), etc. So I took my bicycle and cycled the 3 km from my friend Lars’s apartment to the beach to hear the mayor speak and to witness the celebration. What follows is a mini essay.
> 
> The crowds gather:
> http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161693039&k=NznbGQk&lb=1&s=O
> 
> Eating and drinking are a big part of the event, of course:
> http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161693449&k=Ck2VsxM&lb=1&s=O
> 
> A witch steals the soul of her son:
> http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161693781&k=M4hrsDJ&lb=1&s=O
> 
> The mayor of Aarhus has spoken, now is the time to light the fire:
> http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161694984&k=jXjC8GB&lb=1&s=O
> 
> Final preparations:
> http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161695290&k=nBRmrnQ&lb=1&s=O
> 
> Local children, evidently of immigrant background, get to do the honours:
> http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161695594&k=98h7BFC&lb=1&s=O
> 
> A few minutes later:
> http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161695883&k=w4jWc49&lb=1&s=O
> 
> And then I took my bicycle and went back to Lars:
> http://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/4253606_kdsZ6C#!i=4161696193&k=vsvSd23&lb=1&s=O
> 
> 
> Cheers,
> Nathan
> 
> Nathan Wajsman
> Alicante, Spain
> http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/>
> http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu
> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/>
> Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator>
> YNWA
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