Some keys to a better understanding of Lutheranism
The National Evangelical Lutheran Church is subsidized by the state. In 2021, 70% of the population is Protestant, although this proportion has been declining over the past 30 years. In 1984, it was 91%. The remainder of the population belong to the Orthodox (1.7%) and Catholic (1.3%) Churches or other forms of Christianity (7%), as well as Buddhism (1.1%), Judaism (0.5%) and Islam (0.8%), which is becoming increasingly prevalent. There are now 2,300 parishes and as many pastors (trained at the theological universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus) in the eleven Danish dioceses administered by the Minister of Religious Affairs. Each diocese is organized as a bishopric and has its own cathedral. While there has been a definite decline in religious practice in recent years, this situation is not unique to Denmark. Faroese specificity: in 2007, the former "Faroese diocese" became the Faroese National Church, independent of the Church of Denmark.
A little history and how it works
Christianity took root in the early 9th century, becoming the king's religion in 950 when Harald "the Blue Tooth" was baptized. The runes inscribed on the Jelling stone still bear witness to the early Christianization of Denmark. Most Danish churches were built some two hundred years later, between the 12th and mid-13th centuries. The Lutheran Reformation of 1536 eradicated Catholicism, breaking with the Papal Church and establishing Lutheranism as the only state-sanctioned religion.
The Church hierarchy was organized, with the episcopate at the top. In recent years, a number of women have been given access to this highest position. The Church Minister is responsible for churches and pastors. Since 1947, women have also been pastors in Denmark. Each church is independently managed. The pastor and a few lay people form the presbyteral council, which manages the parish and decides on religious activities. Every four years, the parishioners meet to choose a "congregational council"(menighedsråd). The council appoints the pastors, who receive their salaries from the state. All members of the Danish church pay church tax (in addition to state tax), which covers part of the church's expenses. As monastic vows have been abolished, there are no monastic or conventual communities, and no vows of chastity, so pastors have the right to marry and start a family.
Their role is to lead the foundations of the church: baptism, confirmation, marriage, burial and mass. Mass is held every Sunday at noon. Psalms are sung and the pastor preaches on an excerpt from the Bible. There are other, more specific Masses for Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. Pastors also play an important social role in the community: they talk to people in difficulty, or visit the elderly or sick.
As far as dogma is concerned, Lutherans recognize only two sacraments: baptism and the Eucharist. The baptized automatically become members of the Church, but may withdraw when they wish. Danish teenagers, at the age of 14-15, can make their profession of faith in God, or Confirmation. This takes place after a year of religious studies and the obligation to attend church eight times. To mark the occasion, towns raise the Dannebrog (Danish flag). The Monday following Confirmation, known as "Blue Monday", is a day off, during which the confirmed can enjoy an amusement park and have fun. The Danish welfare system is a direct legacy of Protestantism.
Festivals and popular traditions
The main religious holidays are Easter, Pentecost, Ascension and Nativity, and Reformation on October 31.
Just before Easter, Fastelavn is carnival time. It is celebrated in all territories associated with Denmark, on the Sunday or Monday before Ash Wednesday. The term Fastelavn, derived from Old Norse, means "before fasting", i.e. the day before the start of Lent. During this festival, children dress up and practice the tradition of " slå katten af tønden ". Translate as "knocking the cat out of the barrel", a kind of piñata where a black cat used to be locked up, now replaced by lots of sweets! Whoever succeeds in knocking them out becomes kattedronning ("queen of the cats"), and must choose his or her king, kattekonge. On these days, the windows of bakeries and pastry shops are filled with Fastelavnsboller, round brioche buns filled with delicious whipped cream.
After this period of indulgence comes the time of fasting and penance. Store Bededag, the "Great Day of Prayer" takes place on the4th Friday after Easter Sunday. Since 1686, it has brought together on one day various dates linked to contrition. During the Easter period, it is traditional to write a " gækkebreve " letter to each other. It's written on pieces of paper cut in many different patterns, and each one must be personalized. The text must rhyme, and the sender must not sign the letter, as it's up to the recipient to guess who wrote it. If he guesses, he receives a chocolate Easter egg. If not, the pledge is for him.
St. John's Day, Sankt Hans aften, is a day of jumping and dancing around bonfires. It's a day of joy as the summer solstice is celebrated on the evening of June 23. Family and friends gather by the beach or lake. Holger Drachmann's Midsommervisen is sung, and a witch is burned at the stake.
Jul is the Christmas season, the most intense in the calendar. It begins just before December with J-Dag (D-Day), short for " julebrygsdag " (Christmas beer day). This initiative is the brainchild of the Danish brewery Tuborg, which in 1990 launched the Christmas beer that has since become a national tradition. This day, which falls on the first Friday in November, kicks off the Nativity festivities. It all begins at 8:59 p.m. sharp. Then comes Saint Lucia's Day, Luciadag, celebrated on December 13. A feast introduced in 1944 from Sweden by Franz Wend, secretary of Föreningen Norden, with the aim of "bringing light into these dark times". The day after Christmas Eve, Juleaften, is followed by two public holidays, on December 25 and 26. Born in Viking times, the Jul celebration marked the return of light. Homes are adorned with candles and decorations in predominantly red, a lovely contrast to the green of the fir tree. Contrary to what one might think, the tradition of the Christmas tree only appeared in 1808, and for the first time in Holsteinsborg, then three years later in Ny Kongensgade (Copenhagen). As for Santa Claus, he arrives on a sleigh pulled by reindeer with gifts for the children. Now, that's a familiar sight. But have you heard of his elf friends and the spiky-eared elves, including the famous Nisse? This sumptuous month concludes with the Midnight Leap. Do as all Danes do, pull up a chair and... jump into the new year when the clock strikes midnight. Be careful, though, because not jumping will bring you bad luck for the rest of the year! At least, that's what the Danes say..
Thor, Odin and other gods of Walhalla: Viking beliefs
In everyday language, we simply speak of Den Gamle tro (the old belief), the notion of folklore does not exist. Thor, the god of thunder, Odin, the creator god, Loki, the mischievous one; Yggdrasil, the great tree or Mjöllnir the hammer; the heroes Siegfried and Ragnar, the giants, the elves, the dwarves... so many characters from the Nordic myths. Through the stories of gods and heroes, the Vikings explained the world around them from its creation to its end... in chaos. This oral tradition was compiled in the 13thcentury in the Eddas, not to be confused with the Sagas, more romantic tales recounting the deeds of a king, hero or clan. This mythology was revived by the Romantic movement of the 19th century. A pantheistic religion, it gave pride of place to women, nature and divination. This pantheon, Hof, is made up of two families of gods, the Aesir (warrior and sovereign gods) and the Vanir (fertility gods), who would eventually unite. For example, Odin, god of war, was married to Frigg, goddess of marriage and fertility through motherhood. Animals play an important role: goats (Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr), ravens (Hugin and Munin), horses (Sleipnir), wild boars (Sæhrímnir) and so on. They are the faithful totemic companions of the deities.
The city ofAarhus is home to the country's oldest and one of its most important medieval Viking festivals, held annually in July. Three weeks of entertainment, costumes, Viking ships, re-enactments to bring the epic to life, and gastronomy... Hanap and aquavit at your service! Skål!
