With spring knocking at the door and the Easter weekend upon us, we take a look at how the different Nordic countries choose to celebrate the occasion as, although they have a lot in common, each also has its own unique culture and customs.
Traditions
Danes not only see Easter as a religious event but also as marking the arrival of Spring, which is warmly welcomed after the long, dark winter, and shops and homes are adorned with cheerful decorations in yellows and greens, along with budding branches and daffodils. Most celebrate Easter in their homes or their summerhouses and embrace the concept of hygge, which involves spending time together relaxing and having fun.
Easter lunch, or påskefrokost, lasts for most of the day and is a blend of lunch and dinner. Chicken, lamb and vegetables usually feature, along with herring, a selection of small hot dishes, and sliced meats and cheese. Egg dishes also play a key role, and could arrive boiled, fried or, in the southern tradition, as solæg (‘sun egg’), where the eggs are boiled with onions until the yolk turns dark green, then left in a salty mixture for a week, before being eaten with mustard and chili. Beer – including stronger, specially brewed Easter varieties – and snaps (aquavit) are the favourite accompaniments to these meals.
Fun activities include making a gækkebrev, a paper snowflake containing a ‘teaser poem’, or a rhyming riddle, and signed with dots instead of a name; one to represent each letter. This is presented along with a vintergækker (snowdrop), which is considered to be the first flower of the year. The game dates back to the 1600s and a chocolate egg is at stake: if the recipient guesses the sender, then the sender has to present them with an egg; if the recipient fails to guess correctly, then they must present the sender with an egg. Other games include Easter egg hunts organised in gardens or parks and competitions to see who can throw a hardboiled egg the furthest. Children also receive substantially-sized chocolate eggs filled with sweet treats.
The MICHELIN Guide Inspectors' Favourite Hotels
April in Denmark means rapidly climbing temperatures and increasing hours of daylight. So why not book yourself a long weekend and see what the country has to offer? Here are some of the Inspectors' favourite places to stay:Colourful: Absalon Hotel, Copenhagen
This grand, family-run hotel is located in a classic corner building in the heart of Vesterbro. Its warm, colourful rooms come with white oak floors, boldly striped curtains and vibrantly patterned wallpapers, and it's possible to access to your room for a full 24 hours from check-in to check-out without paying an extra fee.
Tropical: Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden, Copenhagen
Set by the side of The Lakes, this Balinese-inspired hotel presents something of a verdant tropical fantasy, with its lush pool deck and rooms which add hand-crafted rustic accents to their clean lines and hygge vibe. It’s fun and funky but also quite luxurious, with poolside and rooftop bars and a Balinese-Nordic spa.
Outside the City: Allinge Badehotel, Allinge
This unpretentious little boutique hotel on the island of Bornholm captures Scandinavian hospitality at its cosiest. The beautifully renovated 18th-century house has been updated with decorative elements by contemporary Danish designers, making it quietly stylish but without sacrificing the timelessness of an authentic old seaside inn.
