by Vibeke Lybro, AWC Denmark
If you’ve never attended the Fourth of July event at Rebild Bakker (the hills of Rebild near Aalborg in Northern Jutland, Denmark), you have missed out on a special event. The tradition of celebrating July Fourth in Denmark is unique. It goes back more than 100 years, as the first Fourth of July celebration in Denmark took place in 1912.
Denmark is still the only country outside the USA in which American Independence Day is celebrated with such gusto, respecting tradition and cultural heritage. The tradition began when some of the emigrants from Denmark to the US met up in Chicago and decided to find a place to meet with family and friends in Denmark, and July 4 was chosen as the date in order to celebrate the freedom they had found in the USA. Max Henius came from the area of Aalborg and suggested the area Rebild Bakker for this purpose. Please read more about the history at www.rebildfesten.dk
This year’s Rebild Festival started out already on July 1, with a guided tour of the Aalborg Monastery. On July 2 there were American Days in Aalborg, with American vintage cars, a market and an exhibition by well-known painter from the area: Viktor Qvistorff’s maritime paintings. Afterwards, the traditional picnic was held at Rebild Bakker (a beautiful area outside Aalborg, where the Rebild Festival is held every year). On July 3, the Mayor of Aalborg held a reception where selected participants were invited, as well as the US Ambassador to Denmark. Later the Danish-American Club hosted a luncheon at the Hotel Comwell Hvide Hus, at which a “Mayor for a Day” is traditionally appointed, and in the evening of July 3 there is always a gala at the same hotel, ending with a fantastic display of fireworks. On July 4, the official celebration is held, and the gates open at Rebild Bakker at 11 am. The traditional luncheon with snaps and herring and songs creates “hygge” among the guests, who walk down to the “pot” in the hills along a path festively decorated with all the flags of the US states to watch the Rebild Festival after the lunch. The President of the Rebild National Park Society rings the bell, and the Danish and US flags are raised with the national anthems of each country being sung, and the Rebild Festival is open. This year’s keynote speakers were Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen; the president of Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Rachelle Keck; the Danish Vice PM and Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen, who expressed concern about the wars going on in the world today; and youth speaker Jay Cannon, who told the audience about his path to becoming CEO of USA-nyt.com. Prinsens Musikkorps and singers Anita Lerche, Stine Bramsen and guitarist Kajsa Vala made sure there were some lovely songs and music before and between the speeches. The US Ambassador to Denmark also always conveys a greeting from the President of the United States at the Rebild Festival.
Please read more at www.rebildfesten.dk