Easter Sunday

Easter History

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, an event described in the New Testament. It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by a period known as Lent, a forty-day duration of fasting, prayer, and penance. It is laden with profound religious symbolism and observance practices making it a time of solemnity, celebration, family gatherings, and feasting.

There is evidence that Easter observances were held in Denmark since the middle ages, preceding even the establishment of Christianity as the state religion. Danish people consider Easter a particularly important time, as Denmark has deep-rooted Christian cultural history. It is also significant because it symbolizes the victory of spring over winter, of life over death, and given Denmark’s geographical location and climate, this aspect of Easter has considerable resonance.

In modern-day Denmark, Easter is observed with both religious and secular customs. Danish churches hold special Easter services, and many people attend these services to honor the religious aspect of the holiday. Secular observances of Easter in Denmark include time spent with family and friends, Easter egg hunts for children, and more notably "gækkebreve", the tradition of sending anonymous letters with a snowdrop attached. The holiday usually occurs from Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday in late March or early April, depending on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.

Facts about Easter Sunday

• For many Christian congregations, the first Easter service for the year is the Service of Light. The worship typically starts in darkness on the preceding Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Light is brought into the church with candles to signify hope based on the resurrection. The service culminates with the lighting of a paschal candle, signifying Christ.
• Easter eggs represent new life and also symbolize the shape of Jesus' tomb.
• An interesting and unique Danish Easter tradition is the "Gækkebrev." It’s a type of teaser letter that children send to family and friends. The letter typically contains a snowflake-like paper cut-out and a short poem or riddle. The sender stays anonymous, only giving away their identity by placing dots for each letter in their name. If the receiver of the 'gækkebrev' cannot guess who it's from, they owe the sender a chocolate Easter egg.
• The Danes also have a tradition of Easter crime fiction stories, known as "Påskekrim", which is a genre of Nordic Noir that gains popularity around Easter time.

In the News and Trending in Denmark for Easter Sunday

Top things to do in Denmark for Easter

• Go to a children's Easter egg hunt or hold one of your own. Many churches have them the Saturday before Easter too.
• Cook an Easter dinner for family and friends. Traditional entrees include lamb or ham. During Lent (period leading up to Easter), many Roman Catholics exclude meat from their diet, so Easter is often indulgent on meat.
• Visit Aarhus: As Denmark's second largest city, Aarhus offers plenty to do during Easter. Check out The Old Town Museum, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, and the Royal Palace Marselisborg, where the royal family stays during Easter.
• Prepare traditional meals for Easter, such as:
  1) Påskefrokost (Easter Lunch): A traditional Danish luncheon served on Easter. It usually includes pickled herring, shrimp, liver pate, cheese, and rugbrød (Rye bread).
  2) Lam (Lamb): Lamb is often the centerpiece of a Danish Easter meal, cooked with garlic, rosemary, and other spices.
  3) Tarteletter: These are small puff pastry shells filled with chicken and asparagus. They are often served as an appetizer during Easter.