Two trips

July 26, 2002:  Called Zoya in a.m. about her trip to Germany.  She came in afternoon and we played Rummikub.  Delores here in evening for more Rummikub.  The kids came home midday from their trip.
July 27, 2002:  Had a long telephone talk with Nancy this morning.  Greta called right after dinner.  She had sweet corn to freeze this p.m.  Mary came in late p.m. to get my surplus fruit salad and cake.
July 28, 2002:  Today is Nancy's birthday -- also little Sarah's.  She came in the late afternoon -- brought KFC chicken dinners for us.  I showered and then we played Rummikub.  She told a lot about their vacation.

I think Germany is probably a fun trip, but my first priority is Denmark.  Unless, of course, Mom's ancestry DNA thingy comes back and we aren't Danish after all but Lithuanian instead.  Then, I would want to to to Lithuania.

I found out via the internet not too long ago, well the 4th of July actually, that some Danes have a big 4th of July celebration.  Not for some holiday or commemoration of their own, but for the United States' holiday.  Seems some transplanted Danes came back to the old country and bought some land.  Well, here I will leave it to an article I found to tell the story.

     It may surprise some Americans to know that the Fourth of July is not just celebrated in America, but around the world. And the biggest celebration of American Independence Day outside the United States takes place in the hills of Jutland in Denmark, where thousands of people have gathered every year since 1912 to celebrate the day in true American style.

     In a story that was repeated throughout Europe in the 1800 and 1900s, many Danes bid farewell to friends and family who set off for America to build a new life for themselves, often never to return. The Rebild Society was founded in order to provide a place for Danish Americans meet with the friends and loved ones they left behind in Denmark.

     The place they chose was the peaceful hilly moorland in Jutland known as Rebild Bakker (bakker means hills in Danish). A collection was taken up by Danish Americans to purchase 190 acres of the property, which was then presented to the Danish government as a national park for the purpose of Danish born Americans to celebrate Independence Day and other American holidays there. The park is open all year round to the public who are free to enjoy its natural beauty.

     Rebild Bakker park is visited by over 400,000 people each year, making it one of Denmark’s top tourist attractions. As well as being an area of natural beauty, the park offers visitors many American-themed attractions such as a replica of Lincoln’s log cabin, which serves as a Danish emigrant museum, telling the stories of the 300,000 or so Danes who left their homeland for America in the 1800 and 1900s. There is a replica of a totem pole given to Franklin D. Roosevelt called Kolteen after an Indian chief located at the park, as well as statues of well known Danes, Danish Americans and President Taft. These include Max Henius, who founded the society, Victor Borge, who served as an honorary president of the society, and Jens Toldstrup, an important member of the Danish Resistance movement during the Second World War.

     The Rebild Society has its own flag, which was designed to combine the American and Danish flags, along with a constellation of stars symbolising emigration and the night sky which we all share.

     The first celebration of American Independence Day at Rebild Bakker in 1912 proved to be a rather inauspicious start to a long and well loved tradition. First, the celebrations were delayed until 5 August, due to the country being in national mourning following the sudden death of King Frederik VIII. The weather proved to be terrible on the day, with rain coming down in buckets. Still, between 10,000 to 15,000 people gathered on the hills, huddling under their umbrellas, where they cheered the new king and celebrated American Independence.

     Over the years, the celebrations continued. Each year, the celebrations feature keynote speakers from both the United States and Denmark. American speakers over the years have included Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, Pat Boone, Dionne Warwick and even Richard Nixon. Danish speakers have included Queen Margrethe, her sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, film director Bille August, and former Prime Ministers Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

     The nearby city of Aalborg hosts a festival called American Days to coincide with the Fourth of July celebrations at Rebild Bakker, including concerts, exhibitions and tours of the area. Besides the keynote speakers, there are parades, singing, activities for children, and plenty of food and drink on offer to celebrate the Fourth of July at Rebild Bakker.

     The American Independence Day celebrations at Rebild Bakker bring together Americans and Danes to celebrate the bond between their two nations. Although they may now live an ocean away, Americans of Danish heritage have not forgotten where they came from and many return to their homeland to celebrate and visit with the friends and family they have left behind.

That clinches it.  Whenever I do go to Denmark, I will have to go over the 4th!!  Here's just one photo I found from one year's celebration.