Jump into a New Start!

I moved to Kill in Cavan in 2013, where I now live with my husband and our three young children. The New Year’s traditions here are very different from the Danish ones. It’s a much, much bigger deal in Denmark than it is here, and I always felt it was important to keep up these traditions with my children. I would love to bring them to Denmark one day to experience it properly, because it’s a long night out and the only night of the year when kids are really allowed to stay up all night. Everything is very fancy and dressed up.

New Year’s Eve is definitely the deadline to get rid of all the Christmas decorations. All the red goes away, and we bring out silver and gold to celebrate the new year in style. It’s several hours of dining, party poppers – little crackers we call table bombs – and we really go all out.

Traditionally, we would have house parties where friends are invited over. If you have children, it’s usually three or four families meeting in one house, and each year they take turns hosting.

We start early, arriving around five o’clock for snacks and drinks. We always have to be there before six, because at six o’clock the Danish Queen – or now the King – gives the New Year’s speech. I always loved that speech. She would talk about the past year, what it means to be Danish, minding each other, staying positive, and the importance of social responsibility. After that, the grown-ups would have Champagne and then sit down for dinner.

Dinner is at least three courses, but normally four or five. It’s always seafood: oysters, Bellinis with caviar, prawn cocktails, that kind of thing. It’s a big potluck where everyone brings food to share. As children, we loved it because we were allowed to drink from the long, fancy glasses that were usually kept away. Decorations are elegant, and the kransekage, a marzipan cake, is always there.

In the background on the television, there’s usually Dinner for One, an old black-and-white show about a drunken waiter serving his ladyship. It’s been shown for years and is a big part of the tradition.

Just before midnight, we turn up the television for the countdown. We all stand on chairs or sofas and jump into the new year, holding hands, we jump into a new start.

We hug, drink Champagne and then we head outside to watch the fireworks. They can last for 40 minutes to an hour, lighting up the entire sky. It’s beautiful.

The next day is all about relaxing. We go for a walk to get some fresh air, and in recent years, everyone has started watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy - just chilling out and spending time together.