I was out for a run this morning and noticed that the buses are flying the Danish flag today. Now, if you’re not from around these parts, that’s a pretty unusual sight in itself…
Danish buses and official buildings fly the flag “Dannebrog” – incidentally, the oldest national flag in the world - on certain ‘flag days’. Which are usually Royal birthdays, national celebrations such as Constitution Day, or religious holidays like Easter and Christmas. You can find this year’s complete list on the Danish Ministry of Justice website.Â
Well, I went there to check what we’re meant to be celebrating and – go figure – there was nothing on their list for today. The next official ‘flag day’ is tomorrow – the fifth of May – Befrielsesdag (Liberation Day). Though there are actually two dates for Liberation Day… The fourth of May, when the Germans surrendered. The fifth of May, when the surrender officially came into force. Many Danes will mark the occasion tonight by putting a candle in their window. Just as they did on that night in 1945, when they were finally able to take down their blackout curtains and let in the light. So maybe that’s why the buses are flying the flag today?
Or is it something else? I checked my own calendar. Hmm, the fourth of May. Got it! Star Wars Day!
May the Fourth (be with you)! 
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4 Comments
thanks for such an informative blog. i was wondering that today, there were lots of flags in the streets..i thought that either they were opening a new shop or something else
There could be another explanation – Margaret Thatcher became PM of the UK on the 4th May 1979. Were the flags flying at half mast perhaps????
Hi Madelein! Yes, you’re going to be seeing a lot of flags – I’ve got more blogposts coming on that very subject!
Dear Annette LOL! I still remember the day Maggie came to power…coming home from school, reading the billboards – and my parents were so sad. And then, of course, my school milk disappeared!
Its Flag Day and at the same time its also the 235th birthday of the US Army. Both occasions require commemoration but these days it seems as though Americans dont fly the flag at their homes nearly as often as in years past. I took a quick look this morning when I put my flag in its holder and another one as I wrote this post.
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[...] the Danish royal family than you can wave a Danish flag at… (And, selvfølgelig, Danish buses will be patriotically decked out in flags over the weekend [...]
[...] Denmark will be closed on Friday because it’s Stor Bededag.  ’Big Prayer Day’… Yep, those crazy Danes decided there were just too many religious holidays during the year so they lumped the minor ones together. How practical! Â
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