The Days are Getting Shorter

Well....now that the longest day is over, I guess you know what that means.  We will watch the days grow shorter and shorter til December.  With the ever-changing weather here, it is so fascinating to see what each day and season bring.

First a note about last night's activities.  We didn't burn a witch, but the re were several places around the city where there were great bonfires.  Here is a note from the Danish Museum which brings some light to the subject:

Before Christianity came to Denmark, Scandinavian peoples celebrated the longest day as a supernatural struggle between light and dark, heat and cold. Since the feast day of Saint John the Baptist occurred on June 23rd, near the date of the annual summer solstice, the Christian Church emphasized this celebration in Scandinavia. “Hans” is the diminutive of “Johannes” or “John”. Today it’s a very good excuse to stay up late, have fun, and light bonfires.

In the late 19th century, it became common to affix a figure resembling a witch on top of a bonfire. The witch is said to be sent back to Bloksberg in the Hartz Mountains of Germany, reflecting a traditional uneasiness Danes feel about their powerful neighbor to the south. Some Danes regard this particular part of the tradition with mixed emotions as it evokes memories of the horrible persecutions and "witch" burnings carried out in Denmark and other European countries in the 17th century. However, this custom is only a little part of the overall tradition, and it is extremely easy to immerse yourself in the general atmosphere of friends gathering together, which surrounds the celebration.



Now isn't that great?  "The supernatural struggle between light and dark, heat and cold."  That sounds like the basis of a great gospel talk!

The Telfords were here this morning until noon.  They left to travel up to Arhus where they will visit with Elder and Sister Middlemas.  They will be back in time to join us at Institute on Thursday evening.  We had such good numbers on Sunday evening at our YSA sacrament meeting and last night for Family Home Evening, and I know many are coming to see them.  They are much loved and I can see why.

We did a little shopping this afternoon and then went to a dinner for our branch YSAs out in Amager.  We had 8 there, counting SK and me.  The mother of two of the young men was also there (it was in their home) and they prepared a feast for us.   All were returned missionaries except one...a lovely young woman who just graduated from our equivalent of high school.  The other young woman there was on a mission to Temple Square Salt Lake City, where we first met her last summer....she is amazing.  She is from Greenland and she is here in Copenhagen attending law school.  She is beautiful, spiritual and so very kind.  And she continues doing missionary work wherever she is.

One of the young men makes cookies and he approaches it very scientifically.  Each cookie is a masterpiece.  He experiements until he comes up with exactly the correct proportions of ingredients.  Tonight's was a white chocolate chip cookie that was buttery smooth and delightfully crisp.  What a treat.

We stayed and enjoyed their company for awhile.  The sun has set, and the light night time sky is filled with rain-laden clouds.  The unpredictability of the weather here is quite charming.