by Anton, age 7, asks Julemanden do you look different from the American Santa?, about the Oresund strait, and Denmark’s ancient monarchy
Dear Julemanden,
My name is Anton and I am 7 years old. I live in Copenhagen, Denmark, where my family bikes everywhere even in the snow, and my mor always hides one single almond inside our Christmas Eve rice pudding.
First, do you look different from the American Santa?
Second, a geography question: what sea separates Denmark from Sweden?
Third, a school question about my country: why does Denmark have a monarchy that is one of the oldest in the world?
I left you risalamande and warm tea.
Love, Anton, age 7, Copenhagen, Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
From the Desk of Julemanden
Dear Anton, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you look different from the American Santa?
Not too different these days, red coat and all, though older Danish tradition pictured me a bit more closely tied to the nisser gnomes.
What sea separates Denmark from Sweden?
The narrow strait called the Oresund separates Denmark from Sweden, with Copenhagen sitting right along it, close enough that a bridge now connects the two countries, and I always enjoy the lights of both shores as I fly over.
Why does Denmark have a monarchy that is one of the oldest in the world?
The Danish monarchy traces its history back more than one thousand years, making it one of the oldest continuous monarchies in the entire world, with King Gorm the Old often considered its earliest recorded ruler in the 900s. Denmark has kept a royal family through all that time, its role changing from ruling directly to serving mainly as a ceremonial symbol today.
Glaedelig jul, Anton.
Ho ho ho, Julemanden
