Our Christmas at a Danish Folk High School

Erik and JonnaGEAR Plus, Konolfingen, 2014

N.F.S. Grundtvig, 1783-1872Worldfamous – in Denmark

1831 1872

Grundtvig ideas

• A human first, then a Christian• Freedom in school, in church, in politics• School for Life – not for exams• Spirit is the power or life force, it manifests

itself through spoken words, it works only in freedom and connects always with concrete human and social life.

• Sing hymns and songs in common!

Ry Folkehøjskole (Jonna, 1965)

Krogerup Højskole (Erik, 1965)

Let’s sing! Singen wir, bitte!

Die Gedanken sind frei, wer kann sie erraten?Sie fliegen vorbei wie nächtliche Schatten.Kein Mensch kann sie wissen, kein Jäger erschießenes bleibet dabei: Die Gedanken sind frei!- A lecture in Folk High Schools begins with a song from the Folkehøjskolens Sangbog (here no. 805)

Erik and Jonnas Christmas’esThrough all years

• With family, our parents (died years ago), then siblings, nephews, nieces and their children.

• Stress about correct level of gifts and about where to go and who to disappoint?

Now in 2013

• We want the peace and contemplation of Christmas

• And the wonderful texts and music in the church

• And not alone, with other people of the same mind

• Let’s go to ……….

Løgumkloster Højskole ( & Church)

One week, short course

• 72 grown ups, Jonna and Erik were the relatively young!

• Many came every year, or for other courses during the year

• From all Denmark, two from Norway and two (Danish-speaking) from Freiburg

Morning• 07:45-08:15 Breakfast• 08:30-08:50 Morning song, teachers words

for the day and a prayer in the chapter house• 09:30-11:50 Lectures on Christmas stories, or

on Dickens, or Tolkien, or Christmas in the arts, or Christmas music through the centuries.

• 12:00-13:00 Lunch

Morning sessionsChapter house

(song and one way talk)Lecture (talk and dialogue) in the

blue octagon

Afternoons

Tours to Flensborg (Germany) Tønder (Laces)

• Walk in town (rain!)

Memorial for PoW 1914-1918 (the land was German until 1920)

Evenings

• Dinners and friends• Films• Library

• Concerts in church

Christmas Eve, small gifts for everyone

Much singing and dancing around the tree

Results?

• We experienced active calmness, and anxiety melted away• We met very friendly and very

different people• We sang and sang and sang…• We shall do it again!

Singen wir nochmal, bitte!

Und sperrt man mich ein im finsteren Kerker,das alles sind rein vergebliche Werke.Denn meine Gedanken zerreißen die Schrankenund Mauern entzwei, die Gedanken sind frei!