Somersby Orchard Selection

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On Friday we’re going to celebrate Midsummer in Denmark, also called Sankt Hans Aften on Danish. Sankt Hans Aften (St. John’s Eve) takes its name from John the Baptist, who according to Christian tradition was born six month before Jesus. With Christmas celebrated o9n December 24th in Denmark, that puts John’s birthday on June 24th. The tradition of celebrsting the eve of his birthday with bonfire dates back to the 1600s. The Danes bonfire a light to keep the spooky forces at bay. The Danes often meet with family and freinds to have dinner together. If the weather is good, then then proceed to a local bonfire venue. Here the bonfire with the witch on top is lit around 10pm. Beforehand, a bonfire speech is often made, at large events normally by a well-kown person. After the speech, the attendees sing Holger Drachmann’s ‘Midsommervise’ (Midsummer Song, 1885), which is the epitome of the light northern summer night and a National-Romantic idyllic view of the peasant culture.

Even though the summer solstice in on June 21th, Sankt Hans Aften is regarded as the actual Midsummer Eve and therefore the shortest night of the entire year.

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This Sankt Hans Aften I’ve planned to serve a glas of cold Secco from the Somersby Orchard Selection together with nordic tapas fo my guests in my garden. Seco is a semi dry cider with tones of green apples and excotic fruits. It’s light and fresh. The nordic tapas consist cucumber rolls with salamon and cream of goat cheese served with feshly picked dill on the top and salted almonds.

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