Tonight the Liberation of Denmark in 1945 is marked.
It was around 20.00 or so in the evening so dusk was about to set in when people tuned in to the Danish news services from BB.
It was strictly illegal but everyone did it, especially then towards the end of the war.
The usually news were read up, when suddenly silence... The news reader resumed by telling that a special message had just come in. The HQ of Field Marshall Montgomery had just announced that the German troops in Northwest Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have surrendered
The message was repeated, but few, except the members of the Resistance, heard much more.
Because then the special bulletins came streaming out of the radio: "Gerda's coffee-cup is broken." - "Hansen has a new dog." - "Louise use curlers." And so on.
Coded messages for the Resistance.
But within minutes the streets were flooded with jubilant Danes.
The German troops quietly retreated to their barracks. They made it. They survived.
The surrender was actually formally to take place the next day the 5th May and that is the official Liberation Day, and a flag day.
But tonight the Liberation Message is marked.
It is marked by placing two lit candles in the windows.
https://www.kristendom.dk/sites/default/files/styles/main-wide-304/public/2018/02/1517996452.jpg
But it's many years ago and fewer put candles in the windows anymore. Or rather they do, but it's not a marking of the Liberation, but rather a normal thing as a consequence of our obsession with candles here in DK.
But at Amalienborg and other royal residences, like Fredensborg, this night is very much still marked as you can see here:
https://www.kristendom.dk/sites/default/files/styles/main-wide-944/public/2018/05/1525354211.jpg
Also elsewhere there are a local traditions in connection with this evening, Especially perhaps in garrison towns and Southern Jutland, where it is now just as much a communal tradition as marking the Liberation.
https://www.tvsyd.dk/files/styles/f.../2016/18/lysfest_haderslev2.jpg?itok=lWeLUlqm
https://olfi.dk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-4.jpeg
https://minby.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/oav150506mindelunden_soerenbidstrupscanpix.jpg
https://images.jv.dk/52/24552_1200_0_0_37_1969_1230.jpg
https://images.jv.dk/6/1767706_1280_851_0_0_0_0_2.jpg