Sonia Bernadotte

Getting around

Odense to Svendborg travel time reduction

Before the railway opened in 1876, a 47 km journey between Odense and Svendborg took 5.5 hours by stagecoach; afterwards, the train reduced this time to 95-100 minutes.

At the table

Thick milk and post-dinner traditions

A common and sometimes surprising Danish dish was thick milk, made by letting rich milk sour for days until it turned into a jelly-like consistency, then served with crumbled rye bread and sugar. Another popular tradition was for children to salute their parents after dinner by saying Tak for mad, meaning thanks for the meal.

What people wore

Extensive wardrobes for special occasions

In some regions, such as Amager, women had highly specific outfits for different occasions, and it was said that an Amager woman needed at least 11 different aprons to be appropriately dressed for every event. A man might own three different suits, which was still considered more than in many other parts of Denmark.

Music

The Fanø dance tradition in Denmark

On the island of Fanø, a distinct tradition known as Fanø music and dance, including dances like sønderhoning and fannikedans, was performed throughout the 20th century using a set repertoire of about 120 melodies.

Daily life

School shifts and child labor

To manage limited space and high demand, city schools divided students into two shifts, one from 8 am to 1 pm and the other from 1 pm to 6 pm. Outside of these hours, children often worked to earn money for their families.