Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1952-11-07

Bad Weather Conditions
Weather conditions were poor
while we were in Denmark" ac-
cording to the Scandinavian trav-
eler. ''It rained constantly for
four weeks, day and night. But,
with so much rain, it was amazing
to still see the flowers blooming
and the vegetation thriving. In
Denmark, very noticeable change
has taken place in the climate
during the last few years. So
much rain is not normal there and
all the Danes, like Americans,
were talking about the weather
all the while we were there. There
seems to be no explanation for the
climate change, but it is gradual
and of great concern to the peo-
pie"
'tBy nature, the Danes are great
sun lovers. The minute the sun
bursts forth (Which it did only one
week while the Rasmussens were
there) the Danes flock to the beach
and amazingly enough, they have
some of the most beautiful sun
tans to be seen. Even in cool
weather, they can be seen stretch
ed out on the beaches, even if
they're freezing" reports Mrs. Ras-
mussen. Near the Rasmussen fam
lily home in Sindal is famous
beach, Tversted, on the North Sea.
Attend Quaint Wedding
Danna and her mother were
privileged, while in Denmark, to
attend a large wedding which en-
bodied many of the quaint Gus
toms of that country. The cele-
bration, held in a large country
inn which was several hundred
years old, lasted four days. The
wedding, held at S pm on Satur-
day, was preceded with the tredi-
tional Smorgasbord (Smaargaass-
bord in Danish), for the 25 out-of-
town guests. The ceremony was
then performed in a 600 year old
Lutheran Church The wedding
dinner which followed is worth
describing" because it is SO typi-
cal of the delicious meals for
which the Danes are world ia
NOUS" The menu consisted of
Honsekod Chicken Soup; Laks
med Mayonnaise Salmon with
mayonnaise; Stegt and Rod Kaal :
Roast Duck with red cabbage;
Franske Kartoffel-French Fried
Potatoes; Gronne Bonner med Re-
ven Ost Green Beans with grated
cheese and butter; Chocolate Kups
med Frugt chocolate cups with
fruit cocktail; and wines of various
types to suit each course. The
guests retired to the Inn following
their meal in the banquet hall
where they enjoyed coffee and
the traditional wedding cake made
of almond paste and arranged ir
tier fashion.
Dancing was enjoyed until early
Sunday morning by the wedding
party. In order to capture his
bride, the groom followed custom
when he was required to breal
through circles of friends slpr
rounding the bride. At the Hvid
stem Inn it is the custom for the
bride to dance with the hired man
Staff members of the inn thel
form a ring around the dancing
couple and the guests form the
second ring. The groom forces his
way through the barrier, capture
his bride, they dance and finall,
escape to their new home amids
clamouring of guests. Their au
tomobile, as in America, is de
corated with traditional old shoe
and tin cans.
SeTVdHIS ARE fereo
Even though the bride ant
groom had left, the wedding guests
remained until the following Tues
day when another custom was OBJ
served. The guests, in tribute tt
the staff members at the Inn, ther
served a banquet similar to tha
of the wedding to the employees
The same formalities are followed
right up to the washing of the
dishes by the members of the we'd
ding party. In payment for the
service of their guests, the Inr
allows them to take food from thu
Inn for use when they return tc
their homes.
Lasting impressions of Mrs. Ras
mussen and daughter, Danna, are
that the Danes are very friendly
and their hospitality is beyonc
compare. "But, after five weeks
in Denmark we were both ready
to return to the United States
There's only one United States a.
! far as we're concerned" Mrs. Res
mussen and Danna returned home
on October 10, flying to New Yorl
from Copenhagen