Commemoration of Jens Munk's 1619 Expedition and the 800th Anniversary of Dannebrog

​Ceremony Commemorating 800th Anniversary of Danish Flag

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Dannebrog, the Danish flag, dates back to the year 1219 and the reign of King Valdemar the Victorious.  2019 is the 800th Anniversary of the flag.   A flag raising ceremony was held in front of Winnipeg City Hall on Saturday, May 25th, 2019 to commemorate the anniversary.  In attendance was Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, Danish Ambassador to Canada Thomas Winkler and Karl Sorensen, former president of the Danish Canadian Club of Manitoba. Karl Sorensen had proposed to hold the flag ceremony at Winnipeg City Hall in conjunction with the National Danish Canadian Conference which was hosted by the Danish Canadian Club of Manitoba. After some stirring remarks by the three dignitaries, who were accompanied by Danish Consul Helle Wilson and City Councillor Jason Schreyer, the Danish flag was raised in front of City Hall. Witnessing the event were the Conference Delegates and many passers-by.

Once the flag had been raised the Danish and Canadian National Anthems were sung. The flags had been drooping as there was no wind.  Fittingly, as the Danish National Anthem was sung the wind picked up and all the flags waved beautifully in all their glory.  It was very touching to see the flags flying together.

The Ceremony was followed by a lovely lunch at City Hall for the Conference Delegates. A special treat was the cookies, decorated to resemble the Danish flag. Inside City Hall the Danish and Canadian flags were accompanied by the flags of Winnipeg and Manitoba. Mayor Bowman invited the delegates to view his office and visit the City Hall Chamber. It was a moving and solemn ceremony, commemorating the world’s oldest national flag.

- Rolf Buschardt Christensen