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The Glorious Fourth is celebrated where?
What country besides the United States celebrates our Fourth of July? When Wilma Simmons, an
avid newspaper-reader and fact-collector, posed that question recently, we were amazed to learn from
her that we Americans are not alone in celebrating our Independence Day.
Every July 4 since 1912, except for the two world wars, large crowds have gathered on the heather-
covered hills of Rebild in Jutland, Denmark, to express their gratitude to America by celebrating our
national birthday.
From the mid-1880s through the turn of the last century, about one of every 10 Danes, many of them
poverty-stricken farmers, left their native country for our shores. Although the immigrants settled all
across our country, many of them ended up in the upper Midwest, where the environment was most
reminiscent of their beloved homeland.
In 1912 the Danish-American Society was founded in Chicago, and the society bought 200 acres
near Alborg, about 160 miles northwest of Copenhagen. The idea was to donate the land to the
government of Denmark— but there was one stipulation attached.
Representatives of the society met with King Christian X and asked for the Fourth of July to be
celebrated every year on that land. His Majesty agreed, then made the area a national park to stand as a
symbol of the close friendship between the U.S. and Denmark.
And so it is that every year at Rebild National Park the Stars and Stripes is raised beside the red-and-
white Danish flag, with Danes standing and cheering, then singing America’s national anthem.
Not far away, in the festive city of Aalborg, an extensive program lasts several days and includes
concerts, exhibitions, conducted tours and other events of special interest to American visitors.
Thank you, Wilma, for adding this spirit-boosting information to our 2009 celebration of
Independence Day!
avid newspaper-reader and fact-collector, posed that question recently, we were amazed to learn from
her that we Americans are not alone in celebrating our Independence Day.
Every July 4 since 1912, except for the two world wars, large crowds have gathered on the heather-
covered hills of Rebild in Jutland, Denmark, to express their gratitude to America by celebrating our
national birthday.
From the mid-1880s through the turn of the last century, about one of every 10 Danes, many of them
poverty-stricken farmers, left their native country for our shores. Although the immigrants settled all
across our country, many of them ended up in the upper Midwest, where the environment was most
reminiscent of their beloved homeland.
In 1912 the Danish-American Society was founded in Chicago, and the society bought 200 acres
near Alborg, about 160 miles northwest of Copenhagen. The idea was to donate the land to the
government of Denmark— but there was one stipulation attached.
Representatives of the society met with King Christian X and asked for the Fourth of July to be
celebrated every year on that land. His Majesty agreed, then made the area a national park to stand as a
symbol of the close friendship between the U.S. and Denmark.
And so it is that every year at Rebild National Park the Stars and Stripes is raised beside the red-and-
white Danish flag, with Danes standing and cheering, then singing America’s national anthem.
Not far away, in the festive city of Aalborg, an extensive program lasts several days and includes
concerts, exhibitions, conducted tours and other events of special interest to American visitors.
Thank you, Wilma, for adding this spirit-boosting information to our 2009 celebration of
Independence Day!