Grundlovsdag | |
---|---|
Also called | Constitution Day |
Observed by | Danes |
Type | National |
Significance | Anniversary of the Danish constitution |
Celebrations | Speeches by politicians |
Date | 5 June |
Next time | 5 June 2024 |
Frequency | annual |
Constitution Day ( Danish: Grundlovsdag) is observed in Denmark on 5 June. [1] [2] The day honors the Constitution of Denmark, as both the first constitution of 1849 and the current constitution of 1953 were signed on this date of their respective years. [3] Denmark is one of only a handful countries in the world not to have an official national day, but Constitution Day is sometimes considered the equivalent of such a day. It is also widely considered to be a day for celebrating Danish democracy.
Though it has never been an official national holiday, Constitution Day was a half-day off work from 1891 until 1975. Since then, collective labor agreements have usually given workers a half-day or the whole day off on Constitution Day. [4] Stores with an annual turnover of at most 41.4 million kroner can stay open on Constitution Day, but most stores must keep closed. [5]
The day is widely celebrated throughout Denmark with church congregations, associations and political organizations meeting for what are essentially "secular services". [3] These services include the raising of the Dannebrog (the Danish flag), a short speech by a local politician or celebrity, and collective singing ( Danish: fællessang).
Following the Danish Constituent Assembly of 1848 and 1849, the first constitution (which established Denmark as a constitutional monarchy) was signed by King Frederick VII on 5 June 1849. The constitution was completely rewritten in 1866, 1915 (when women's suffrage was introduced), and most recently in 1953, the latter two rewritings also on 5 June. [6]
5 June is also Father's Day in Denmark. [3] [7] It was introduced in 1935, and until 1956 it fell on the second Sunday of November. Father's Day was later moved to its current date since Constitution Day was a half-day off work. [8]
Grundlovsdag | |
---|---|
Also called | Constitution Day |
Observed by | Danes |
Type | National |
Significance | Anniversary of the Danish constitution |
Celebrations | Speeches by politicians |
Date | 5 June |
Next time | 5 June 2024 |
Frequency | annual |
Constitution Day ( Danish: Grundlovsdag) is observed in Denmark on 5 June. [1] [2] The day honors the Constitution of Denmark, as both the first constitution of 1849 and the current constitution of 1953 were signed on this date of their respective years. [3] Denmark is one of only a handful countries in the world not to have an official national day, but Constitution Day is sometimes considered the equivalent of such a day. It is also widely considered to be a day for celebrating Danish democracy.
Though it has never been an official national holiday, Constitution Day was a half-day off work from 1891 until 1975. Since then, collective labor agreements have usually given workers a half-day or the whole day off on Constitution Day. [4] Stores with an annual turnover of at most 41.4 million kroner can stay open on Constitution Day, but most stores must keep closed. [5]
The day is widely celebrated throughout Denmark with church congregations, associations and political organizations meeting for what are essentially "secular services". [3] These services include the raising of the Dannebrog (the Danish flag), a short speech by a local politician or celebrity, and collective singing ( Danish: fællessang).
Following the Danish Constituent Assembly of 1848 and 1849, the first constitution (which established Denmark as a constitutional monarchy) was signed by King Frederick VII on 5 June 1849. The constitution was completely rewritten in 1866, 1915 (when women's suffrage was introduced), and most recently in 1953, the latter two rewritings also on 5 June. [6]
5 June is also Father's Day in Denmark. [3] [7] It was introduced in 1935, and until 1956 it fell on the second Sunday of November. Father's Day was later moved to its current date since Constitution Day was a half-day off work. [8]