Kapsejlads: The craziest Danish tradition I’ve seen yet

On 26 April, 201523 April, 2019 By Alison HaywoodIn Culture, Erasmus Mundus, Studying Abroad, TraditionsLeave a comment

Move over, Friday bars and freshman initiation rituals. You can have your Christmas dinners (julefrokost) and licorice-flavored ice cream. Without a doubt, the most insane Danish tradition I’ve come across yet is Kapsejlads, the annual Aarhus university boat race at the university park.

I’ve never seen the university park this crowded in my entire life. (Sorry for the poor quality – until I buy a new camera, you’ll have to deal with my crappy phone pics.)

In its most basic definition, Kapsejlads is a regatta, a boat race in which the different academic faculties compete against each other. In reality, it’s an excuse to drink. All. Day. Long.

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University Park in Winter

On 3 February, 201529 January, 2015 By Alison HaywoodIn City Life, WinterLeave a comment

I was cycling back from the university the other day and noticed that the university park pond, which in warm weather has ducks swimming in it, had frozen over. I happened to have my camera with me, so I took some photos of the eerie landscape. This winter day in Denmark was equal parts beautiful, haunting and dreary. Most days it’s just dreary.