Queen Margrethe II – 40 years on the throne.

Stamp

Souvenir sheet

On 14 January 2012, forty years have passed since Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II became Queen of Denmark. Queen Margrethe is the constitutional head of the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Denmark and the two autonomous regions: Greenland and the Faroe Islands. On this occasion the Faroese Posta, Post Denmark and Post Greenland issue a common stamp sheet.

Queen Margrethe was born on 16 April 1940 at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Her parents were Crown Prince Frederik, later King Frederik IX, and Crown Princess Ingrid. In 1944 and 1946 the couple had two more daughters, respectively Princess Benedikte and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark.

Princess Margrethe was babtized in Holmen Church in Copenhagen on 14 May 1940. Her full name was Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid. At that time, female succession to the throne was not an option, so not until the introduction of the Act of Succession of 27 March 1953, Princess Margrethe became Crown Princess of Denmark and heir to the throne. On 16 April 1958, Crown Princess Margrethe took seat in the State Council and served as head of State Council meetings when her father King Frederik IX was absent.

Education
The young Princess Margrethe received her primary school education at Zahle’s School in Copenhagen from 1946 to 1955. The first couple of years though, the education took place at Amalienborg Palace. After a short stay at boarding school in England (1955-56), she started on her high school education and graduated from Zahle’s School in 1959.

In 1960 Crown Princess Margrethe took the obligatory examination in philosophy at the University of Copenhagen. In 1960-61 she attended studies in archeology at the University of Cambridge in England. In the period 1961-62 Margrethe studied political science at University of Århus, in 1963 she studied in Sorbonne, France and in 1965 at the London School of Economics.

In 1967 Crown Princess Margrethe married the French diplomat Henri Marie Jean André Count de Laborde de Monpezat, who by this marriage became Prince Henrik of Denmark. They had two sons, Crown Prince Frederik, born on 26 May 1968, and Prince Joakim, born on 7 June 1969.

From Crown Princess to Queen
On 14 January 1972 King Frederik IX died. The next day, the Crown Princess was hailed as Queen Margrethe II by Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag at Christiansborg Castle Square.

The Constitutional Head of State
Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II is the constitutional Head of State of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. This means that she as a ruler has no political powers or influence – these lies with the democratically elected parliaments.

The Queen’s role in elections
When time calls for elections to the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister visits the Queen, submits his resignation and recommends general elections. When the elections are over, the Queen calls for a so-called Queen’s Round, where two representatives from each elected party visit her at Amalienborg Palace and recommend a leader for new government negotiations. This person will then be summoned and appointed formal negotiator. When the political parties in question have made an agreement for the terms of a new government, the new Prime Minister and his/her team of ministers visit the Queen again for the official approval.

The State Council
Once a week the Danish State Council is held, where the Queen meets the Prime Minister and Government. At this council the Queen or her deputy is informed of the Government’s work. It is also at this meeting that the Queen signs new laws together with the responsible ministers.

The Queen’s New Year Speech
Every year on 31 December, Queen Margrethe delivers the so-called New Year Speech, which is broadcasted live in Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. With this speech the Queen makes status over the year that has passed. This tradition is very popular, and although it is not a political speech, it may contain a remark or two of humanitarian or moral character.

Other Duties
As Head of State, it is the Queen’s duty to preside at formal State Visits, both when she makes official visits to other countries and when foreign Head of States visit Denmark.

The Queen of Denmark is formally the head of the Danish Army. It is also the Queen who formally welcomes foreign ambassadors, when they arrive in Denmark.

Additionally, the Queen performs some representative tasks in connection with anniversaries, inaugurations, premieres, award of orders, etc.

The Summer Cruise
Each year the Queen performs a so-called Summer Cruise to Danish cities – mostly with the royal yacht “Dannebrog”. At regular intervals, the summer cruise also includes visits to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Great numbers of people meet the Queen at her arrivals, and indicate the Queen’s popularity in the three countries.

The Queen and the Faroe Islands
Since 1380, the Faroe Islands have been part of the Kingdom of Denmark -first as a part of Norway, then with direct connection to Denmark. Although the progress has developed into greater political autonomy, Queen Margrethe is very popular among the Faroese population, who have followed her since her first visit on the islands as a child. First with her father, King Frederik IX, and later in her capacity as Queen with her own family. The Queen’s insight into Faroese relations and history is highly appreciated and there is no doubt that a large proportion of the population looks forward to her traditional summer visits.

Queen Margrethe II is the Queen of the Faroese as well as the Greenlanders and Danes, no doubt about that.

Anker Eli Petersen

Technical data:

Values: stamp of 10.50DKK (also included in the souvenir sheet)

Date of issue: 04-I-2012

Author: Design: Mikael Melbye. Engraver: Martin Mörck

Stamp size: 43,39 x 53,50 mm

Perforation:

Technique: Intaglio/Offset

Printer: Post Danmark Frimærke

Christmas Seals 2011

The Faroese artist, Edward Fuglø has designed this year's Christmas Seals, which depict Christmas Windows.

Christmas Window

As Advent approaches, Christmas windows begin lighting up villages and neighbourhoods, representing the first sign of the quickly approaching holiday.

The tradition of telling the world that the people in your home are celebrating Christmas is centuries old – almost as old as windows themselves in our part of the world.

In ancient times, it was common to place a candle in the window on Christmas Eve and let it burn all night until Christmas morning – if it did not burn out before then. Some women used to stay up all night to watch the burning candle as peace descended upon the house.

Christmas night must have been cosy. The holiest night of the year in a village covered with snow and under the glimmering stars, as bright windows celebrated the baby Jesus – a moment far from the arduous tasks of everyday life required just to survive.

New traditions emerged in the late nineteenth century, as more Christmas decorations from abroad reached the Faroe Islands, such as paper cuttings and other decorations to hang in windows. At first, these were probably only found in the fine houses of Torshavn and the larger villages, but the customs slowly spread to the rest of the islands.

Christmas windows also changed in the middle of the twentieth century with the arrival of electricity. This made it possible to buy Christmas stars made of paper with a light bulb inside, which were soon accompanied in windows by strings of small multicoloured lights. The industrial revolution made life more commercial and Christmas became a part of these modern times.

Christmas went from being a holiday lasting one to two days, to something that lasted much longer. Today it is not uncommon to see decorated Christmas windows from November until late January and there are virtually no limits to how we decorate for Christmas.

The candle in the window has now become an ocean of light that sparkles and shines in many colours. Entire houses, ships, and even villages shine out, virtually sweeping away the dark and heavy days. Christmas is a children’s holiday that also awakens the childish spirit in adults as we are moved by the Christmas spirit.

Happily and full of anticipation, we go up to the attic to get our Christmas decorations – including something beautiful to hang in the Christmas window.

Edward Fuglø

Covers of the Faroe Islands XXV

Official Posta cover sent from Tórshavn to Braga, Portugal.

Cover with stamp of 7.50kr from the 2007’s ‘Waves Energy’ stamps issue sent on 12 of February 2010.

Technical data:

Values: 7.50DKK

Date of issue: 12-II-2007

Author: Alduorka

Perforation: 13 x 13

Technique: Offset

Printer: The Lowe-Martin Group, Canada

Franking Labels 2011

On 28 September 2011 four new franking labels have been issued. This is the fourth time Faroese franking labels are being issued. 

The motifs on this year's franking labels is an old rhyme, "Kú mín í garði" (My cow in the alley) and they are designed by the Faroese artist, Janus Guttesen.

The oldest nursery rhymes we know are probably poems or songs for children which were recited or sung to very simple tunes. In the Faroese dictionary we can see that these were “old rhymes passed on by oral tradition, which were sung repeatedly for children.”
 

My cow in the alley
My cow in the alley,
My mare in the valley,
My steed on the cliff,
My hen on the ladder.
“Bah, bah, bah,”
Says my ewe in the shed,
“I need some grass to chew on.”
 

(Translation: Anker Eli Petersen)

Welcome the 8000th Visitors

Aqui ficam as melhores saudações Filatélicas, para os visitantes de todo o mundo, que diariamente visitam o meu blog.

(English version)

Here are the best Philatelic greetings to visitors from all over the world who daily visit my blog.

Christmas Carols II

There are songs which seem to enter people's consciousness easier than others. Songs, which for some reason touch something deep in our minds. Words, storyline and tune, which together create a familiar image - a memory, a dream or just the feeling of an idealized moment.

These are the characteristics of the classics, and this year's carols are examples of those exact qualities. Although quite different in expression, both songs manage to create impressions and images of the indefinable pleasure and anticipation that we all associate with our childhood’s Christmas

I can’t wait for Christmas to come
The motif of the 6.50 stamp is based on the modern Faroese Christmas classic, "Eg eri so spent til jóla" – “I can’t wait for Christmas to come.” The music was written by Jóhannus á Rógvu Joensen and lyrics by Ella Smith Clementsen.
The song and the story is, briefly, about the six-year old Margreta who has problems with controlling her longing and expectations for Christmas. In her restlessness she goes out for a walk and in Tórshavn’s old café, she meets a pixie-girl, who takes her out on adventures that only six year olds can experience.

Ella Smith Clementsen b. 1952 is one of the most famous children's authors on the Faroes. She has written and translated a large amount of children's books, children's songs and pieces for radio and television and works as a freelance writer. In 1994, Ella recieved Tórshavn town council children's book prize.

In 1989, Ella Smith Clementsen together with composer and musician Jóhannus á Rógvu Joensen b. 1959. Ella had written some children's songs which Jóhannus set to music. When Jóhannus approached her about writing a few extra songs, Ella wrote "I can’t wait for Christmas to come," which has since proved to be one of the most popular Christmas and children's songs ever on the Faroe Islands.

The rest is history. The six-year Margreta who was looking forward to getting a new dress and went out on an adventure with the pixie girl, walked straight into the Faroese cultural consciousness and has stayed there ever since. A small figure with great symbolic importance for the modern view of Christmas.

I rejoice every Christmas Eve
131 years before Ella Smith Clementsen sat by the window and wrote her little Christmas song, another woman was doing exactly the same.
On Christmas Eve 1858, 26 year old Marie Wexelsen (1832-1911) sat in the parents' kitchen in Sukkestad, Norway, waiting for the Christmas guests to arrive. As she sat there and looked out the window, she came to think of her childhood Christmas, and began in her mind to formulate a Christmas song. A few days earlier she had completed a short story "Kjetil - A little Christmas present for the child", and the poem she puzzled with, should be the introduction to the story.

The story of Kjetil was published in 1859 and subsequently in several new editions. But while few people today know the story itself, the poem in the introduction became one of the greatest Nordic Christmas classics, namely the song "Jeg er saa glad hver julekveld". The song has been translated into all Nordic languages ​​and also to Faroese titled "Eg gleðist so hvørt jólakvøld" by Dean Jákup Dahl.

It's hard to imagine a Christmas without the warm singing of childlike faith, and the beautiful picture of mother who walks around in the house and lighten all candles. For life, for family, her own child and the Infant Jesus.

Marie Wexelsen was also a child of her time. She lived at home with parents until their death, and then, from 1880, in Christiania (now Oslo), where she was a teacher at Hamar. In 1890 Marie and her older sister Rikki moved to Trondheim, where they ran a small school. Marie, who remained unmarried throughout life, was strongly influenced by the Grundtvigian outlook, which broke with the dismal Christianity, and called for educating and informing the people. She wrote three novels, three children's books, a series of poems and various articles on social affairs, religion and language policy issues. One senses a protest against society's oppression of women in her writings, but like so many other women of her time, her involvement in social conditions was partly rooted in a bright and positive Christianity.

When Marie Wexelsen died in Trondheim in 1911, children with lighted candles sang: "I rejoice every Christmas Eve" at her funeral.

Two very different songs, but with so many similarities. Wexelsens childlike joy over the message of Christmas and the little Christ child - or Smith Clementsens captivating tale about the girl who looks forward to getting a new dress and her travel in the mythical universe of Christmas. Both are classics and remind us to stay in the holiday’s purest form - Christmas seen through the hopeful eyes of a child.

Anker Eli Petersen

Technical data:

Values: stamps of 6.50DKK and 10.50DKK

Date of issue: 28-IX-2011

Author: Anker Eli Petersen

Perforation:

Technique: Offset

Printer: Enschedé, Netherlands