Kay Xander MellishExpert on Danish business culture

Denmark: A candle in window May 4 to remember the Nazi occupation #howtoliveindenmark #ww2 #wwii

2 May 2025 · 1 min

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On May 4, Danes place a candle in the window to mark the end of Nazi occupation in 1945. During the war, blackouts were mandatory. Now fewer candles appear each year as those who lived through it age out, though Denmark and Germany are allies today.

Chapters

So it is with a lovely May tradition in Denmark: setting a candle in the window on the night of May 4th. This is to commemorate the surrender of the Germans and the end of the Nazi occupation in 1945. The Nazis imposed a blackout on Denmark to confuse the Allied air forces, so now that they were defeated, a candle in a window became a small symbol of rebellious light. I intend to participate every year on May 4th, but I often forget. And to be honest, I see very few candles in windows these days. You'd have to be aged 85 or older now to remember the war, and Germany is one of Denmark's greatest friends and allies.