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CHRISTMAS IN COPENHAGEN
Christmas at the Tivoli
The glowing heart of Copenhagen
Words: Rosario Alonso Photography: Jose A. Muñoz
One of the entrances to
the Tivoli Gardens
In Copenhagen, Christmas begins
when the lights of Tivoli Gardens
are switched on, that fantasy gar-
den that for more than a century
and a half has set the sentimental
rhythm of the city. Each winter, when
temperatures drop and the air fills
with that scent of cinnamon, toasted
almond and mulled wine that defines
Scandinavia, the gates of Tivoli open
as if from a fairy tale. Inside, among
the lights that flicker over the frozen
lake and the wooden stalls decorated
with garlands, lies the very essence
of Danish hygge: that intimate, warm
and shared well-being that the Danes
elevate to a way of life.
A dream from the 19th
century
Tivoli Gardens opened its doors in
1843 thanks to Georg Carstensen, a
visionary who convinced King Chris-
tian VIII that if people had something
to entertain them, they would forget
about politics. He was right. What be-
gan as an amusement and strolling
park for bourgeois families soon be-
came the most beloved and enduring
symbol of the Danish capital. Unlike
modern parks, Tivoli was born with a
soul. Behind its attractions and thea-
tres there was a clear intention: to
offer a refuge where joy, music and to-
getherness became a cherished habit.
Over the years, Tivoli expanded its te-
rritory among the buildings of the city
centre. Today it occupies more than
eight hectares and preserves an ad-
mirable balance between tradition and
modernity. What is astonishing is that,
despite its location —in the very heart
of Copenhagen, next to the Town Hall
and the Central Station— the park sti-
ll seems like a world apart, protected
from outside noise by its tall trees and
its long history.
Among its most loyal visitors was
Hans Christian Andersen, who found
inspiration for his stories in its illumi-
nated avenues.
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