New Danish Cultural Center of Greenville (DCCG) opens in Michigan
By Terry Easterby —
If roots help a tree stand tall, Nels Hansen believes culture is the foundation that will restore and preserve Danish pride to the heart of Greenville, Michigan.
In March, the recently created Danish Cultural Center of Greenville (DCCG), like the Vikings before them, embarked on an ambitious voyage to preserve and disseminate the rich heritage and Danish traditions of immigrants, and to educate the community about Danish culture.
Nels Hansen, president of the DCCG, which got its start in October 2011, said “We’re just taking a new approach to promote Danish culture through education and cultural experiences. We want folks to have a renewed love for Danish traditions and culture, a love that is so infectious that if a person isn’t already Danish, they’d wish they were.”
The cultural center has a broad vision to revive Danish pride and raise awareness. Some activities along with fundraising to support those activities include:
* Danish folk dance lessons twice per month; open to the public. (Started 2012)
* Teach folklore customs and provide music at public events.
* Lectures, presentations, movies about Denmark.
* Three-day Danish youth camp (held in June 2013) for elementary to junior high school age children. Includes Danish folk art, crafts, singing, food sampling, history tours, nature walks, and culture and language studies.
* Conversational Danish language classes. Once per week September to April (starting Fall 2013).
According to the Library of Congress research document – Danish Immigration to America: Danes in America – Dansk-Amerikanere (Danish-Americans) “spread nationwide and quickly disappeared (into the melting pot). Danes were the least cohesive group (of Scandinavians) and the first to lose consciousness of their origins.”
Hansen says, “We can’t treat our heritage like a museum piece. It is meant to be shared and enjoyed. In the 19th century, the Danish Sisterhood and Brotherhood helped disenfranchised settlers connect with kindred people and helped them retain the folk culture they dearly loved.”
Today, there about 1.5 million Americans of Danish origin or decent living in the United States (2000 U.S. census). Montcalm County Michigan (Greenville) is recognized as one of five U.S. counties “that Danish-Americans helped settle,” however, the area’s connect to the past is fading among the 5.7% of Montcalm’s population with Danish heritage.
“New Americans were encouraged to assimilate with culture and customs of their new home,” and that according to Hansen “meant the risk of losing their beloved customs and national identity.”
Greenville is steeped in its Danish connection with links dating back to the mid-1800s when (John) Green’s Village attracted many people of Danish origin. Positive letters home attracted additional waves of Danish settlers looking for cheap land, a better life and a way to keep families intact followed.
Located in the heart of Michigan, Greenville celebrates its roots with the Danish Festival every year on the third weekend of August. There’s even a controversial copy of Denmark’s the little mermaid sitting along the banks of the Flat River. Its sister city is Skælskør, Denmark. Skælskør and Greenville have identical Marshal Frederiks’ Ugly Duckling sculptures in their city’s fountains.
While Greenville’s ties to the past have waned, Hansen is confident the community can rejuvenate its Danish spirit. “It is time to work together, like a crew on a Viking ship, everyone needs to get involved. This way we can guarantee that Danish culture in Greenville and surrounding areas will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Danish Music Fest comes to Greenville, MI
St. Paul Lutheran Church of Greenville, Michigan is pleased to announce for their annual Danish Music Fest, the beautiful music of classically trained soprano, Victoria Gydov. There will be a dinner from 5:30-6:30 PM & concert at 7 PM at the church on Sunday, August 11th, 2013, Tickets will be on sale at the church office. You may call the office at 616-754-6676
