All Souls’ Day Everywhere has premiere abroad

On November 3, 2018, the cemetery in Silkeborg, Denmark was the podium for All Souls’ Day. The dead are taboo in Denmark. They realize all too well that this needs to change. Therefore they dared to try this new concept which thus fell on fertile soil. People opened themselves up; they were surprised and relieved. It was carried out with the help of 45 enthusiastic volunteers, and nine rituals were performed. We started in augustus with workshops and training, repeating these in October. The results: 250 visitors, 1 x national television, nine regional and national newspapers, the Deense Vereniging voor Kerkhofcultuur (Danish Society for Cemetery Culture) was present. Plans are in the making for a celebration in Copenhagen in 2020.

Rituals and organisation: Ida van der Lee. Partner organisations: KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad (Iben From), Silkeborg Kirkegarde & Krematorium (Jens Deigard Jensen), KK44 (Ingrid Meijer Jensen), European Ritual Trainers Network. Volunteers: Agnete Bang, Anja Korsgaard, Anne Berk, Annemiek Bakker, Annette Østergaard, Arne Bjerre, Bente Refslund, Bill Wei, Dorte Prang, Dorthe Weiergang, Dorte Kirkegard Jensen, Elva Jensen, Gitte Brandt, Gitte Sølvsten, Gunver, Hedvig, Helene Kortegaard,  Inga Østergaard, Inge, Ingrid Meijer Jensen, Irene, Jan, Jeltje Gordon-Lennox, Jytte Vestergaard, Kim Hove, Kirsten Tegen, Lars, Lisbeth Vestergaard, Lisbeth Koefoed Jensen, Lise Andersen, Liselotte Horneman Kragh, Louise Højlund, Martin Jensen, Minna, Mogens Sterndorf, Nanna Thorhauge, Nina Faartoft, Ruth Pedersen, Siobhán Cahalan, Vera, Vibe. Funding: Art Center Silkeborg Bad, Kristendoms- og Kulturugerne KK44, Foreningen for Kirkegårdkultur, Mariehøj og Silkeborg sogne, Danske Bank, Silkeborg kommunes Kulturudvalg.