Suppers for Special Occasions—Danish Valentine Supper—A Hallowe'en Ghost Hunt—A Hallowe'en Supper—Hallowe'en Supper Menus—A Pie Party for Thanksgiving Season—The Pie Shelf—Birthday Suppers—Birthday Party.
In Denmark our well known snowdrop, one of the earliest messengers of spring, has been since olden days held sacred to St. Valentine.
On that auspicious eve the Danish lover sends his lady a bunch of snow-drops (vinter-gjaeks), (winter jokes they are called, because they peep out while it is yet winter and try to hoax people into thinking spring has come), with a card attached bearing a verse or sentiment and as many pin pricks as there are letters in his name. If she cannot guess the name from this clew she is fooled (gjaekket), and at Easter must pay the sender a forfeit of colored eggs.
This quaint bit of folk-lore can be used in a novel Valentine supper.
The invitations, bearing a bunch of painted snow-drops in one corner, invite you to a "Danish Valentine supper."
Cherry and white are the national colors of Denmark, and these should be used in the dining-room. The candles have cherry shades and in the center of the snowy cloth have a square of cherry velvet, on which snow-drops and ferns are banked with dainty effect. The menu cards are shaped like hearts, tied with a knot of cherry ribbon and edged with painted snow-drops. Across the top in gold letters is the word "welbekomin" (may it agree with you.)
At each place have a tiny heart-shaped cup of cherry crepe paper, holding a little bunch of snow-drops. The ices are in the shape of hearts with a candied cherry in the center of each. Heart-shaped cakes can be iced in pink, and mingled in the salad have tiny hearts cut from slices of red beef.
When all are assembled in the parlor give each guest a square white envelope enclosing a card having a knot of snow-drops in one corner with cherry ribbon, and containing a verse and numerous pin pricks. Each one must guess from these the name of his companion for supper.
Here are some of the verses, some of which are translations from the Danish.
"Though a child of winter's cold and storm,
I bring to you love-greetings warm.
From whom? Ah, yes!
That shall you guess!
And that you may the sender surely know,
Count all the little pin-pricks signed below."
.... ......
"Little maiden fair and neat,
Here on stalk so light,
Fine as silk by fairies spun,
Hangs a snowdrop white;
From a friend I come—
Tell me now—from whom?"
.... .. ......
"Love's first kisses are the snow-drops,
Ringing here like fairy bells;
Let thy heart bend low and listen
To the tale their music tells."
...... ......
"Sir Knight, wouldst know thy lady's name?
These pin-pricks tell from whence I came."
.... .. ......
"Love wove the snow-flakes in a flower
To deck his lady's secret bower;
With them my love I now confess—
Thy true knight's name I'd have thee guess."
.... ......
"Farewell to winter! Now farewell—
We snow-bells rang his dying knell,
And had you but a fine, fine ear,
That could our fairy chiming hear,
Then should you know which friend so true
Has sent this vinter-gjaek to you:
For ever softly do we sing
The name of him whose love we bring."
........ .. ......
"Wouldst find the fair lady Fate chooses for you?
Then search ye this line of wee pin-pricks clear through."
.... ........
"For life, as for dinner, chance fixes our mate;
These pin-pricks point you the way to your fate."
........ ..........