At exactly 11:04 AM on August 4, church bells rang across Denmark to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Hans Christian Andersen, the internationally renowned Danish author best known for his fairy tales. The timing matched the precise moment in 1875 when Andersen passed away.
National tribute through sound and culture
Churches throughout the country participated in a coordinated bell-ringing ceremony, playing melodies and poems associated with Andersen, such as “Hist hvor vejen slår et bugt” (“There where the road bends”) and “I Danmark er jeg født” (“In Denmark I was born”). This symbolic gesture initiated a broader national tribute under the title “Andersen Forever”, a cultural programme aimed at celebrating the enduring legacy of the writer.
Odense at the heart of the celebrations
Odense, Andersen’s birthplace, is hosting a wide array of events extending into the autumn. The H.C. Andersen House has opened a special exhibition retracing his life and works, while the Odense Teater is staging performances based on his stories. Other events include a community celebration with live performances organized by Museum Odense, and an unusual tribute by the local bar Anarkist, which is offering a themed beer tasting event styled as a “grave beer” gathering.
Andersen’s legacy in modern Denmark
The commemoration reflects Andersen’s enduring cultural significance in Denmark and abroad. His works, including The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes, have been translated into more than 150 languages and remain a central part of Denmark’s literary heritage.
Through this year’s memorial events, Danish institutions seek not only to honour the past, but also to invite new generations to engage with Andersen’s imaginative universe, reaffirming his status as one of the most influential literary figures in global culture.
