We were at a christening recently – a Danish christening. We couldn’t understand a word but warmth and blessing filled the church. The pews on both sides were filled with the families of the two babies being christened, each family surrounded by its share of friends and godparents, with many of them bringing along children of their own.

Mayhem you might mutter … but it wasn’t. The mood was settled and quiet, and  the children calm at its core. Over-disciplined you might suggest, but we could see no sign of that. Aha! On screens you say. But you’re wrong. They weren’t, or at least not that we could see.

If there was any secret it seemed to be that everyone was happy to be there. So was the priest. His eyes shone with pleasure from start to finish, and he tailored his address to suit both the parents and the children in his audience.

The service lasted about an hour, and then we headed from the church to lunch, and still the mood held. In fact gentle calm seemed to reign until the sun went down.

Perhaps I was missing something. Perhaps the sample for my non-scientific assessment was too small. Perhaps it was too selective … although the parents and families of the two babies being christened didn’t even know each other. Perhaps it was just the luck of the day. Perhaps.

But I’ve come away thinking that the Danes have a way with children, and it works. What is it? I’m not sure but it seems to include a lot of love, a lot of family support, a lot of good nurseries, and a lot of parental leave for both parents.

Must be worth a try.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023