Der 90 Geburtstag
December 31, 2016 12:04 PM   Subscribe

It's Silvester ( New Year's Eve, the Feast of Pope Sylvester I) which means families all across Germany will be having Dinner for One tonight

The sources of Sweden's and Germany's and Denmark's and Australia's and other's NYE tradition, How an obscure British skit has become Germany's most popular New Year's tradition.

Dinner For One: the recipes for the 90th Birthday:
Mulligatawny Soup
Haddock with Maitre d'Hotel Sauce
Poulet roti
The traditional British fruit plate
All this loving attention has won “Dinner for One” the uncontested title as the single most rerun piece of standalone television on Earth. People stage drinking games around it; they hold dinner parties based on the one that James serves to Miss Sophie; they hunt down the best recipes for “the fowl” and that “North Sea haddock”; they enthusiastically debate the choice of the wines that go with each course. The skit’s fandom includes millions of people across all walks of life who have nothing in common except this one remarkable piece of comedy, to which they return year after year — most of them swearing that a New Year’s without it is simply unthinkable.

Same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
posted by the man of twists and turns (17 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 


I'm assuming that, on Jan. 1, 2017, you'll find a reason to ask a question about this on AskMe... But..I'll warn you now, on Dec. 31, 2017, I'm going to post a MetaTalk complaining about this.
posted by HuronBob at 12:22 PM on December 31, 2016


That was such a great FanFare post! I'm glad you've posted it to the Blue this year. (Has it really been a year? Yikes....)

I'm always fascinated by pieces of popular culture that take on lives of their own and spawn traditions and rituals that weren't a part of the original.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:23 PM on December 31, 2016


HuronBob: "I'm assuming that, on Jan. 1, 2017, you'll find a reason to ask a question about this on AskMe... But..I'll warn you now, on Dec. 31, 2017, I'm going to post a MetaTalk complaining about this."

I left my mulligatawny on the counter last night because of the festivities. Is it safe to eat?
posted by Samizdata at 12:30 PM on December 31, 2016 [4 favorites]


I'm always fascinated by pieces of popular culture that take on lives of their own and spawn traditions and rituals that weren't a part of the original.

Are you familiar with Kalle Anka?
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:04 PM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


My jaw hurts from laughing. Thanks for posting!
posted by A Robot Ninja at 1:28 PM on December 31, 2016


In Germany now. Just watched it. Like every year.
posted by Namlit at 1:28 PM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


Not just Germany. It's a staple of Swedish New Year's as well. I watch it every year. :)
posted by gemmy at 1:30 PM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


I've never heard of this before, not one bit. I feel like I must have just been dropped into a different timeline. I'm almost nervous to check the election results.
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 2:03 PM on December 31, 2016 [4 favorites]


I have one set of German friends (living in the U.S.) who force everyone they know to watch this every year, and laugh hysterically through the whole thing. I have another set of German friends, who draw back with cold hauteur at the mere mention of "Dinner for One", and declare that the custom of viewing it on New Year's Day is strictly a regional thing that people from the decent part of Germany (central Germany) would prefer to ignore.
posted by Modest House at 2:22 PM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh my goodness JoeZydeco, that Kalle Anke article was just perfect. What a bizarre thing! I like imagining the reverent hush falling over all the Swedish households as they watch Kalle Anke.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:30 PM on December 31, 2016


Also, tonight is time for The Samizdata Obscure New Year's Eve Cinema Tradition.
posted by Samizdata at 4:05 PM on December 31, 2016


Equally, if not more, popular in Denmark, too (as is the Disney special they watch in Sweden--since Danish kids get the presents on Christmas Eve, the TV schedule is planned to provide distractions for the kids while they wait). For most members of my family it would be a very misshappen NYE if they didn't get to see the Queen's New Year's speech and Dinner for One.
posted by AwkwardPause at 4:08 PM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


Wow. What an education in physical comedy! I've been a comedy connoisseur since I was a kid, and this made me realize how little of this genre I've ever consumed. Thank you for sharing!
posted by gusandrews at 4:45 PM on December 31, 2016


Weird, Modest House—when I was an exchange student in central Germany I had multiple people tell me about this tradition before New Year's and at least four people clamor to watch it with me. I chalk it up to one of those unknowable traditions, like the dish my family calls "nuclear pudding" that is de rigueur at family parties even though nobody likes it.
posted by mynameisluka at 9:07 PM on December 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


I have one set of German friends (living in the U.S.) who force everyone they know to watch this every year, and laugh hysterically through the whole thing. I have another set of German friends, who draw back with cold hauteur at the mere mention of "Dinner for One", and declare that the custom of viewing it on New Year's Day is strictly a regional thing that people from the decent part of Germany (central Germany) would prefer to ignore.

Years ago, both the show itself and the ritual of seeing it every year were seen as vulgar and stupid by some Danes; I haven't heard that said for some years now, but I also don't think my adult children see it or think it is funny. The Disney show on Christmas Eve, however, that is important.
posted by mumimor at 1:30 AM on January 1, 2017 [1 favorite]


I've seen this sketch before, many years ago, but never before saw the German commentator at the beginning, who utterly tramples on the humor by thoroughly explaining every single detail ("It's her 90th birthday, and she's outlived all her friends..."), and telling you in advance exactly what's going to happen in the sketch.

I think that was my favorite part, actually.
posted by panglos at 5:06 AM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]


« Older In some ways, the exact opposite of Dave Barry's...   |   A feast of international Google food search trends Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments