Mellem gårdene, blandt venner
Between the courtyards, among friends
FOR FORTÆLLING
For en 19-årig ung mand er Mjølnerparken ikke bare et sted – det er barndommens landskab. Her spillede han fodbold i tredje gård, grinede med venner på bænkene og fejrede Eid, hvor hoppeborge, duften af mad og latter fyldte gårdene. Han husker en tid uden bekymringer, hvor man bare gik ud, mødte hinanden og var en del af noget større. Et fællesskab, hvor alle kendte alle – og hvor hver dag kunne blive til en fest.
PREFACE
For a 19-year-old young man, Mjølnerparken is not just a place – it is the landscape of his childhood. Here, he played football in the third courtyard, laughed with friends on the benches, and celebrated Eid, when bouncy castles, the scent of food, and laughter filled the courtyards. He remembers a time without worries, when you simply went outside, met people, and were part of something bigger. A community where everyone knew everyone – and where every day could turn into a celebration.
Dansk
Hvad har fællesskabet betydet for dig i Mjølnerparken i den tid du har boet der?
Fællesskabet i Mjølnerparken har betydet meget for mig. Det har gjort, at jeg har haft en sjov og hyggelig ungdom, som jeg kan se tilbage på og blive glad over.
Kan du beskrive et af dine yndlings minder fra Mjølnerparken? Er der en bestemt tradition, fest eller hverdagssituation du husker tydeligt?
Jeg husker især Eid. Når der var Eid, var der et stort fællesskab ude i gårdene – hoppeborge, mad, musik og alle slags aktiviteter. Alle var der, og alle hyggede sig. Det var sådan en dag, hvor man virkelig kunne mærke, at man hørte til. Der var også ture til Bonbonland, Bakken og Tivoli. Nogle gange var der store Mjølnerparken-fester med boder, hoppeborge og mad. Det føltes, som om der altid skete noget.
Hvordan kom du til at bo i Mjølnerparken?
Jeg flyttede hertil i 2013, efter at have boet forskellige steder. Mjølnerparken endte med at blive det faste sted. Nok fordi det var det bedste sted.
Hvordan var det at være naboer her dengang? Hvor ofte brugte i tid sammen, og hvad samledes i omkring?
Naboerne så hinanden tit. Til arrangementer, men også bare i hverdagen. Man hilste, snakkede og lærte nye mennesker at kende. Det var et stærkt bånd, der blev skabt – alle kendte alle.
Var der noget særligt ved de der Eid arrangementer, f.eks. når I var nede i gården, som særligt betød noget for dig? Eller var det bare stemningen?
Det var bare stemningen – det var hyggeligt. Og fællesskabet. Alle var der, der var ikke nogen der var uvenner eller… Alle kunne lide hinanden, det var hyggeligt. Der var et stort og godt fællesskab.
Kan du beskrive en helt almindelig dag i Mjølnerparken dengang?
Du stod op. Der var solskin. Du tog ud og så var alle bare ude og så hyggede man bare. Der var ikke så mange bekymringer. I de helt gamle dage, så nogle gange mødte man bare hinanden spontant. Ellers gik man lige rundt og bankede på hos hinanden. Det var ikke lige alle, der havde en telefon. Ellers så tog man sin forældres telefon, ringede til den anden forældre og så fik man lige fat i sin ven.
Og hvad lavede I så, når I hyggede sammen?
Det var meget forskelligt. Nogle gange hyggede vi bare i gårdene, snakkede, fordi der var det her fællesskab. Ellers nogle gange så gik man bare rundt. Enten i Mimersparken og spillede fodbold. Ellers, som sagt, så var der lige pludselig et eller andet arrangement. Så var der en kæmpe fælles fodboldkamp. Nogle gange fællesspisning. Men det var hyggeligt hver dag.
Var der også spontan fællesspisning? Eller var det mest til fødselsdage og fester?
Nogle gange kunne man godt bare gå over i Mimersparken. Så var der nogen, der spontant grillede og spurgte, om vi ville spise med. Og så blev det lige pludselig til en dag, hvor man hyggede derhenne.
Er der en historie, du synes, folk udefra burde kende om livet der?
Bare generelt alt det her, jeg lige har fortalt. Det var mange historier, man oplevede i sin hverdag. Jeg har ikke én historie, men der er ligesom flere. Og det er alt det, jeg lige har fortalt, hvor du bare tog ud, ikke havde nogen bekymringer og hyggede dig.
Havde du et eller andet favoritsted?
Jeg brugte mest tid på fodboldbanen i 3. gården. Det var dér, alle samledes – nogle spillede, andre sad på bænkene og snakkede. Mere eller mindre alle var der. Og hvis man så ikke kendte alle, så endte det med at du kendte alle den næste dag.
Hvad med at være hjemme hos hinanden? Var det noget, I gjorde, eller var det altid ude?
Ja, ja. Når det blev vinter, var man mere hjemme hos hinanden – så spillede man PlayStation, så film og spiste chips. Og så blev det højdepunktet for dag.
Til sidst, kan du forklare lidt omkring de Eid fester? hvad lavede i der?
Til Eid var der liv overalt. Nogle bad Eid-bønnen, andre ikke, men alle samledes bagefter – i Mimersparken, i gårdene, på Røde Plads. Men så hyggede man sig. Spiste god mad og var sammen med en masse venner. Når det så blev eftermiddag, så var det der, hvor man lige gik lidt rundt, tog måske ind til indre by, måske Fisketorvet, Strøget. Man havde lige fået lidt penge som gave, så købte man noget for at hygge sig og føle, man gjorde noget specielt ud af Eid. Alt i alt var det bare et fællesskab, hvor alle var glade, og man kunne være sig selv.
English
What has the community meant to you in Mjølnerparken during the time you’ve lived there?
The community in Mjølnerparken has meant a lot to me. It made it possible for me to have a fun and cozy youth that I can look back on and feel happy about.
Can you describe one of your favorite memories from Mjølnerparken? Is there a particular tradition, party, or everyday situation you remember clearly?
I especially remember Eid. When it was Eid, there was a big sense of community out in the courtyards – bouncy castles, food, music, and all kinds of activities. Everyone was there, and everyone had a good time. It was one of those days when you could really feel that you belonged. There were also trips to Bonbon Land, Bakken, and Tivoli. Sometimes there were big Mjølnerparken parties with stalls, bouncy castles, and food.
It felt like something was always happening.
How did you come to live in Mjølnerparken?
I moved here in 2013, after living in different places. Mjølnerparken ended up becoming the permanent place. Probably because it was the best place.
What was it like being neighbours back then? How often did you spend time together, and what brought you together?
The neighbours saw each other often. At events, but also just in everyday life. People greeted each other, talked, and got to know new people. It was a strong bond that was created – everyone knew everyone.
Was there something special about those Eid events, for example when you were down in the courtyard, that meant something in particular to you? Or was it more the atmosphere?
It was just the atmosphere – it was cozy. And the community. Everyone was there, no one was on bad terms or anything… Everyone liked each other, it was nice. There was a big and good sense of community.
Can you describe a completely ordinary day in Mjølnerparken back then?
You’d wake up. The sun was shining. You’d go outside, and everyone was just out there, and you’d just hang out. There weren’t many worries. Back in the old days, sometimes you’d just run into each other spontaneously. Otherwise, you’d walk around and knock on each other’s doors. Not everyone had a phone. Otherwise, you’d take your parents’ phone, call the other parents, and then get hold of your friend.
And what did you do when you hung out together?
It varied a lot. Sometimes we’d just hang out in the courtyards, talk, because there was this community. Other times, we’d just walk around. Either go to Mimersparken and play football.
Or, as I said, suddenly there would be some kind of event. Then there was a big communal football match. Sometimes community dinners. But it was cozy every day.
Were there also spontaneous community dinners? Or mostly for birthdays and parties?
Sometimes you could just go over to Mimersparken. Then there’d be someone grilling spontaneously who’d ask if we wanted to join. And then, all of a sudden, it turned into a day of hanging out there.
Is there a story you think people from outside should know about life there?
Just in general, everything I’ve just said. There were so many stories you experienced in your everyday life. I don’t have just one story, but rather several. And it’s all the things I’ve just talked about – where you’d just go out, have no worries, and enjoy yourself.
Did you have any kind of favorite place?
I spent most of my time on the football field in the third courtyard.
That’s where everyone gathered – some played, others sat on the benches and talked.
More or less everyone was there. And if you didn’t know everyone, then by the next day you did.
What about being at each other’s homes? Was that something you did, or were you always outside?
Yeah, yeah. When winter came, we were more at each other’s homes – playing PlayStation, watching movies, eating chips. And that became the highlight of the day.
Finally, can you explain a bit about the Eid celebrations? What did you do there?
During Eid, there was life everywhere. Some prayed the Eid prayer, others didn’t, but everyone gathered afterwards – in Mimersparken, in the courtyards, on the Red Square. Then you’d just hang out. Eat good food and be with lots of friends. When afternoon came, that’s when you’d walk around a bit – maybe go into the city center, maybe Fisketorvet, maybe Strøget. You’d just gotten some money as a gift, so you’d buy something to treat yourself and make Eid feel special.
All in all, it was simply a community where everyone was happy, and you could be yourself.