For the past 5 or so years, me, my dad and sister has had a tradition to celebrate William Shakespeare’s birthday AND death day on April 23rd.

This year, we did as every other year. For me that means a 20 minute ferry ride from Helsingborg, Sweden, to Elsinore, Denmark, also known as the home of Kronborg castle—the place where Shakespeare’s Hamlet mostly took place.

But, Kronborg isn’t the final destination for the evening, and isn’t even a stop. Instead we have a steady reservation at a nice restaurant overlooking the famous castle (where Jude Law is performing Hamlet in Hamlet this August). They’ve become used to us mixed Swedes & Danes to dine there every year, they even put up a flag to denote the celebration of Will. What makes it all more fitting is that they have a statue of Hamlet outside its main entrance. How fitting.

Hamlet outside the restaurant.

Then, we cheer, read a sonnet or two, drink and eat delicious liquids and foods in Shakespeare’s memory.

We’re such nerds.