For he alth and courage for - a drop of the Danish king

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In 1967, the film "Zhenya, Zhenechka and Katyusha" was released, later christened one of the most tender films about the Great Patriotic War. Its main character was a young man from the Arbat and a "total misunderstanding" in life Zhenya Kolyshkin. The creators of "Zhenya, Zhenechka …" really filled their film creation with tenderness, light, love and adventure, flavoring it all with the beautiful song "Drops of the Danish King." The author of her words was Bulat Okudzhava. By the way, the script of the film also belongs to him.

Why do gentlemen need royal drops?

In his song, Bulat Okudzhava admits that since childhood he believed in the power of the healing royal drops, they supposedly treated any ailment, and were able to resist the blows of sabers and the whistle of bullets, and, to tell the truth, they helped. The author believed in believing, but how much he trampled the roads of life, but he never found the cherished cure. And were they, these drops?

And here they were, it turns out…

Chest drops (mixture of decoctionlicorice roots with anise-ammonia drops) came to Russia from Germany. It was in the 19th century, and perhaps their recipe was indeed made by the king of Denmark. Some tend to identify these drops with the name of the monarch Christian IX.

This king is known for the fact that, together with his wife Louise, he bore the unofficial title of “father-in-law and mother-in-law of Europe”, they and their offspring turned out to be so prolific. That is why many associate the concept of "a drop of the Danish king" with Christian IX. Drink, they say, medicine and you will be just as he althy, powerful and influential.

Well, what does the gentlemen have to do with it, someone asks? The fact is that in the same 19th century, people believed that drops from the Danish monarch in some way also protect against diseases from the “Venus bouquet” series. Maybe that's why Okudzhava decided to play a little trickery, addressing his message to the "cavaliers"?

So which of the Christians did Okudzhava sing about?

The song from Zhenya, Zhenechka… has nothing to do with Christian IX, they say on the other side of the research barricades, Bulat Okudzhava is not singing about him. "Drops of the Danish King" is dedicated to Christian, it's true. But not IX, but X.

During World War II, the Danish monarch Christian X became a symbol of the movement of Danish patriots fighting the Nazi regime. Many entertaining stories are associated with this person, testifying to his valor, courage and unparalleled love for the Motherland. They say that when one of the local ancient castles suddenly began to show offfascist flag, King Christian categorically demanded to remove it. He was told that any Danish soldier who decided on such audacity would be shot on the spot. Then Christian began to climb to the hated flag himself. Why not a hero for the song of the front-line volunteer Okudzhava?

"Drops of the Danish King": chords of enthusiasm, words of faith

Researchers of the poet's work will say later that there is some kind of "double bottom" in the song from Zhenya, Zhenechka. The second half of the 60s, the words “dissident”, “sixties”, unknown before, are about to appear, and in “Drops …” their imminent arrival is felt.

Already the name itself was perceived by many in the Union as a miraculous elixir, giving feelings of honor and decency, courage of a citizen and personal courage. And although the official press smashed the film to smithereens, it could not force out the love for it from the hearts of the common people. For him, “Drops of the Danish King” still smells of mystery and youthful enthusiasm, and their composition still includes mischief and wisdom.