She sits just off the shore of Langelinie and 'bids welcome' to all those traveling into Copenhagen by boat. I suppose that's a silly thing to say, though, cause she's actually looking in towards the land at another sculpture of a young man, coincidentally.
Why is the mermaid so often mentioned in relation to Denmark? Because "The Little Mermaid" was not written by Disney, but by Hans Christian Andersen. H.C. Andersen wrote, among other things, many children stories. Many of them are actually quite melancholy (like The Little Matchbox Girl, for example). Walk into any tourist shop, or any housewares store for that matter, and you'll find small hanging decorations from the stories of Andersen. Christmas trees are often decorated with images from his stories too. I think it's sweet that Danes are famous for their story telling. What a lost art!
Neways, this particular little mermaid has had quite the life. She's been painted pink:
and she's been beheaded several times. Apparently her neck is filled with concrete now so that it won't happen again.
Of course, other sculptures have been made of the mermaid. Here is one located just down the shore at a small cafe:
Now, how is it that SHE'S not hanging on everyone's christmas trees and in their windows with a little tealight candle behind her during the cold, dark months of the winter? (btw, I borrowed the picture from someplace else).
And then we have, sitting in a little harbour on the flip side of Langelinie, my alltime favourite of the mermaids:
Doesn't she seem sad and forlorn? Melting might have something to do with it. This is what happens when you gain legs. You melt. And THAT is the moral of the story...
what?
