Danish culture has achieved global fame, earning it the title of one of the happiest countries in the world (cue the collective Danish eye roll). It’s renowned for its sleek, minimalist Scandinavian design as well as its culinary innovations, such as Noma.
Other hallmarks of Danish life are well-known and documented. Many internationals, from the well-integrated to those who’ve just arrived, have a ‘Hygge’ mug in their cupboard, a bike locked up outside their apartment, or some rugbrød in their breadbox ready to be devoured.
But there are other Danish cultural tendencies that fly under the radar and only become visible after being here a while. Having lived in Copenhagen for a decade now, I’ve noticed a few less obvious, and amusing, quirks that endear me to the Danes even more.
1. Clapping in unison
Where I come from, I’m accustomed to the applause of a crowd being staggered and individualistic. Everyone claps at their own pace, giving the effect of a whole ocean of appreciation. Not so in Denmark. As a deeply collective society, this also applies to their use of clapping. Whether it be a church service or a concert, I can’t help but notice that the Danes are not comfortable with staggered applause. Inevitably, everyone finds each other and begins to clap on precisely the same beat, just like a march.
2. Red carpets
Admittedly, this one is random, but Danes love red carpets. I’ve worked in both a religious environment and a public education setting, and neither failed to roll out a (rather well-loved) patch of red carpet to celebrate holidays and special events. It’s fun, it’s festive, and (apparently) it’s tradition!
3. The cue that someone is done talking to you
In Danish, there’s a very special word that you will hear in many different contexts: Nå. It has about ten different uses. It can be used to show curiosity, to express that you’re listening, to sympathize, and to show understanding, among others. When sitting with a group of Danes, and someone gently slaps their lap and exclaims “Nå!”, this is code for: Well, that was nice, and now I’m ready to go. Since “Nå” has so many other uses, it’s important to watch and listen for the right context!
4. Saying “Thank you” a tusind different ways
What fascinated me about the Danish language when I first moved here was that Danes don’t have an official translation of the English word for “please,” but they more than compensate for it through all the different uses of the word “thank you” (tak). To list a few of my favorites:
- Tusind tak (Translation: A thousand thanks — a polite expression of gratitude)
- Tak for sidst (Translation: Thank you for last time — which you say when you’ve recently had a good time together)
- Tak for kaffe (Translation: Thanks for the coffee — which is used figuratively to express surprise or astonishment, but not necessarily in a positive way — more of like “good gracious” with an eye-roll. It can also just mean “Thanks for the coffee.”)
- Tak for alt (Translation: Thank you for everything — but unlike what it sounds like, this specific expression is not appropriate to use in a general “thanks for everything” context. It is a serious expression of grief or gratitude for a person’s entire life, and is most often used at funerals, on epitaphs, or when saying goodbye to someone you will never see again.)
- Tak for mad (Translation: Thank you for the meal — which you say after the meal is finished. If you say it before or during the meal, you will likely get a confused sideways glance from your host…or so I’ve heard.)
Though Danes may be a bit more direct with requests, they are effusive in their thanks.
5. Marzipan
This final one is admittedly not my favorite Danish obsession, but since it’s everywhere, it deserves a mention. This thick almond paste is center stage in many a Danish confection, including flaky pastries, the center of chocolates, and thin sheets of it are even wrapped around entire cakes. Generous Danish friends have even gifted me an entire stick of marzipan. Marzipan is a Danish delicacy and is here to stay. While my taste buds have changed significantly since moving to Denmark, marzipan remains one of the few things I struggle to get excited about. I can enjoy it in small doses, but I never hope to find it in the center of my chocolates.
The more I discover the different cultural quirks that make the Danes who they are, the closer I feel to understanding this country on a deeper level. And the more I understand, the closer I feel to being slightly more Danish myself. Though I don’t suppose any of this will be on the citizenship test.
