Danish culture can be pretty confusing, especially if you are not from Denmark. Each week we take a curious look at everyday behaviours that seem normal in Denmark and speak with experts to find out why. Our podcast is created for everyone with a connection to Denmark and people worldwide looking to learn more about the (almost) happiest country in the world. Join us on our journey by listening to the full episodes for free wherever you listen to your podcasts, or head over to www.whatthedenmark.com
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12 tals piger (A+ grade girls) is a positive term not a degrading term, he has misunderstood that, that said I agree to little is done to get the most out of the children with the high IQ it's more a "social democrat" ideology in my mind than Janteloven , I don't think Danes only celebrate sports, we celebrate "Nordic cuisine" success in the world, Danish Design success and people certainly have expensive design furniture, we celebrate Danish architecture success, Mærsk, NOVO, LEGO ect, Mads Mikkelsen , we do celebrate Danish success however if the person with success brag about it or feels to far away from the average in the way they act. then they are taken down
I think the Jante law kicks more up wards than down wards, and that it's heavily influenced by Othodox Lutherans. Hence the modesty.
We DO tip outside Copenhagen. 2kr here, 5 kroner there. As bartender I have an average of 10 kr per hour. That's neat 🥰🥰 and it's tax free 😉😉
I looking for job on accounts executive position
This sort of thing is hard to explain to foreigners. But when you see the children climbing 5 meters into the tress and see how unafraid and glad they are, all concern just evoporates.
“…kids should be safe from the weather” Dane: are you insane!! children needs to know about weather and its perfectly ok they get bumped up. They heal very fast and will be perfectly ok and learn from it. also they use their bodies and learn their limitations. The toilet thing is not normal. But as a parent I care little about it. If it works its fine.
Very nice talk. So much is complely true. I’m old but their point about our non-casual dating feels are spot on. The young are getting better(I think) but we are awful at dating. I’m happily married but the whole ting of getting to say this is love, I love you(ie lets make a future together was awful). My wife is very danish. So am ,I so trying
My god he is so right. When the rain is awfull. Enter your workplase soaked in water and with a blank stare or slight smile just say “what a nice weather”. Everybody will laugh and laughs are popular and so will you be. Do not invent the wheel, just do the same with other words over and over) :)
The socialism is a red herring. Ie. seems to be true but really misses the mark. What everybody missed in the stupid controvercy about the muhammed cartoons. Our national museum had a an exepition about danish mockery and humor targeting christianity at the time. I knew, but the exebition made it clear danes have mocked religion for more than 300-400 years and the language and humour used would make most people blush nowdays. They were frigging cruel as hell but it was also humor. I would dislike if Danish directness is scrapped. It would destroy our social fabrick. Danish humor is very suttle at times. And the sarcasm makes it a mess. But if you learn danish and its humor we are one. You are family and we will work together to make each others lives better.
I had an anestetic doctor putting me under. He said be ready Now I’m going to kill you for a bit We had a great laugh together :) No problem, I knew he was just taking the piss and he really had my back. No problem at all.
Laughs are great but Danish sarcasm is cruel and can be stated with the straightest of faces untill somebody just break the spell and breaks down laughing with everybody following.
Amazing podcast. I only got aware of this in the last years. My wife and I have travelled the world and yes its mostly doubble duvets. Never thought much of it bc. We mostly travel to the north/middle of the globe in the summer. But in Denmark its single duvets. Bc. Then my wife can sleep with a slightly lighter than mine and so the window can be open for her when its not really cold. I used to like sleeping in cold air. Not so much as I’m getting older. I need heat while not rubbing onto another person. My wife gets the temp she needs and the same for me. About the sex thing its always a clear indication if one wraps her/his duvet over the others and snuggle in. So for me its a bit of practicality. People have different heat needs, its just the way things are in our own practical way. We have few problems with the double when we travel. We do not register it much. Change is a part of travelling after all, so I think we take it for granted. And yes people sleeping under a double, sleep less.
If you write about Danes in a italian paper. Danes will desend on the article like parents with a newborn child that needs protection. (Danish children are very very safe. But if they need help, Danes will socially destroy anybody challaging anybody communicating anything but complete understanding)
They should have read out the rules of the jante-law. They are very harsh and would surprise just about any foreigner. Most Danes cannot name the rules, but they run through society on many many levels. They are looming everywhere but completely unstated by people. Do not take them as rules, but as guidance and use plenty of sacasm and self deprivation with humor.
Denmark is more German than Scandinavian.
The way I see the jante’s-law is. Sure its good to celebrate somebody doing great. But thats the one percent. I’ll much more prefer to celebrate everybody being more well off and having a good time in life. It’s never one or the other, but the latter is closer to the heart. In Denmark people talk about what people do in their free time. The most presious they have, their time. If you do community work people will get impressed. Its social capital of the highest degree. If you have just finished school(including Uni). You are very much more likely to get a job in Denmark, if you can show a list of long time community work. Its hard social capital bc. We value our free time extremely highly. Long time community work means you are stable and part of the family which is the whole country. Thus you are to be trusted and a person with excellent values and work ethics. Many times it will get people infront of the work que bc. Its simply just seen as very important to a functional society.
I read his guardian article and made a snarky comment. The comments were mostly from Scandinavians who does not take kindly to “outsiders” critisising the family.
Ha ha ha is totally right about the scandinavian family. So diverse but we snark at each other every chanse we get. What we really dislike is some foreigner going after our fellow scandinavians. Dont be some Italian and talk badly about the Swedes. Danes will defend them to death. Its family after all.
People in Denmark are direkt and to the point. If you do not ask for help nobody will do anything. But if you ask just about everybody will do so, no problem at all. Its very important to say what you need directly among everyday Danes. Hotels, restaurents and such were tourist come, its not so bad. But if you do not speak your mind, you will think the service is terrible. Danes do not do suttle hints. And any slight suggestion will be seen as an expression of feeling, but not a expression of what you need to be done. Be polite but direkt. No snarking, just ask.
Also if anything serious happens like an accident. Everybody will run to help.
Everybody in Denmark speak english and will transition to english fluently. So just speak english from the start. If you work in Denmark learn Danish at once. Just do it, bc. You will miss out on the culture and the humour and never be a true part of our clan/family (and we are one big family). Beware of some racism. Its mostly in the countryside. But its there.
Dont bike in Denmark in the cities unless you have a bike guide with you. Copenhagen is pretty scary to bike in if you are not used to it. Bikes are a tool for transportation in the cities. The pace is fast and hectic.
Forget about the little mermaid. Do something else. And she is right the boat rides are ok. Just bevare of teenagers hurdling waterballon with large slingshots after the boats. The closed ones are usually the target, bc. the young ones are mostly too polite to actually hit people. It it not something to expect but it may happen. Also its only when the weather is really nice and warm in the summer.
You can laugh at the queen. Its normal. She visited a komedian playing her for many years at his anniversary. We laugh at Daysi all the time. Her smoking, how she talks, how she dress. All of it. And she is it a good sport and laughs along. It would be strange for Danes if she behaved otherwise.
Also many things in Denmark is done not by the state but by registered civil communities. Its very orderly and regulated. People are expected to participate. If not, you have to have some other really important things to do. Otherwise you will be seen as a social piraha.
About the rude thingy and trolley. We danes are not rude but direct. If you need help, say so and people will help at once. No problem. We care little for suttle communication. Be direct and to the point. No problem and all is fine. If you need help everybody will help. Its just very important to be direkt.
LOL. I think they are wrong. But I understand why, its a culture think. Its not that when people have paid their taxes they think their work is done. We have a very strong civil community sense. Its how we view time! Fx. My children are scouts, so I help the scouts out with voluntere work, where I help maintain one of their buildings in the woods. This sort of thing is expected for most people. Voluntere community work is very highly regarded and expected. I raise my children to do the same. With this sort of work, I give back with the most important thing I have, my time. I expect other people to do the same. So they also offer their time to the community.
Thus all is fine. I trust they do what is right.
The thing about friends is true. I have met wonderfull people but not contacted them again bc. Of lack of time for more Friends. It not that uncommon.
Very good questions and answers.
This is very hight quality. I will recommend these videos :)
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your video is very informative and helpful. I'm in dire need of your help landing a job in Denmark. how do I contact with you guys ? please, help.