Customs and Traditions in Denmark

Denmark is a country located in the very centre of Europe. People from Denmark are known for their hospitality and respect towards old traditions. Find the most common features of traditions and customs in Denmark before your next trip there.

Food

Danes eat mostly at home or in private settings. Breakfast is usually light consisting of coffee, cereal or bread eaten at home. Lunch at school or work is often homemade or taken from the canteen. Open sandwiches are very popular consisting of a rye bread with herring, salami, fried plaice, cod roe, cheese or jam.

For home dinner Danes serve an appetizer, a main course being boiled vegetables and fried meet, and a dessert. Lately, pizza, rice with chicken, pasta and turkey has gain popularity among young people. The ecological movement caused huge demand and thus wide offer of organically grown foods, so now most supermarkets have a range of such products.

Read also: Cheap Accommodation & Budget Rentals in Denmark

Etiquette

Privacy is the key element of Danish manners. One should not be interested in other people’s salary, house or property. Danes do not show their emotions in public considering it as the sign of weakness.

No one should invite oneself to other people’s apartment, and it is not recommended to interrupt anyone during a conversation.Informality is considered a respected virtue. For example, at dinner parties or any social events there are no formal introductions and it is up to people to initiate new acquaintances.

Religion

The majority of Denmark citizens belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church which is considered the national one and is supported by the state. There are also many religious communities including the Catholic Church and the Danish Baptist Church.

Family Values

Danish children are raised as independent and self-sufficient personalities. Most of them are sent to day care centres at the age of 1. People are not obliged to get married in order to have children. Many couples live together for decades and raise common children without making their relationship legal.

In Denmark, homosexual couples are allowed to register their marriage as well.

Guest Etiquette

If invited to party or dinner, bring flowers and a good chocolate or good wine. Flowers are better to be wrapped and red wrapping paper would be the right choice. It would also be polite of you to send flowers in advance of your coming.

Arrive on time since Danish are punctual in both business and leisure matters. Do not discuss business when invited to a private house and better ask about the house decoration because Danes usually do it with great care and feel proud with their accomplishments.

Remember that Danes are disciplined rule-followers, this is expected from tourists. Don’t even try to cross the road in a wrong place or take a left corner while cycling without signalling as this will most likely result in several curses from the locals.

So learn carefully all of the above mentioned information as it will definitely serve you best in your Denmark adventure! And, of course, obtain a travel insurance to make this trip completely worry-free.

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