Culture and Traditions Denmark Culture and Traditions

COUNTRY AND CLIMATE The penisula Jutland and 443 named island make the country Denmark. Denmark is a very flat country and much of it is covered by fields. The Danish climate is temperate. The weather more or less follow the seasons, which means we usually have snow in the winter and sun in the summer. Denmark’s costline is about 8.750 km. long.

INHABITANTS, FLAG AND LANGUAGE There are 5.7 million inhabitants in Denmark. About one million inhabitants live in the Capital Copenhagen. The name of the flag is Dannebrog. It fell from the sky in 1219 during a battle in Estonia. The language spoken is Danish. English is taught at school from the first grade till the nineth or tenth and German is taught from fifth till nineth or tenth grade.

FOOD In Denmark we eat a lot of pork. There are about twice as many pigs as there are humans in Denmark. Actually the Danish national food is roast pork with potatoes and parsley sauce, but the dish on the picture is eaten a lot more. You can make these meatballs of chicken or pork. Eat the meatballs with boiled potatoes, brown sauce, pickles and red cabbage.

THE MUSIC SCENE Denmark is home to different world known artists such as the 1900s band Aqua and famous singer Lukas Graham. Each summer there is a huge and world known festival in the city Roskilde. This year Eminem is playing on the orange stage, which is the biggest one.

Traditions and important dates FASTELAVN We celebrate the end of a fast which not many actually participates in. Fastelavn is celebrated in February/March. We celebrate by hitting a barrol to get rid of the evil. The cats on the barrols represent the evil. Back in the days there used to be a real cat inside the barrol. This tradition also includes making fun of people, which is why children dress up like on Halloween - but not in a scary way. Trick or treat is too a part of the tradition as well as eating special buns with cream and marcipan.

REMEMBERING WW2 9th of April and 5th of May Traditions and important dates REMEMBERING WW2 9th of April and 5th of May The 9th of April is a day we remember by putting the flag on every public building on half, because back in 1940 our country was invaded and occupied by the German army as part of the 2nd World War. On the evening of the 5th of May we celebrate that our country was set free after five years of occupation and war by putting lighted candles in the windows.

INTERNATIONAL WORKER’S DAY Traditions and important dates INTERNATIONAL WORKER’S DAY Date: 1st of May Like many others countries we mark the by gathering up in huge parks, where politicians and other people do speeches. Sometimes different music artists also play.

THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION Traditions and important dates THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION Date: 5th of June We celebrate our national constitution. It was made back in 1849 and the law is on display in our parliament. Most people have the day off.

SANKT HANS – MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL Traditions and important dates SANKT HANS – MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL Date: 23rd of June. We celebrate the longset day - the day with most light. We have a bonfire in the evening and gather round to sing special songs and burning off a witch to send her away - to get rid of the evil.