Denmark
Growing up my only reference of Denmark was my friend from elementary school who would have thin wafer chocolate sandwiches EVERY DAY (or so it seemed……….) and sometimes had really super salty licorice. We all asked to try these of course….. and she was bored of her chocolate sandwiches so she would sometimes trade for our PBJ! Her parents were from Denmark and this made such an impression on me. Let’s learn more about Denmark!
PASSPORT and MAPPING
- stamp passport with date, country, flag and languages
- print out map and label
- Danish flag, coat of arms and colors
LANDMARKS & LANDFORMS to see
- “flat land:
- average height above sea level is 101 ft. Highest point Mollejog at 560 ft.
- Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen Harbor
- Legoland!
- 440 islands
- North Sea
- Kattegat Bay
- Fjords
- rivers – longest: Guden
- Jutland Peninsula
ABOUT DENMARK:
- Denmark World Atlas
- Royal Monarchy that dates back to Viking age
- Danish constitution and multi-party democracy
- welfare state
FOOD:
- Danish Liquorice
- Salted pork
- Salted herring
- open faced sandwiches “smorrebord”
- roast pork with parsley sauce
- rye bread
- beer
- porridge
- wine
- redcurrant, raspberry, blackcurrant – red pudding with cream
- Danish Butter Cookie Wreaths
- Food.com Danish recipes
- Danish pastries aren’t really Danish! They were created by Viennese chefs and brought to Denmark in 1840
CULTURE
- worklife balance – parental leave
- How do Danes live today? Videos
- democratic
- national health service
- high taxes
- bike riding
- mostly atheistic or religion is a private matter, most do not go to church says Denmark.dk
- HYGGE ! I first heard of this through Julie Bogart at Brave writer….. when I researched it I stumbled across it’s Danish origin. Ironically, we were about to start studying Denmark – perfect timing.
What is HYGGE?
“For many Danes, the word “hygge” is essential when describing something uniquely Danish. The word is best translated into English as ‘coziness’ or ‘conviviality’ and reflects the sense of community and sense of security which comes about when Danes spend quality time with people they care about.” – Denmark.dk
> Hygge article in Minnesota winter
> A British perspective on learning about Hygge
TRADITIONS
- Secret snowdrop letters
- Paper weave hearts – Christmas Decorations
- candles in window – why on May 4th? Liberation Day from Germany WWII
- Blue Monday clothes (shopping spree, day off from school – after ‘confirmation’)
- Bonfire speeches
- marzipan pig (prize for finding a whole almond in your rice pudding!) at Christmas
- leaving shoes on the doorstep
- Nisse Danish Christmas Gnomes
- Hans Christian Andersen! The great fairy tale author of the Little Mermain and Ugly Duckling etc.
- model Helena Christensen
- actor Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings!)
- lego !!!
- louspeaker
- insulin
- Carlsberg’s brewers yeast
- ostomy bag
- dry cell
- fiberscope
ARTS/CRAFTS