Danish Traditions

Background

The Danish way of life comes form a long, historical background of all Danish citizens believing in a universal common way of life. Many of their traditions stem from these ideals. One of these major customs is realizing everyone is considered equal in Danish society. Trying to distinct oneself from the custom may be considered a rebellious act, and against Jante’s Law. Jante’s Law is considered to be the code of conduct for Scandinavian Law. It has also been a long-standing tradition to give high amounts of funding to the culture and arts scenes of Denmark.

Hygge

Hygge is a Danish custom in which people make sure to have relaxing, social times with close friends and loved ones regularly. This custom often incorporates meals and beverages for those attending. Often, lighting is an important element to this custom, making sure to use candles as a supplement. It is a long running tradition in Danish culture and is still practiced today. It is believed by some outside sources that this tradition provides for the happiness of the country and its astounding rates of productivity. This tradition is closely related to the uncommon working times in Denmark.

Cycling

Denmark is perhaps known for one its oldest and still popular traditions today, cycling. Danes prefer to ride bicycles when traveling to many places. Cycling paths are extremely common in the cities. Whether traveling for the weekend or commuting to work, cycling is the preferred method of transportation. The tradition stems from the belief that culture and community are extremely important. By cycling, the economic friendliness to Denmark is greatly increased. This is perhaps one of the largest traditions Denmark is known for by other countries.

Fishing

Dating back from their ancestors, the Vikings, fishing is a large part of the culture in Denmark. The country is nearly surrounded by water, which makes for a large area of leisure and commercial fishing. The activity is mostly seen as a relaxing time for friends and family. Although it is a leisurely tradition, fishing also makes up for a large amount of economic supply for the country. Two of the most caught fish are trout and eel. When fishing for leisure, the families that caught it often consume the food, but sometimes the fish is sold to markets or companies.