Muh! It’s finally forår (Spring), and all the Danish køer (cows) are dying to get out on markerne (the fields). Nattefrosten (the night frost) has left the jord (earth, soil), and our four-legged friends are endelig (finally) allowed to leave the stald (stable). It’s time for køernes forårsdans (the spring-dance of the cows).

I forgårs (the day before yesterday), my sister, I and at least 1000 other persons travelled to Raunhøj, one of several Danish farms that had decided to slippe køerne fri (let the cows loose) at the same time. I gamle dage (in olden days), this was, of course, a private, joyful event that took place independently at each bondegård (farm). Takket være (thanks to) the internet, it has recently become a public happening. This year’s magical moment was set to søndag 21. april klokken 12. Passionate cow-watchers could easily access a hjemmeside (homepage) and find the nearest farm.

Of course, the Danish mejerier (dairies) helped promote the event – which they’ve branded as Økodag. If you’ve ever been to a Danish foodstore, you know that Danes are crazy about økologisk mad (organic/biodynamic food – that is, food that has been grown without the farmers using poisonous fertilizers). So, ”Økodag” is a snappy way to say ”organic day” or ”biodynamic day”. And a ko (cow) that gives us her økologisk mælk and økologisk ost (organic cheese) is … an øko-ko.

økodag – the cows’ spring party (official logo from økodag.dk)

At the farm there were so many mennesker (humans) that it seemed like a rockkoncert. Politiet (the police) were even there! So many børn og voksne (children and adults) were looking at their watches and talking about the cows, that I’m sure they must have become quite nervous in their stable! But at last they ran out into foråret, jumping and dancing madly after their long imprisonment.

This is how it looked: 

The world as seen by Danes! Piet Hein’s classical globe still makes people smile…

Did you know there is a Dane in Tom Cruise’s new sci-fi movie, Oblivion? Danish media seem to be busy making sure that noone forgets that skuespiller (actor) Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is, well, a dansker (Dane)…

The avis (”a-VEEce”, newspaper) Information [infore-mah-SHON] recently hit the nail on the head when they skrev (wrote) that … Danes love reading about Danes! Especially those getting attention i udlandet (abroad, literally ”in the outland”)!

Heard about the new series Hannibal broadcast on the US network NBC? Many people in Denmark have – because the hovedrolle (main character, literally ”head role”) is being played by – you guessed it – a Dane (Mads Mikkelsen). And what about the Copenhagen restaurant Noma, which has been kåret til verdens bedste (chosen the world’s best) a couple of times? We Danes like to think that since someone international [INternashoenaal] has called it so, then of course it must be the talk of the entire global village…

Selv om vi ikke er store, vil vi gerne læse om, at vi er store, Information tells us. Even if we aren’t big, we would like to read about us being big. According to the article, the stereotypical Dane suffers from a unique combination of storhedsvanvid (megalomania, literally ”greatness madness”) and mindreværdskompleks (inferiority complex). Michael Böss, who’s an expert on nationalisme, calls it the Lille Danmark (little Denmark) syndrome. He dates this følelse (feeling) to 1814, when Denmark lost Norway to Sweden, and ceased to be a powerful European nation.

So, the next time you meet a Dane abroad, remember to give him a hug and tell him you do know where Denmark is! If you’re heldig (lucky), he might gradually tø op (thaw out, literally ”thaw up”), and start showing some genuine interest for your place of origin!

How are things in your country? Do people there also love reading about themselves in other countries?

It’s påske (Easter)! Last year I told you about the various dag/e (day/s) of Easter in Denmark. Let’s look at some words associated with this important højtid (festival, literally ”high-time”):

• kirke (”KEERkeh”, church). As a rule, Denmark is not a very religious country. However, even the typical Danish tvivler (doubter) might fall in love with whitewashed churches and lilla (lilac) candles in Easter… (In ordinary houses, the Easter colour of choice is gul, yellow.)
• påskeferie (”PAWskeh-ferh-eeyeh”, Easter Holiday). It’s nice getting a few days off. If you’re a schoolkid, you get an entire uge (week) to enjoy the early forår (Spring)!
• påskeæg (”PAWskeh-ehg”, Easter eggs). Påskeharen (The Easter Hare) has laid chokoladeæg (chokolate eggs) in haven (the garden) and in skoven (the forest). Can you find them?
• kylling (”KEEHling”, chicken). Yes, the eggs are brought by a hare, but upon hatching little yellow kyllinger appear. At least they do in countless påskedekorationer (Easter decorations).
• gækkebrev (”GEHKeh-breoo”, teasing letter). This tradition only exists in Denmark. In the days prior to påsken you may send an anonymous letter to someone you know. The gækkebrev is usually cut from a piece of paper in a way that makes it look like a piece of lace. You write a little verse and add your name like this: •••••. If your friend fails to guess it’s you, (s)he owes you a påskeæg! Make sure to make your letter as mysterious as possible, so you’re not the one that has to give an egg…
• påskefrokost (”PAWskeh-frohkost”, Easter lunch). What would Denmark be without its delicious mad (food)? Put half an egg on your sildemad (piece of bread with herring), some snaps in the little glass, and påskebryg (Easter brew = beer) in the big glass… God påske! (Happy Easter!)