![\"G\u00e6kkebrev](\"http:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File%3AG%C3%A6kkebrev_2.JPG\")
<\/a>A g\u00e6kkebrev with a vinterg\u00e6k (snowdrop) included.<\/p><\/div>While Easter is celebrated in many countries throughout verden<\/strong> (the world), there is one Easter tradition which only exists in Denmark: the sending of g\u00e6kkebreve<\/strong>. Brev<\/strong> is \u2019letter\u2019 (snail mail). If you lived in the 19th century and felt like asking if that bell-ringing jester in front of your table were pulling your leg or something, you might have said Driver du g\u00e6k med mig?<\/strong> A g\u00e6kkebrev<\/strong>, in other words, is a letter that tricks you.<\/p>\n A g\u00e6kkebrev<\/strong><\/span> is typically made by a child in the days preceding Easter. She\u2019ll fold a piece of paper and then use a saks<\/strong> (pair of scissors) to cut out small triangles, circles etc. from the folded edge. When unfolded, the paper is nicely covered with symmetric rows of holes, almost like a piece of lace. The child then writes \u2013 or is helped to write \u2013 a message on the parts that are still whole. It may be a small poem, or some nonsense phrases, and the ending often contains the words mit navn det st\u00e5r med prikker<\/strong>, \u201dmy name it stands with dots\u201d. Finally she \u201dspells\u201d her name with dots, one for each letter: \u2022 \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n The g\u00e6kkebrev<\/strong> is then sent to a friend or relative, who is now supposed to guess the identity of the sender. If he fails, he\u2019ll have to give her a p\u00e5ske\u00e6g<\/strong> (Easter egg). If he does guess who wrote the dots, however, she\u2019s the one to give him a chocolate egg for Easter\u2026<\/p>\n Sometimes adults too take their time to make g\u00e6kkebreve<\/strong>, which may turn out as real works of art. The fun part \u2013 beside cutting the patterns and making a decent verse \u2013 is, of course, the attempt to fool the receiver. When I was a child, my parents and I sometimes made a relative who was about to go abroad mail a g\u00e6kkebrev<\/strong>\u00a0for us. \u201dJeez, an anonymous letter with a machine-typed envelope stamped in Hong Kong \u2013 who on earth could that be?\u201d<\/p>\n One of the most common g\u00e6kkebrev<\/strong> verses runs like this:<\/p>\n En vinterg\u00e6k, en sommernar, <\/strong><\/span> A snowdrop<\/em> (a kind of white flower found in early spring; it may also be translated as \u201dwinter jester\u201d)<\/span>, a summer jester,<\/em> While Easter is celebrated in many countries throughout verden (the world), there is one Easter tradition which only exists in Denmark: the sending of g\u00e6kkebreve. Brev is \u2019letter\u2019 (snail mail). If you lived in the 19th century and felt like asking if that bell-ringing jester in front of your table were pulling your leg or…<\/p>\n
\nen fugl foruden vinger, <\/strong><\/span>
\nen lille ven, som har dig k\u00e6r, <\/strong><\/span>
\nen k\u00e6rlig hilsen bringer.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\na bird without wings,<\/em>
\na little friend, who\u2019s fond of you,<\/em>
\na loving greeting brings.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"