https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Denmark in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed It's confirmation season in Denmark, which means you'll see a lot of teenagers around dressed in suits and white dresses. Here's a guide to what it's all about. https://www.thelocal.dk/20160425/the-complete-guide-to-confirmation-in-denmark Mon, 25 Apr 2016 08:23:59 +0200 the-complete-guide-to-confirmation-in-denmark Everybody knows about Christmas, Easter, and Constitution Day on June 5th. But what are some Danish annual holidays you won’t find on any calendar? https://www.thelocal.dk/20260422/nine-danish-holidays-you-wont-find-on-official-calendars Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:38:20 +0200 nine-danish-holidays-you-wont-find-on-official-calendars If you ever drive past a Danish house with the national flag flying high and scores of small paper versions decorating the front garden, you are more likely to have stumbled upon a child’s birthday than a nationalist convention. https://www.thelocal.dk/20230420/why-do-danes-use-their-national-flag-as-a-birthday-banner Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:52:12 +0200 why-do-danes-use-their-national-flag-as-a-birthday-banner People in Denmark and Norway have the day off on Maundy Thursday, but people in Sweden still have to work. Why is this? https://www.thelocal.dk/20240328/why-is-maundy-thursday-a-holiday-in-denmark-and-norway-but-not-sweden Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:40:01 +0100 why-is-maundy-thursday-a-holiday-in-denmark-and-norway-but-not-sweden For many people in Denmark, the påskefrokost or Easter lunch means getting together with family or friends to relax during a period of extended down time from work. But what are the essential elements of this annual tradition? https://www.thelocal.dk/20220413/paskefrokost-what-are-the-essentials-of-a-danish-easter-lunch Wed, 13 Apr 2022 13:48:03 +0200 paskefrokost-what-are-the-essentials-of-a-danish-easter-lunch Egg hunts, an all-day lunch, gækkebrev, five-day weekend and snaps. Here's your complete guide to a Danish Easter. https://www.thelocal.dk/20190418/the-complete-guide-to-easter-in-denmark Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:31:12 +0200 the-complete-guide-to-easter-in-denmark During the cold and dark early months of the year, one of the bright spots in Denmark is the national favourite ‘fastelavnsbolle’, a traditional pre-Lent treat that reminds you spring isn’t too far away. https://www.thelocal.dk/20250121/fastelavnsbolle-why-is-the-classic-danish-cake-a-january-and-february-favourite Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:46:56 +0100 fastelavnsbolle-why-is-the-classic-danish-cake-a-january-and-february-favourite Danish postal operator PostNord has donated over a thousand iconic red post boxes to be sold off for charity. https://www.thelocal.dk/20260115/how-you-can-buy-one-of-denmarks-decommissioned-red-post-boxes Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:42:30 +0100 how-you-can-buy-one-of-denmarks-decommissioned-red-post-boxes Christmas is celebrated on December 24th in Denmark, with present exchanging happening late in the day. Here's all you need to know about a Danish Christmas. https://www.thelocal.dk/20221219/how-do-danes-celebrate-on-christmas-eve Mon, 19 Dec 2022 15:51:02 +0100 how-do-danes-celebrate-on-christmas-eve Every year in Denmark, on December 13th, you may see a procession of girls dressed in white, holding candles. This is the tradition of Saint Lucia Day, which is celebrated in kindergartens, schools and churches across Denmark. https://www.thelocal.dk/20221209/explained-how-denmark-celebrates-saint-lucia-day Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:52:34 +0100 explained-how-denmark-celebrates-saint-lucia-day The tradition of lighting candles during Advent in the Nordics has a rich history that stretches back centuries. https://www.thelocal.dk/20231201/why-do-the-nordic-countries-have-the-tradition-of-lighting-candles-on-each-sunday-of-advent Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:29:22 +0100 why-do-the-nordic-countries-have-the-tradition-of-lighting-candles-on-each-sunday-of-advent Fastelavn is traditionally the biggest fancy-dress day on Denmark’s calendar, but recent years have seen it challenged by American custom Halloween. https://www.thelocal.dk/20191031/how-halloween-scared-off-fastelavn-to-become-denmarks-favourite-fancy-dress-day Thu, 31 Oct 2019 15:59:33 +0100 how-halloween-scared-off-fastelavn-to-become-denmarks-favourite-fancy-dress-day Denmark is a country with a love of rules and naming a baby is no different. In order to protect children, there is a naming law, which requires names to be approved by a family court. Here are the details for naming a baby in Denmark. https://www.thelocal.dk/20220725/explained-the-rules-for-naming-a-baby-in-denmark Mon, 25 Jul 2022 11:31:14 +0200 explained-the-rules-for-naming-a-baby-in-denmark Denmark’s new parliamentary year is always commenced on the first Tuesday in October. Why is the custom important and what can be expected this year? https://www.thelocal.dk/20221004/why-does-denmark-reopen-parliament-at-the-start-of-october Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:21:56 +0200 why-does-denmark-reopen-parliament-at-the-start-of-october One unique experience about life as a foreign national in Denmark is attending a Danish wedding, where you’re likely to experience a lot of customs and traditions you’ve not seen before. What are they? https://www.thelocal.dk/20250626/scissors-socks-and-songs-the-quirky-traditions-to-expect-at-a-danish-wedding Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:03:45 +0200 scissors-socks-and-songs-the-quirky-traditions-to-expect-at-a-danish-wedding It’s not a public holiday, Constitution Day or the King's birthday, but Denmark’s flag is flown every September 5th from public buildings and buses across the country. https://www.thelocal.dk/20190905/why-are-flags-flying-in-denmark-today Thu, 05 Sep 2019 13:28:26 +0200 why-are-flags-flying-in-denmark-today Wondering what that yoghurt and biscuit dessert is, or where everyone went? You're probably a newcomer to the Danish summer. https://www.thelocal.dk/20250717/four-unusual-danish-summer-habits-that-confuse-newcomers Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:13:43 +0200 four-unusual-danish-summer-habits-that-confuse-newcomers During early summer in Denmark, you will start to notice a huge number of young people wearing white caps, probably while celebrating and partying with their friends. These are Denmark's school leavers and the caps they are wearing are far more than fancy dress. https://www.thelocal.dk/20230614/explained-why-do-danish-school-leavers-wear-white-caps Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:13:10 +0200 explained-why-do-danish-school-leavers-wear-white-caps Summer in Denmark means workplaces emptying for weeks on end and a flood of 'out of office' replies from colleagues and clients taking lengthy vacations. But have you ever wondered exactly how summer holidays of at least three weeks became so entrenched in Danish society? https://www.thelocal.dk/20240702/why-do-the-danes-take-such-long-summer-holidays Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:19:56 +0200 why-do-the-danes-take-such-long-summer-holidays Denmark may have a stellar reputation as a world leader when it comes to fine dining, but it’s also home to plenty of hearty dishes. Here are a few you should try. https://www.thelocal.dk/20240419/five-dishes-that-every-newcomer-to-denmark-should-try-at-least-once Fri, 19 Apr 2024 19:30:56 +0200 five-dishes-that-every-newcomer-to-denmark-should-try-at-least-once