April Fool's in Denmark, and the rough game of Danish humor

Published: March 31, 2019, 10:01 p.m.

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April 1st is April Fool\\u2019s Day \\u2013\\xa0Aprilsnar\\xa0in Danish \\u2013 and each Danish newspaper will feature a clever but false story for the unwary to be fooled by.

To some extent every day is April Fool\\u2019s Day in Denmark, because Danish humor is a rough humor. Danes show affection by making fun of each other. And, as an international, they might make fun of you too.

This is a good thing: that means they have accepted you into the circle of Danishness.

But it doesn\\u2019t mean that the intersection of non-Danes and Danish humor is entirely painless. If you come from a culture where you are easily offended \\u2013 and that, unfortunately, includes the American culture these days \\u2013 you may spend a lot of time with your feelings hurt.

If you come from a culture where honor or face is prized, the Danish insistence on taking nothing seriously and taking everyone down a peg can be shocking.

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