Anthropologist call the trust Denmark benefits from a
general societal trust – an ability to trust people you have
never met before. We can also describe the level of trust
in Denmark as an invisible resource. Social conflicts and
crimes are low while degree of happiness and security
are high. For example, it is common to see parents leave
their baby in carriages outside to nap, while they are inside
maybe enjoying a cup of coffee.
In many ways, the mutual trust is seen as a cornerstone
of the Danish society and a significant part of the Danish
Welfare state. As briefly mentioned, the Danish people pay
one of the world’s highest taxes – and they are happy too.
Thanks to the high societal trust, most Danes are happy to
pay up to half of their income in taxes, because they have
trust in everyone doing the same to support the common
good. In return for their taxes, the Danish Welfare state
provide the citizens with a free healthcare system, free
universities and subsidised childcare. In addition, the
elderly part of society receive pensions and are provided
with care helpers in their houses.
Equality is a shared value between the Danes
Equality is the essence of the culture of Denmark, and you
will experience it in many different aspects of the Danish
society. Nikolaj Grundtvig, one of the 18th century’s biggest
Danish thinkers once described Denmark as a country where
few have too much and even fewer have too little. According
to the OECD, Grundtvig had a solid point; Denmark is among
the countries with the world’s lowest income inequality and
its lowest poverty rate (OECD 2017).
Source: Denmark.dk
When meeting the citizens
of Denmark, you will not be
able to miss the word ‘Hygge’
(“hooga”). The phrase is well
used among Danes to describe
the ambience and feeling of
having a good time.
used among Danes to describe the ambience and feeling of
having a good time. Hygge is not a new word, but dates back
to around 1800 and by 2017 the term was officially added to
the Oxford English Dictionary.
On a visit to Denmark, you will come across that people are
equal despite their gender. This is seen in society where
women just as men work outside the home and pursue their
careers just as they are raising a family. In this relation,
Danish men spends more time with their families than in
many other countries, and it is very common for the parents
of a new born child to divide the parental leave between
each other. In the World Economic Forum’s gender equality
index, Denmark also scores well (The Global Gender Gap
Report 2017). If you ask for a taste of hygge, you will often get the answer
that it is difficult to describe because it has so many aspects
to it. The concept of hygge is not limited to spending time
with people, but is about taking time away from the daily
rush – either together with people you care about or by
yourself to relax. Meanwhile, hygge is often associated with
an informal time together with family or friends, typically
shared over a meal or a drink. The setting is often at home
or another quiet location with the agenda to be only about
celebrating the small joys of life and enjoying yourself.
The importance of equality for the Danish culture is
manifested politically, and the Danish government usually
includes a Minister for Equality. Even though the word is hard to pronounce, the phenomenon
has gotten worldwide awareness and it has been inspiration
for many articles and books. For example, it is possible to
buy “The Little Book of Hygge – the Danish Way to Feel
Well” in several different countries.
The Danish way of ‘Hygge’
When meeting the citizens of Denmark, you will not be
able to miss the word ‘Hygge’ (“hooga”). The phrase is well
Source: Denmark.dk
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