Was that a joke…? How to survive Danish humour

Dry, dark, and weird spiced with sarcasm and self-irony. Well, yes, Danish humour can be difficult for expats and foreigners!

You may already have learned that Danish humour is a big part of daily life in Denmark. Both in professional settings, in private spheres, and in the oddly undefined overlap between those two that Danes tend to enjoy.

Too often, we have heard stories of humour gone wrong. Misinterpretations, assumptions, and even conflicts can be the outcome of intercultural humour misunderstandings. The aim of this interactive talk is to raise awareness and gain insights into the world of Danish humour.

Professor Lita Lundquist and Interculturalist Kathy Borys Siddiqui will shed light on Danish humour, how to decode it, and hopefully enjoy it. Together we will cover the following topics:

• National humour and identity
• Misunderstandings and assumptions around Danish humour – National & International Perspectives
• Understanding Danish humour

We’ll end this joyful evening by inviting travel book author and native Copenhagener Tom Nørgaard for tips and insights about up-and-coming areas of Copenhagen with an interesting industrial past: The Carlsberg City District, Nordhavn, Refshaleøen and Nordvest.

If you’re going to live in Denmark for the next few years, this event is for you!

About the speakers

Kathy Borys Siddiqui.

Kathy Borys Siddiqui has lived in 4 countries and on 2 continents. Growing up as an immigrant and a cross-cultural kid, she was able to discover a multicultural world that shaped her into the person she is today. As an adult she experienced life as a re-pat as well as an expat and she is not a stranger to the challenges and opportunities that life abroad offers.

Just when she least expected it, she met her Danish husband and once again packed her life in boxes and set off to live the happily ever after in the land of the Vikings and "hygge". Kathy has been able to combine her passion and profession as an intercultural trainer, owner and founder of Active Action, public speaker and facilitator. She specializes in intercultural awareness and communication, cultural transition and adaptation, as well as emotional resilience and well-being.

Lita Lundquist.

Lita Lundquist is professor emeritus at Copenhagen Business School. Author of numerous books on language and communication, she has since 2014 focused her research and energy on the study of humour, especially Danes’ use of humour. In fact, in an international perspective, Danish humour is often perceived as rude, ‘in your face’, offensive and hurting. How comes? You’ll find examples and explanations, rooted in particularities of the Danish society and the Danish language, in two recent books: »Humorsocialisering. Hvorfor er danskerne (ikke) så sjove (som de selv tror)?« (2020), and »Danish Humour – Sink or Swim (2023)« – coauthored with Helen Dyrbye, author of »Xenophobes’ Guide to the Danes«.

Tom Nørgaard.

Tom Nørgaard has a diverse experience in the field of travel writing and journalism. He is the managing editor of Politiken Travel Guides with a portfolio of more than 100 destinations around the world, and he is editor of the travel magazine »Rejser« at Jyllands-Posten, one of the biggest daily papers in Denmark.

Tom is also author of several books, including a guidebook to Copenhagen with a range of hand-picked and less well-known events and attractions.