Winter is Coming

The Fading Forests

Piercing Sunlight - Photo: Yahor Urbanovich

Although staying at home in your comfy sweater might seem to be a fitting activity when the weather grows colder, there are things outside the comforts of your home that implore you to turn your attention towards them. Many of the Danish forests are deciduous, and for them autumn means the fall of leaves. For you it means an opportunity to witness a large-scale change from green to brown, yellow and red. Some of the most beautiful natural phenomena occur in the Danish forests right now, so be sure to not miss the opportunity to experience this seasonal treasure. Below we will introduce some of the forests in which you can experience the beauty of Danish autumn in all its glory.

The H.C. Andersen Forest

Not many people will have a forest named after them, let alone on created in their name, but if one was to have that happen to them in Denmark, it would be Hans Christian Andersen. And if that forest was to become a reality, no location would be more on the nose than the island of Funen, his birthplace. It just so happens that such a place does exist, and if you find yourself on Funen you can venture into a labyrinth of trees placed in a square that resembles the paper cut-out "The Sun's Head". You can read more about the new forest by clicking here.

Staksrode Forest

This forest area has one of the most dramatic coastlines in the eastern part of Central Jutland. This is in part because of the fine clay that is found in the area, which, during large amounts of downpour or thawing, absorbs the water and suddenly slides towards the coast with many large trees on its back. This has created terracelike plateaus, where rare and beautiful flowers grow from the forest floor. In autumn you will be able to see birds migrating along the coastline and edible types of mushrooms will start to appear. Staying overnight in Staksrode Forest is also an option, with the forest having different spots for tenting and a shelter with a beautiful sea view. Picnicking is possible along the 3 kilometers worth of coastline and at a couple of marked spots you can light a fire and try your luck with making snobrød.

Rold Forest

30 minutes south of Aalborg in north Jutland lies an area of ancient nature. Rold forest is filled with time-worn trees and weathered hills, and with its 80 square kilometers it is on of Denmark's largest forests. Apart from being beautiful during autumn just like the beforementioned forests, Rold is said to possess magical powers that make the trees grow larger and more crooked than usual. Between trees with ages of up to 300 years, forest trolls are said to roam around on the leaf-dressed forest bed. The most challenging mountain bike route in Denmark can be found in this forest, winding in between the 50 burial mounds that are spread throughout this bewitching forest.

Warm drink - Photo: Toa Heftiba

The Danish winter is not as harsh as its Scandinavian neighbors', but if you're born beneath milder skies, parts of the Danish winter weather might take some getting used to. Colloquially, Danish winter refers to the months of December, January, and February. However, there is no meteorological definition of when the winter officially starts, and as such nobody will blame you if the November breeze makes you categorize the upcoming month as part of winter.

"There is no such thing as bad weather"

"Only bad attire". This quote is ubiquitously heard throughout Denmark when the sunny summer starts to fade. When rain becomes a mainstay, this little sentence, known to all Danes keeps the creeping weather frustrations at bay and helps you saddle up and take the bike to work in any weather. On the Scandinavian degree of latitude, winter is often symbolized with frozen lakes and snowy landscapes. In Denmark however, rain is the predominant precipitation during the winter months and therefore, clothes that fit these wet elements are indispensable. During rush hour, you can be sure to see all kinds of inspirational solutions to keeping the weather out.

Remember to take your vitamins

From now till late December the living daylights will dwindle. This reality compels many Danes to supplement their bodily health with vitamins. Vitamin D is created in the skin, when sunlight hits it, however during these coming darker months, there isn't enough sunlight for your body to produce a proper amount of Vitamin D. Apart from eating foods like fatty fish, eggs or cheese, many Danes also snack on tablets or drops containing this important vitamin. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration recommends that people take a daily supplement of vitamin D between October and April. You can read more here.

Don't be defeated

Although light is waning and the cold is gaining, there are still a plethora of opportunities for you to indulge in these next couple of months. Denmark ranks among the best countries in the world when it comes to leisure activities. Although it might seem trivial, finding a hobby is one of the best ways to combat the loneliness that some people experience during winter. From football to photography, you can be sure to find a group of people wanting to enjoy the same thing as you. Apart from satisfying the need for socializing, the physical nature of many leisure activities can balance out the amplified need for snacks these next months. Engaging in a hobby is a very obvious, yet very important win-win in winter. If you want to know more about leisure the Danish way, click the button below. This will take you to the webpage of lifeindenmark.dk.

The Danish Language

Speaking Danish - Photo: Ben White

The Danish language is world renowned for being a difficult language to learn. Surprisingly however, if you are proficient in English, Danish ranks among some of the easiest languages to learn. Danish is quite closely related to English, and thus there are a quite few overlaps between the two languages. Because of our Viking past and their invasion of the British Isles centuries ago - many words in English are heavily inspired by Old Norse, the common language of old Scandinavia. Some words are almost replicas; Window ("Vindue" in Danish), Husband ("Hus" meaning house and "bonde" meaning farmer), Egg ("Æg" in Danish) and Guest ("Gæst" in Danish).

Our Scandinavian neighbors

Although we are neighbors, and although we were once one large kingdom, inhabitants of Denmark, Norway and Sweden might still run into trouble when speaking to each other in their native tongues. Old Norse has not been spoken since the 14th century and as such the 3 languages has had plenty of opportunity to develop into different directions. Most Danes must make an effort in order to understand a Swede or Norwegian, and in many instances the conversation might shift to English relatively quickly. The written parts of the languages are relatively similar however, and it is often in pronunciation that misunderstandings can occur.

Counting down the days

Danish might statistically be one of the simplest languages to learn for English speakers, however there is one particular part of the Danish language that is incomparable to any counterparts in other languages: The numbers system. If you are looking for a challenging project during these next months, why not learn the Danish numbers system and be able to count down the days to warmer times in Danish?

Much of the world uses the decimal system as a base for their counting. Thus, you have likely grown up with counting in units of 10. This is true for Danes as well, however from 50 to 99, the story is quite different and rather complicated. Instead of using 10 as a base, the Danish language now uses 20 as a base. Instead of describing 50 as 5 x 10, the math becomes 2,5 x 20. But this isn't the difficult part. The real issue lies in the wording of the number.

50 in Danish is "halvtreds", which is a shortened version of the old word "halvtredsindstyve". "halv-treds" is made from the word "halvtredje" which means half of the third or 2,5. The second part of the word is "sinds" which means multiply. The third part of the word, "tyve" means 20. When you put those three parts together, you get 2,5 x 20. The logic continues through the 90's, called "halvfems", meaning 4,5 x 20. Logically the wording of 100 would then be "fems" - 5 x 20, but it is not. Here the Danes revert back to the recognizable word of "hundrede", which has a totally different origin story.

A key didactic principle says that you learn best by teaching others, so sit down with a (Danish) friend and show them your knowledge of one of the more intricate parts of the Danish language. A thorough walkthrough of the Danish numbers has been made in video-form, click here to check it out.

Words for winter

The Danish language is filled with unique words and phrases. Some of them are winter-themed and will come in handy these next coming months.

• Kuldskær - Being cold shy. If you are kuldskær you might have trouble getting out of bed in the cold mornings, you might be the first to put on an extra shirt if the office temperature drops, or you might be freezing while others are sweating. It is both a blessing and a curse to be kuldskær. "Kuld" refers to the cold and "Skær" comes from an Old Norse word meaning shy or fearful.
• Døgn - 24 hours. Until the 20th of March next year, the days will be shorter than the nights in Denmark. The switch from darkness to light is called "jævndøgn" in Danish. The word "døgn" is a rather unique word that does not have a counterpart in English. It always refers to all 24 hours of the day, whereas day or "dag" in Danish, might refer to many different timeframes.
• Hundekoldt - Dog cold. Typically said by Danes when arriving from a cold trip outside. With rosy cheeks and tremoring fingers, they might say, "det er hundekoldt derude", literally meaning - it is dog cold out there. However, using it this way, as most Danes do, is actually wrong. The original meaning of the phrase actually refers to a relatively mild temperature, a temperature where only the dog's nose is cold, as they quite easily cool.
• Hygge - The most well-known word, but the hardest to describe. "Hygge" is a concept that is regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture. It is seen as part of the reason why Danes are some of the happiest people in the world, and it is especially prevalent when winter arrives, when the warmth of a blanket and a cup of tea delivers a special feeling. BUT the definition varies from person to person, and what is "hyggeligt" for some, might not be "hyggeligt" for others. The origin of the word is, however, more clear, and perhaps this can give you a better idea of what "hygge" is to you. It comes from the Old Norse word of "hyggja", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic verb "hugjana", meaning to think or to mean. So maybe there is more to your way of "hygge" than being calm and comfortable.

Free Danish Classes

As a general rule, you are entitled to free Danish education for a period of up to 5 years from your arrival to Denmark. To read more about this opportunity, click the button below.

The Danish Tax System

Is filing your preliminary income assessment an overwhelming experience? Or do you not even know what it is? Not to worry! Join our free online Q&A and get familiar with the Danish tax system.

It's time to review your preliminary income assessment and make your final adjustments - but fear not, because the Danish Tax Agency are here to help you out and answer any questions you may have about your preliminary income assessment or just taxes in general.

The Danish tax system online Q&A will be held live on November 19 and December 4, from 17:00-18:30.

Prepare for the live Q&A by watching a prerecorded video on the Danish tax system in English - Watch the video.

Sign up for the Q&A by clicking a button below.

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Innovation District Copenhagen welcomes you to the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences in Mærsk Tower, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 KBH N. As an international Life Science, the event is your chance to expand your network and meet potential future employers. The event will take place on the 28th of November, from 12:30-16:30. Registration deadline is on the 17th of November. Sign up by clicking the button below.