A joke from a Dane might not always make you laugh, but it is likely to succeed in dividing opinion.
Of those who responded to our survey, 56 percent said they did not find Danish humour amusing. 44 percent said they think it’s funny.
The national humour is “subtle and often self-effacing,” wrote Michael Massey from Kansas in the United States, a descendant of Danish immigrants to the US.
“It is subtle with easily recognizable truisms about real life,” Michael observed.
“Danish humor is very dry and often dark, but in a kind of nod to ‘shared hardship’ and community,” wrote Wayne from the US.
READ ALSO: Why don't foreigners 'get' Danish humour?
Wayne described Danes’ sense of humour as “dry,” “dark” and “self deprecating.”
“There’s always a little wink, but it’s never loud or slapstick,” he said.
Jokes in many countries involve poking fun at their neighbours. This is where Denmark comes into its own, according to Wayne.
“I especially enjoy any jokes about Swedes, usually delivered in front of Swedes, and usually both making fun of Swedes while making fun of themselves for trying dunk on Swedes after so long,” he said.
Australian Scott Wilson, who lives in Hvidovre, praised Danes’ “good sense of irony” and invoked famous standup comedian Victor Børge, who he described as one of the “funniest slapstick comedians of his era.”
As well as being ironic and self-deprecating, Danes are “tuned to the human condition” in their humorous observations, according to Mark Rasmussen from Sacramento in California.
“After we took our daughter and son-in-law to Denmark last year, I mentioned to him how funny they were and he said, ‘YES! and in a second language to boot!’,” Mark wrote.
“They are quick-witted, spot my faults (what few there are), and poke fun in the gentlest manner imaginable,” he added with what appears to be a self-ironic streak of his own.
Maria in Copenhagen was less enthusiastic.
“They call their humor ironic, but I actually find it stupid,” she said.
“It’s not intelligent. They laugh at someone falling. It’s not deep, there isn’t a social critic behind. It’s superficial and stupid,” Maria explained.
“I prefer intelligent humor, even when dark and offensive,” she said.
Another reader, Irina in Copenhagen, also said she was yet to witness the talent for irony for which Danes have a reputation.
“They don’t understand sarcasm or irony,” she wrote, adding that she is “yet to meet a funny Dane.”
Whichever side of the debate you come down on, maybe you’ll be swayed if we finish with a Danish joke sent to us by Michael in Kansas.
Observation from a visitor: "Denmark is very grey and cloudy."
Dane: "Yes, If the sun ever shines two days in a row, we declare the second day a public holiday."
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