Danish everyday life in German surroundings

The People of the Minority

Around 50,000 people in South Schleswig today consider themselves part of the Danish minority – but their backgrounds vary widely. Some families have belonged to the minority for generations and have always had Danish as a natural part of their daily lives. Others have only recently chosen the Danish path, seeking bilingualism, a strong sense of community, or cultural ties to Denmark. Many newcomers from Denmark also engage actively in schools, associations, and cultural life. What unites them all is that the minority is not a closed club, but open to anyone who feels they belong.

Danish Traditions

The Danish minority maintains a number of traditions that create a sense of familiarity and community in everyday life. Midsummer’s Eve (Sankt Hans) is one of the major celebrations, where bonfires are lit, songs are sung, and speeches are held by the fjords, lakes, and beaches of South Schleswig. Christmas is equally central, marked by Danish hymns, school festivities, and dancing around the Christmas tree. On birthdays, the Dannebrog is raised, and children are given the classic kagemand or kagekone cake figure.

At the same time, German traditions blend in naturally. Children receive a Schultüte on their first day of school, and they finish their schooling wearing the Danish studenterhue, just like in Denmark. In this way, two sets of traditions live side by side.

Associational Life

Danish community life takes place, among other places, in SSF’s more than 70 local associations (“districts”) across the region. Members meet in the minority’s halls and assembly houses to enjoy fellowship and shared activities.

Children’s and youth institutions form a central pillar of the minority’s daily life. The minority runs numerous nurseries, kindergartens, schools, and youth centres throughout South Schleswig, all based on Danish pedagogical and didactic principles. These institutions attract not only members of the minority who attended Danish schools themselves, but also parents who actively choose a Danish education for their children and thereby establish a connection to the Danish minority. Schools and other institutions often serve as the heart of local Danish leisure activities.

A wide range of Danish associations and organisations offer countless activities – from all kinds of sports to scouting and women’s groups. Contemporary Danish culture is made accessible through several Danish libraries in the larger towns, as well as through a rich programme of theatre performances, concerts, lectures, art exhibitions, and many other events.

For older members, there are local senior clubs and many activities. The minority’s own Danish Health Service provides home care, senior housing, nursing homes, social counselling, and school health services.

The minority also has its own political party, working for minority interests and a Nordic understanding of democracy. It is represented in many municipal councils across South Schleswig and in the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament (Landtag). A branch of the Danish National Church has congregations and preaching sites throughout South Schleswig.

The minority lives as Danish a life as possible within German surroundings. Since German is the language of society and the workplace for most people, it naturally plays a significant role in everyday life. This makes the community life in one’s free time all the more important.

Under “Minority Institutions,” you will find an overview of the wide range of organisations that administrate different parts of Danish life in South Schleswig.