February, the Cat in the Barrel, and the Absence of Faith: The Danish Year Part 2

How to Live in Denmark

Fastelavn is one of the Danes’ favorite holidays. It takes place in February, when the light is finally beginning to come back after a long season of winter darkness. "Hitting the cat in the barrel" - which used to involve a real cat, but no longer does - and eating messy fastelavn buns full of custard are part of the holiday.

What's no longer really part of the holiday is its religious background, the idea that this is a party that takes place before the long lockdown of Lent.

Kept the party, dumped the religion

The Danes have kept the party while stripping away its source, much like the non-firmations some Danes choose over confirmations, or the "namegiving ceremonies" that have replaced baptisms in some circles.

I once read that the safer a society is, the less likely it is to be religious. The more comfortable and secure people are, the less likely they are to turn to a higher power to sort things out.

That’s certainly true in Denmark.

They find religious faith strange

The majority of Danes find religious faith strange, and perhaps a sign of ignorance or moral weakness. I have had Danes tell me that believing in God is like believing in Santa Claus.

They’ll go to church on Christmas Eve, or for a wedding, or maybe a funeral.

But if you tell Danes that you go to church on a regular basis because you like it, they will suddenly become very suspicious, and maybe a little angry.

They may assume you have backward views, that you don’t like gay people, perhaps that you believe that women should be subservient.

Or maybe that you don’t drink alcohol, which is a serious charge in Denmark.

Read more at howtoliveindenmark.com