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Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark is the smallest Nordic country, situated in Scandinavia, in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula and a number of islands north of Germany, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway. Additionally, the territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands are under Danish sovereignty. Motto of the Queen: The help of God, the love of people, the greatness of Denmark. History Official language Danish1 Capital Copenhagen Monarch Margaret II of Denmark was first united by Harold Denmark Bluetooth around 980. Up into the 11th Prime Minister Anders Fogh century the Danes were known as Rasmussen vikings, colonizing, raiding and Area Ranked 130th trading in much of Europe. - Total 43,094 km2 - % water 1.6% At various times Denmark has controlled England, Norway, Sweden, parts of the Population Ranked 104th Baltic coast and what is now northern - Total (2001) 5,352,815 Germany. Skne was part of Denmark for - Density 124/km² most of it's early history, but was prehistoric age, lost to Sweden in 1658. The union with Independence before 8th Norway was dissolved in 1814, when century Norway entered a new union with Sweden Currency Krone (until 1905). Time zone UTC +1 The Danish liberal and national movement gained momentum in the 1830s, National anthem Der er et yndigt land and after the European revolutions of 1848 Denmark became a constitutional Internet TLD .DK monarchy in 1849. Calling Code 45 Electricity 230V, 50 Hz After the Second War of Schleswig in 1864 Denmark was forced to cede (1) Co-official with Inuktitut in Schleswig-Holstein to Prussia, in a Greenland. defeat that left deep marks in the Danish national identity. After this point Denmark adopted a policy of neutrality, following which Denmark stayed neutral in World War I. On April 9, 1940, Denmark was invaded by Germany (Operation Weserbung) and remained occupied throughout World War II, despite some internal resistance. After the war, Denmark became a member of NATO and, in 1973, the European Union. Politics Since 1849, Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, governed by the monarch, whose powers are largely symbolical. Denmark's parliament is unicameral, and named the Folketing (179 seats). The Prime Minister is usually appointed from the largest party. The Prime Minister heads the executive branch of government, assisted by a cabinet of ministers. Elections for parliament are usually held every four years; but the prime minister can call for an earlier election, if he decides so. Counties Denmark is divided into 13 counties (amter), and 271 municipalities (kommuner): * Aarhus (rhus) * Frederiksborg * Funen (Fyn) * Copenhagen (Kbenhavn) * North Jutland (Nordjylland) * Ribe * Ringkjbing * Roskilde * South Jutland (Snderjylland) * Storstrm * Vejle * Viborg * West Zealand (Vestsjlland) Three municipalities have county privileges: * Bornholm (regional municipality) * Copenhagen * Frederiksberg Copenhagen County comprise the municipalities in metropolitan Copenhagen, except Copenhagen Municipality and Frederiksberg Municipality. Bornholm Regional Municipality comprise the five former municipalities on the island Bornholm and the island's former county. Greenland and the Faroe Islands also belong to the Kingdom of Denmark, but have autonomous status and are largely self-governing, and are both represented by 2 seats in the parliament. Geography Denmark consists of the Jutland peninsula (Jylland) and 405 named islands, of which 82 are inhabited, the most important are Funen (Fyn) and Zealand (Sjlland). The island of Bornholm is located somewhat east of the rest of the country, in the Baltic Sea. Many of the islands are connected by bridges; the resund Bridge connects Zealand with Sweden, and the Great Belt Bridge connects Funen with Zealand. The country is mostly flat with little elevation (highest point is Yding Skovhj, at 173 meters). The climate is temperate, with mild winters and cool summers. Main cities are the capital Copenhagen (on Zealand), Aarhus (on Jutland) and Odense (on Fyn). Economy This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and has a comfortable balance of payments surplus. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Monetary Union (EMU), but Denmark, in a September 2000 referendum, reconfirmed its decision not to join the 11 other EU members in the euro. Even so, the Danish currency remains pegged to the euro. Demographics The majority of the population is of Scandinavian descent, with small groups of Inuit (from Greenland), Faroese, and immigrants. Danish is spoken in the entire country, although a small group near the German border speaks German. About 95% of the Danes are members of the state church, the Danish People's Church (Folkekirken), a form of Lutheranism; the rest are primarily of other Christian denominations or are muslims. Culture The best known Dane is probably Hans Christian Andersen, a writer mostly famous for his fairy tales, such as The Emperor's New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling. Other well known Danes are existentialist philosopher Sren Kierkegaard and physicist Niels Bohr. Holidays Date English Name Local Name Remarks January 1 New Year's Day Nytrsdag Seven weeks Children dress up in before Easter Carnival Fastelavn costumes and go Sunday door-to-door in search of sweets. The Thursday before Easter Maundy Skrtorsdag Sunday Thursday The Friday before Easter Good Friday Langfredag Sunday March/April Easter Sunday Pskesndag The Danish celebrate three days of Easter. The day after Easter Sunday Easter Monday 2. Pskedag May 1 Labour Day Arbejdernes Not everybody has this kampdag day off. The signing of the June 5 Constitution Grundlovsdag Danish constitution in Day 1849. A collection of minor Varies St. Bededag christian holy days consolidated into one holy day. 40 days after Kr. Easter Ascension Day Himmelfartsdag 7 weeks after The Danish celebrate two Easter Pentecost Pinse days of Pentecost. Danes eat goose November 10 St. Martin's Mortensaften traditionally this Evening evening. The children get December 24 Christmas Eve Juleaften presents on the eve before Christmas day. December 25 Christmas Day Juledag The Danish celebrate three days of Christmas. December 26 2. Christmas 2. Juledag Day
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