Maja Lee Langvad

This is the Danelaw / Dette er Danskerloven

This is the Danelaw:*

1. Do not think you are a Dane because you were born in Denmark.
2. Do not think you are a Dane because you speak fluent Danish.
3. Do not think you are a Dane because you are a Danish citizen.
4. Do not think you are a Dane because you live in Denmark.
5. Do not think you are a Dane because you respect the laws of Denmark.
6. Do not think you are a Dane because your grandparents think you are.
7. Do not think you are a Dane because you fly the Danish flag in your garden.
8. Do not think you are a Dane because you call some people New Danes.
9. Do not think you are a Dane because you would die for Denmark.
10. Do not think you are a Dane because you feel Danish.

*The ’Danelaw’ refers to the Jante Law which is a commonly used expression in Scandinavia. The Jante Law was invented by the Danish-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose. In his novel "A Fugitive Crosses his Tracks" (1933) he states ten commandments that describe the Scandinavian smalltown mentality where everyone tries to keep each other down. Those who stand out from the crowd are treated with suspicion and coldness.


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Dette er Danskerloven:

1. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du er født i Danmark.
2. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du snakker flydende dansk.
3. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du er dansk statsborger.
4. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du bor i Danmark.
5. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du respekterer de danske love.
6. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi dine bedsteforældre tror det.
7. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du hejser Dannebrog i din have.
8. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du kalder nogle for nydanskere.
9. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du vil dø for Danmark.
10. Du skal ikke tro, at du er dansker, fordi du føler dig dansk.

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About Maja Lee Langvad

Maja Lee Langvad (b. 1980, Seoul) is a writer and translator who lives in Copenhagen. She is the author of several books including "Find Holger Danske" (“Find Holger Dane”) and "HUN ER VRED – Et vidnesbyrd om transnational adoption" (”SHE IS ANGRY – A testimony of transnational adoption”). Her books explore themes such as transnational adoption, national identity, racism, kinship, food, illness, and the act of writing. She has translated "Fragebogen" (”Questionnaires”) by the Swiss author Max Frisch into Danish. Together with her colleague Kristina Nya Glaffey she has translated "Baby Precious Always Shines" by the American author Gertrude Stein and her partner Alice B. Toklas. She is the co-editor of the Nordic literary journal Kritiker.