Yesterday Denmark's foreign minister announced that Denmark will not replace its tattered flag on Hans Island.  Denmark has decided to discuss this issue through formal channels. 

This decision to not replace a wind-tattered Danish flag should not be taken lightly.  Flags are important to the Danes. 

Flags are important to every country, you say?  Yes but to the Danes, their flag is their most important cultural symbol.  Combine the national importance of Eiffel Tower, Queen of England and the Maple Leaf and you are starting to get the idea.

Danes use their flag to celebrate everything.  For example, when people go to meet a family member at the airport, everyone brings flags to wave.  On a birthday flags are put up all over, the number of flags increasing with the significance of the birthday.  If you get a congratulations card from a Dane, they will probably put a flag sticker in it to say, 'Hey, its your special day' here is a flag.

The Danish flag is called the Dannebrog.  It is considered the oldest flag in Europe and believed to have dropped from heaven.  As depicted below.




Consider that in many European countries, flag waving declined after the Second World War due to its negative association with nationalism.  But in Denmark, this was never the case as the flag remained a positive symbol of Denmark's independence and culture.

Matthew Ingram, of The Globe and Mail, wrote in his blog that maybe we should challenge Denmark to a bake-off over Hans Island.
Danishes vs. croissants.  I think that this just illustrates the continued misunderstanding of Denmark.  Canada Department of Foreign Affairs, if you are reading this, do not challenge Denmark to a bake-off.  Abort.  Danger. Abort.  That would guarantee the loss of Hans Island.

First of all, the dough-y, heavy and somewhat tasteless pastry known here as a 'Danish' is a bit of a mystery to Danes.  Because in Denmark, they make a variety of pastries and they are light, flakey and delicious.  In fact I think you would get fired from a bakery (known as Konditori in Dansk) for producing what we call a Danish. 

In the Danish language, the pastry is known as 'weinerbrod' which translates literally as Vienna bread.  That's right the Danish bakers originally OEM'd their pastry from Vienna. 

Try it in Toronto at  Hansen's Danish Pastry Shop
1017 Pape Ave. Tel.: (416) 425-8877