April, Gardening in Denmark, and what it means to be “Pear Danish”: The Danish Year Part 4

"Pear Danish", or pæredansk, refers to things that are thoroughly, unmistakably Danish.

Rugbrød, or the distinctive Danish rye bread, is pæredansk; it’s the thing Danes miss most when they travel abroad. Topped with fried fish or liver paste or sliced eggs for lunch, it’s one of those traditional foods that people still do actually eat.

People also sometimes call themselves Pear Danish. It has nothing to do with pears, the fruit, or pairs in the sense of couples. “Pær” in this context means “very.” You can also say that something is pærenem– very easy – or pærelækker, very tasty-looking. That can apply to either a meal, or a person.

To be Pear Danish you don’t necessarily have to be ethnic Danish, but you have to be thoroughly soaked in all aspects of Danish culture, pretty much to the exclusion of any other.