Celebrating Danish Easter

March 24, 2025

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As our lawn slowly springs to life and the birds return to perch on our roof, we’re drawing closer to Easter! Known as Påske over in Denmark, the holiday has many traditions.

Historically, there were a lot of variations across Denmark and its territories, from water sports to egg rolling. Here are some of our favorites!

Easter traditions vary a lot across the Danish territories. In the Faroe Islands, there has historically been a pilot whale hunt on Easter Sunday, though environmental activism has harshly critiqued the tradition for its excess. The family that took this photo were Danes who took the long weekend as a chance to travel. 2002.044.004, from the Dagny Elvira Holmbo Jensen (Petersen) Collection.

Escape from the cities

Easter is not a one-day celebration in Denmark. The whole Holy Week is a time of celebration, but particularly from Maundy Thursday onward, Danes escape the cities to celebrate in their sommerhus – a small, cozy cabin outside of the cities.

Easter weekend, in fact, is often the first day of the year that families can get out to their sommerhus! The cabins are small and modest, with a little land to relax and grow vegetables on. After the darkness of a Scandinavian winter, the chance to get out with family and enjoy a meal surrounded by fresh flowers is welcome!

Egg decorating

Easter eggs are a big deal for Påske, but they look a little different than they usually do in the US. One of the more common activities is decorating a “blown-out egg.” It is an eggshell with the white and the yolk literally blown out through a small hole drilled in the eggshell. The eggshell can then be decorated with intricate, multi-colored designs.

More akin to how many Americans create hardboiled eggs is the trille æg (“rolling egg’). This decorated, hard-boiled egg is literally rolled down a hill until it cracks. The farthest roll wins!

Eggs and chicks are a classic part of Easter celebrations across Europe and the US. 1997.110.019

Gækkebreve

Gækkebreve are a type of cut-paper gift given in the days leading up to Easter. The name refers to snowdrop flowers, which were originally part of the tradition. These days, though, the flower is made of papirklip and a teasing riddle is written inside. The tradition goes back many centuries, at least to the 1700s.

The riddle has high stakes – if the recipient of a gækkebrev can figure out who gave it to them before Easter Sunday, they receive a chocolate egg. If they fail, though, they owe the giver an egg of their own.

A gækkebrev from the early 20th century. 1990.174.001, from the James Iversen Collection.

Påskefrokost

The Easter lunch is less of a “lunch” than a “full day feast.” Traditionally, smørrebrod (open-faced sandwiches) are the star of the show. The classic dark rye bread is topped with smoked salmon, pickled herring, lamb, or liver pâté to create a feast for the whole family. Frikadeller (meatballs) and hard-boiled eggs accompany the meal. There is also plenty of alcohol, with a special Easter beer, or Påskebryg, and plenty of akvavit.

While over here at MoDA it isn’t yet as warm and flowery as it is in Denmark, we hope everyone has a chance this coming Easter season to bring a little Danish hygge to your family. Skål!