Greenland

Exploring Greenland’s Cultures

Greenland is the world’s largest island with the lowest population density. All its the population lives along the coast. People who live in Greenland are considered citizens of Denmark, but just under 90 percent of the population was born in Greenland and is either native Greenlander (descendants of Inuit and Thule cultures), of European (usually Danish) descent, or of mixed heritage. The other 10 percent were born outside of Greenland, mostly in Denmark.

Generosity, kindness, and courteousness are valued in Greenlandic culture. Abundance of anything is expected to be shared with friends and family. Age and experience are highly respected.

Host a student from Greenland in the U.S.

Family Dynamic

Families in Greenland are tightly knit. Each parent generally works outside the home. Nearby relatives may help raise children, especially in single parent homes. In more rural areas, it is customary for multiple generations to live together. In Greenland, there are intricate nicknames for many members of the family. The nicknames can point to the gender and age of the person being addressed as well as that of the person using the nickname.

Teenage Life in Greenland

Teenagers in Greenland enjoy playing music, singing in choirs, playing cards or other games, and watching TV and movies. Popular sports include soccer, handball, volleyball, tae kwon do, badminton, table tennis, and running. Teenagers in Greenland socialize at school, dances, sporting events, or other social activities, but most communities are small enough that most people have known each other for years.

Holidays

National holidays in Greenland are the same as those celebrated by Denmark, with the addition of June 21^st, Greenland’s national day. This day is called Ullortuneq, which means “the longest day,” because it has the most sunlight of any day of the year. Other holidays include Official holidays include General Prayer Day (fourth Friday after Easter), Queen Margrethe’s Birthday (April 16), International Workers’ Day (May 1), and Constitution Day (June 5). Other holidays include the Fastelavn festivals (February or March), Easter (March or April), Christmas (December 25), and New Year’s Eve (December 31).

Official Language

Greenlandic (Kalaallit Oqaasii, or Kalaallisut) replaced Danish as Greenlandic’s official language in 2009.

Communication Styles

While Greenland has gained independence from Denmark, it is still heavily influenced by Danish culture. Many people of Danish culture still reside in Greenland, which means their communication style varies from indirect to direct. While Danes generally wish to avoid conflict and may find roundabout ways of expressing their point for the sake of politeness, they may communicate more directly when expressing their opinions with people they feel closest with. Often, Danish people may appear reserved at first and generally do not approve of outward expressions of anger in public.

Greenland's Diet

The Greenlandic diet contains large amounts of meat and fish (cooked, dried, smoked, or salted), some of the only foods that can be found in Greenland’s extreme climate. Pork, chicken, and beef are popular, as are seal, whale, reindeer, and lamb. Game birds such as murre, eider, duck, and ptarmigan are often eaten. Seal blubber and whale skin (mattak) often accompany dried meat or fish. Dried fish is a common snack. The Danish dish flødekartofler (scalloped potatoes) is popular in Greenland, as are many potato dishes.

Perpetual daylight for two months each year