Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Danes are proud of their royal family and of the flag, a white cross
on a red background. Legend says it fell from the sky during a 13th-century
battle in Estonia, making it Europe's oldest continuously used flag. You'll see
it everywhere—decorating cakes, on clothing, or fluttering in the breeze atop
government buildings. It's as much a decorative symbol as a patriotic one.
You'll also notice that the Danes have an odd fixation on two animals: ele-
phants and polar bears, both of which are symbols of national (especially roy-
al) pride. The Order of the Elephant is the highest honor that the Danish mon-
arch can bestow on someone; if you see an emblematic elephant, you know
somebody very important is involved. And the polar bear represents the Dan-
