At first glance, Denmark could seem to be the compromiseless country. No nuances. Right/wrong; white/black; plenty of light, in summertime, when days go on and on beyond limits, and the sun sets around midnight to come back in action when the tolls of three are still in the air / darkness, pitch dark, so dark and grey that forces you to keep the light on all day long, in wintertime.
Yet, the nuances (or the inconsistencies) are here, if you look for them carefully.
For example. In Italy, all the windows have courtains, both to protect from the sunrays during the summer, and – mostly – to save the privacy from indiscreet eyes.
In some towns and some old districts, buildings are really close the one to the others. So close that it is possible to put a wire between a window and the one in front of it, to hang the laundry. The indiscreet eyes are known: they are the neighbours’ ones.
In Denmark there is another problem. Many houses have the window at “street level”, so low that it’s enough to take a walk along the pavement to be at the right height to look inside.
Imagine that you’re taking a walk, on a late winter evening, along buildings that have the windows (or even balconies) at sight-height. It is dark outside, but the light is on, inside. The perfect situation to give a look inside the house.
No can do.
There is a not written rule that must be obeyed, an agreement between the one that stays indoor and the one that is outside the house.
According to this pact, who lives inside must light candles and leave the curtains open, to let the tremulous light spread in the dark. It is so hyggeligt! So, who’s outside must appreciate this gift and returns avoiding to look in the room.
Let’s face the truth: if he/she did, he/she would probably see people sitting on the sofa, drinking tea while they read, watch tv or chat with some friends.
