Gækkebrev

One Danish tradition at Easter time is for children to write a gækkebrev (or several).  A gækkebrev is a little note, written on a piece of paper that is cut out to look like a snowflake.  Written on the gækkebrev is a little poem that rhymes.  Instead of signing your name at the bottom, you put little dots to represent the letters of your name.

The person who receives the gækkebrev is supposed to guess (or not guess!) who sent it to them.  If they guess incorrectly (the goal), they must give the sender a chocolate egg.  If they guess correctly, then the sender must give them a chocolate egg.

Here are some examples of truly excellent gækkebrevs:

EXHIBIT A:

Mit navn står med prikker

Pas på det ikke stikker

. . . . .

My name is dotted

Be careful it does not sting

. . . . .

EXHIBIT B:

Mit navn det står med lort

Pas på det er sort 

. . . . . .

My name is shit

Take care that it is black

. . . . . .

EXHIBIT C:

My name is written below with more than one dot

Guess wrong and give me all the candy that you've got

. . . . . . .

English Version

Today, I was told that the grocery store will be closed on Thursday and Friday, open on Saturday and then closed again on Sunday.  You know, for Easter.  It makes perfect sense.

På gensyn!

UPDATE!  THE NEXT DAY:  It worked!  Gaius gave a gækkebrev to Tommy, our caretaker and this is what he found on our front doorstep this morning.  CANDY!