Describing humour around the world.

Photo by Chris Curry on Unsplash

If you haven’t already, check out part 1, “What Makes Something Funny? The Psychological Theories of Humour,” and part 2, “Cultural Variations in How Humour Affects Us.”

Today, we’re leaving psychology out of it. We’re focusing on opinions and observations from people around the world. Yes, people’s observations are prone to pluralistic ignorance, acquiescence bias, reference-group effects, deprivation effects, and everything else you can learn about in “How to Understand Culture & WEIRD People.”

But, if you checked out the papers and studies from where I got my previous information, you know psychological humour research is full of limitations.

Writing about every culture’s sense of humour could turn into a newsletter that lasts a lifetime. I focused more on some cultures than others because I’m familiar with them and could find more information. If I left out a country, religion, or group that’s important to you, comment and share. I hope people return to the comments to create an ongoing discussion. Culture and subcultures change, merge, and adapt just like you do… hopefully.

What not to do in different cultures

Avoid making comparisons between the country you are in and other countries.

Even if people in the culture are self-deprecating, this is not an invitation to join in. Most people can laugh at themselves but feel quite different when someone is laughing at them. 

— Esther Snipe

Well, that’s no fun. My advice is a little different. If you’re going to make comparisons, just don’t be Dutch about it. Instead, you can be fun, kind, and HSBC about it:

But wait, Nolan, what the hell does being Dutch about it even mean?

The Dutch have the most blunt culture in the world, together with the Israelis. I love the Dutch for that, but I’m Belgian. In other words, the Dutch don’t love me.

A Belgian man drives his car into a street that has been blocked off by the police. He rolls down his window and asks the officer what's going on. The police officer responds, "We're searching for a serial rapist." The Belgian wishes the police good luck with their search and drives away. Twenty minutes later, the same Belgian man returns, rolls down his window, and says to the officer, "I've thought about it for a long time, but... I'll do it!"

A Belgian is riding his bicycle on the highway and gets stopped by a motorbike cop. The officer says, "Well, don't you know where the bike path is?" The Belgian replies, "Yes, you go straight ahead and then take the first right turn, but I don't think you're allowed to ride your motorbike there!"

Dutch humour is blunt, cynical, and usually over the top, with many sexual connotations. Obviously, it’s not the best style when making comparisons or adding jokes to someone else’s self-deprecating humour.

You might be wondering: Why do the Dutch make so many jokes about the Belgians? Because they’re cheap.

Example: Dutch husband to Dutch wife: “Put your coat on, dear.” “Why, darling, are we going out?” “No, I am. So I’ll just turn the heating off.”

But we Belgians also joke about our other arrogant neighbours.

Example: Why did the French choose the cockerel as their national symbol? Because it’s the only animal that sings when it’s knee-deep in shit.

Okay, we’re pretty harsh too, but that’s because all our neighbouring countries say this: “Why do Belgians have pommes frites, while the Arab world has oil? Because the Belgians got to choose first.”

At this point, you might be thinking Europeans all love to hate on each other. Well…

The Danes on the Swedes: What’s the best ever thing to have come to us from Sweden? An empty ferry.

The Germans on the Poles: When is it Christmas in Poland? Two days after Christmas in Germany.

The Swiss on the Austrians: Why is the Austrian flag red-white-red? So they don’t get too confused when they hoist it.

The Austrians on the Germans: The main difference between Austrians and the Germans is that Germans would like to understand Austrians but can’t, and Austrians understand Germans but would rather not.

The Slovaks on the Czechs: What does a Czech need to be happy? Not much, as long as everyone else has got less.

The Romanians on the Hungarians: “I’ve had all the tests, and the doctor tells me there’s no question I’m xenophobic. That’s another bloody illness the Hungarians have given me.”

The Macedonians on the Greeks: A Greek motorist parks his car outside the parliament in Athens. “You can’t park here,” says the cop. “This is where our politicians work.” “That’s OK,” says the motorist. “It’s fitted with an alarm.”

The Italians on themselves: Three reasons Jesus is an Italian: only an Italian son would live with his mama till he was 30. Only an Italian son could think his mama was still a virgin. Only an Italian mama could think her son was God.

At this point, you might think Europeans all share the same sense of humour — we love to hate on each other. But there are some differences to be aware of.

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Humour in Europe

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