California’s national status is back in the spotlight thanks to a satirical campaign called Denmarkification, which is calling for Denmark to “buy” California and rename it “New Denmark.” The viral petition has now collected over 280,000 signatures and has attracted amused support from both Danes and Californians.
Laughing in Danish
The campaign is a playful response to renewed U.S. interest in acquiring Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. The Denmarkification campaign also aims to crowdfund $1 trillion to purchase California, but the petition is currently focused on gathering signatures rather than collecting donations.
The official Denmarkification website states, “Have you ever looked at a map and thought, ‘You know what Denmark needs? More sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates.’ Well, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make that dream a reality.”
However, the website also has this disclaimer, “This campaign is 100% real… in our dreams.”
Name Changes across “New Denmark”
Of course, the petition proposes a few name changes for rebranding purposes. Los Angeles would become “Løs Ångeles,” while Disneyland transforms into “Hans Christian Andersenland,” complete with Viking-inspired flair. The campaign also promises bike lanes in Beverly Hills and a heavy dose of Danish hygge in Hollywood.
And if California were to become part of Denmark, only one city would be the natural choice for its new capital! The Californian city of Solvang has already been dubbed the “Danish Capital of America.”
A Free and Independent California?
This isn’t the first petition for California to leave the United States. Last year there was a renewed interest in California becoming a “free and independent country.”
Unlike the Denmarkification campaign, that earlier proposal was a genuine attempt to push for California’s secession from the United States. It seems Californians now have a few options when it comes to choosing their new national status.