Greenlandic Culture and Language

Culture in Greenland has a lot to offer for the outside world. Despite the small number of inhabitants in Greenland, the nature of the culture has spawned many artists and art forms.

Handicraft provides memorable pieces for the collector or tourist, but the culture also stretches into traditional art forms and the performing arts, with exhibitions and performances available for the rest of the world to experience and enjoy - see also www.greenlandexpo.com/content/us/trade_in_greenland/.

The traditions of the Inuit culture meeting the modern world has laid ground to many interesting stories told through the different art forms performed in Greenland today and forms an important part of experiencing Greenland and the Inuit.

The prevailing religion in Greenland is Protestantism and Greenland is an independent diocese in the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church with a bishop appointed by Denmark.

Other religions and faiths are the Roman Catholic Church, New Apostolic Church, the Evangelic Ebenezer, the Baha'i Assembly and Jehovas Witnesses.

Greenlandic is a polysynthetic language and is the official language, but in accordance with Greenland Home Rule legislation, Danish is taught to an advanced level in public schools. The vast majority of the population speaks a foreign language, usually English.

For further information please contact the Department of Culture, Education, Research and Ecclesiastical Affairs at kiiip@gh.gl