Ole and Lena facts for kids

Ole and Lena (and sometimes Sven and Ole) are super popular characters in funny stories called jokes. These jokes are told by Scandinavian Americans, especially in the Upper Midwest part of the United States. This area includes places like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Many families from Scandinavia (like Norway and Sweden) settled here, and their traditions are still very strong.

What Are Ole and Lena Jokes Like?

Ole and Lena jokes can be short, just a few sentences, or they can be longer stories. Lena is usually shown as being smarter than Ole. She often helps him figure out where he made a mistake in his adventures.

Another common character is Sven. He often appears with Ole, making them "Sven and Ole" jokes. Sometimes, all three of them are in the same joke! Sven isn't quite as clever as Ole or Lena, but he always means well. Ole and Lena are usually from Norway, while Sven and his wife are from Sweden. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, they might be Finnish or Swedish, depending on the area.

Why Are These Jokes So Popular?

You won't find Ole and Lena jokes in Norway or Sweden. They grew out of the experiences of immigrants who came to America. Sometimes, people made funny language mistakes when they were learning English. These misunderstandings became part of the jokes. It was a way for people to laugh about their new life in America.

The jokes became even more popular thanks to many books written by Red Stangland. These jokes have lasted a long time because they are gentle and kind-hearted. Ole, Lena, Sven, and the other characters often speak with an accent or use "broken" English, like someone who just arrived from another country. This kind of humor helps people keep a good attitude and remember where they came from.

An Example of an Ole and Lena Joke

Here's a classic Ole and Lena joke to give you an idea:

• Sven and Ole are working on the roof of a house. Ole picks up a nail, looks at it, and says "nope!" He throws it over his shoulder. He picks up another nail, does the same thing, and throws it away. Then he picks up a third nail, looks at it, and uses it to nail down a shingle.
• Sven sees all this and shouts, "Ole! What are you doing? You're wasting nails!"
• Ole replies, "Well, you see, those nails were pointing towards the house, so I can use them. But these nails... they're pointing away from the house, so they're useless!"
• Sven shakes his head and says, "Ole, those nails aren't useless! Those nails are for the other side of the house!"