It was almost time for the coffee break, and the jokes were flying. It was the self-conscious second and third generations who were embarrassed at the accents and old world ways of their parents and aunts and uncles. Laughter took the sting out of criticism. Ole and Lena sound slow, dim-witted. But even if someone from that generation spoke that way, it would never compare to the disparaging dialogue in Ole and Lena jokes. They were poverty-stricken rural folk who left behind their beloved—and impoverished at the time—Norwegian shores.
Ole and Lena jokes can be long and drawn-out stories, or as short as two or three sentences. Lena is typically portrayed as the smarter of the two, often explaining where Ole went wrong in his misadventures. Another common character is Sven , who usually shows up in jokes along with Ole, making Sven and Ole jokes, though all three may appear together. Sven isn't as bright as Ole and Lena, but he means well.
Ole was talking with his brother Sven, who lived next door, when Sven said, "Ya know Ole, you and Lena should really get some new curtains. I vasn't even home last night! Ole and Sven were out fishing on the lake one hot summer day. When Sven leaned over the side of the boat to pull up his line he fell in and quickly sank out of sight.
Minnesota Jokes by Ole Often in Minnesota here, we like to sit around da campfire up nort at da lake and tell some yokes. I bet you also haff some goot ones about us! Ole tells some perty tall tales and ve like to laff at his stories.