Two camels are sitting in the basement and are splitting [like e.g. with an axe] petroleum. One says to the other “Hey, it’s Christmas tomorrow!”. The other one answers" I know, I came here on my bike."
I did my best with that translation, but there are subtle hints that these things relate to each other, that would take way more words in English.
E.g. the “eh” implies something along the lines of “It doesn’t matter because I already made the decision to come on my bike anyway”.
So I guess the joke is a bit that it’s the framework of a cohesive conversation, but it goes by so fast (3 quick sentences) that you kinda only realize that it was nonsense when it’s already over. It has dad joke vibes, too, only German jokes are more about unexpected content than puns.
Compare also (again doing my best on translation) “A ball rolls around the corner and tips over”
Or the “poem” (cause it rhymes in german): It was dark, the moon shone bright, When a car drove lightning fast Slooowly around the corner. Inside people sat while standing, Silently engrossed in conversation While a rabbit who was shot dead Was ice skating on the sandbank.
Wildmimic@anarchist.nexus 3 weeks ago
It’s somewhat of an antijoke. Translation would be:
Two camels are sitting in a cellar chopping petroleum. One of them says: “Tomorrow is Christmas, you know?”. The other one replies: “Yeah, I came here by bike anyways”
The whole joke is based on subverting expectations. You don’t expect camels sitting in a cellar, a liquid can’t be chopped, camels can’t speak (and wouldn’t care about christmas either), camels don’t ride bikes, and noone chooses a bike as a mode of travel especially in expectation of Christmas.
I personally never found it that funny, but my mother was laughing as if it were the funniest thing ever said.
BlackVenom@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Thanks! I’ll take it. I like surreal and it doesn’t land for me but I’m glad my attempts to translate weren’t butchered…
What are the odds ich_iel starts posting these to screw with people.