For instance, Scandinavian people could leave a baby stroller on the street outside of a store, and they wouldnt be worried that something would happen to it. Fish such as herring, mackerel, and trout are rich in protein, omega-3s, and antioxidants, while rich selections of root vegetables and low GI rye bread . Because people living in Norway are onto something - 18 things, in fact. This article may contain affiliate links. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. So, let's set a few things straight! Get in to the Scandinavian spirit at home with our premium museum-quality prints and original apparel sent right to your doorstep with free shipping worldwide. Stereotypical Scandinavian traits and facial features have since the early 20th century included straight, blonde hair; blue eyes; tall figure; a straight nose; thin lips; and non-prominent cheekbones, according to Werner & Bjrks 2014 book Blond and Blue-eyed. So the clich blue-eyed and blonde Nordic stereotype seems to hold true then, but where do these physical traits come from and why do they still seem to have a strong presence in the Nordics? One of the Swedish personality traits that is often mistaken as coldness is their individualism. Nordic Typically, when youre talking about Scandinavia, youre looking at Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Related: Why Are They Called Swedish Fish? NEW VIDEOS EVERY THUR, FRI, SAT & SUN! Additionally, the same is true for the southern areas in Sweden. In summary, it seems Scandinavians from before the Viking age looked a bit different from todays Scandis, with multiple migration waves that settled in the region up until the iron age being quite diverse in looks and origins. Furthermore, according to a 2016 study published in Wiley, people of European origin generally have a facial hair growth pattern concentrated around the upper lip, cheek, neck, and chin, so it can be assumed that most Scandinavians also are able to generally grow whats considered a full and thick beard. English Some regions have more than 10% redheads, while others only have around 1-3%. Spring and Autumn months are definitely best for bird watching. After all, they must be doing something right to continually appear in the lists of the happiest nations on earth. The IceHotel is literally made of ice and snow and kept at a cool -4 degrees Celsius. There are plenty of places you can visit to get a closer look at the fjords, including Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord and more. He left Sweden at 19 to explore the world, and stayed abroad for almost 8 yearsduring which he backpacked, worked every job there was, earned a degree from UC Berkeley, and met the future mother of his children. Here is a look at some notable Swedish people who made significant contributions to their fields and made their country proud. Hej, I'm Astrid and I'm here to show you everything that Scandinavia has to offer - based on my own experience living up here in the Nordics! Stay tuned and well bring the essence of Scandinavia to you. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. The average height in Sweden is 175.5cm, which is the same height as your average model. It should be noted that human length, in general, is determined by a mixture of nature (genes) and nurture (diet), and there are also regions of the world that are believed to have a taller or shorter average height due to primarily genetic reasonssuch as the short Pygmee people of central Africa, and the tall Dinka people of South Sudan. Does Norway use the Euro? Its not in Scandinavian culture to hold grudges or seek out arguments. Its the only place in the country where youll see an amazing range of flora and fauna, as well as stunning high chalk cliffs and clear blue water. The Scandinavian peninsula is geographically the largest in Europe, extending from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic Circle. To an outsider, Scandinavia can seem like a group of small, difficult-to-tell-apart Nordic countries. High cheekbones werent always seen as a positive trait in the Nordic region though, as it was fairly common for the Germanic Scandinavians to look down upon the Finno-Ugric Samis as less civilized, at least up until the late 20th century. All Scandinavians are wealthy. Graphs The First Scandinavian People. Second, early Scandinavian ancestors are thought to have been dark-skinned, but after mixing with other populations and adapting to the geographical area this trait eventually disappeared. If you look exclusively at the original 3 countries in Scandinavia, then the region covers about 358,325 square miles and is home to approximately 21 million people. However, a survey done by the Swedish Institute in November 2020 do point towards the Swedish image being affected negatively during the 2020-2021 pandemic. Medical research into why some people have a more natural risk of developing lung disease has discovered that the only inherited risk factor appears to be a deviant form of one of these inhibitors - alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT). When you couple this with the opportunity to spend time on athletic endeavors and have access to a protein-rich and generally plentiful diet it is easier to see why some Nordic people tend to generally do well in muscle competitions. Avoiding conflict is such a prominent trait in Sweden that the country has remained out of all wars since 1814. This means that Scandinavians are the earliest Europeans. I consent to the privacy policy and terms and conditions. Lets also look at how Nordic people as a whole compare to people from other regions of the world in height: After adding up the individual country data and calculating a weighted average for each region (i.e. They take longer to warm up to new people and new experiences. Throw in some of their dry, slightly dark humor and youve got a great, hilarious night out. You should NOT take this with offense. Iceland Nordic vs. Scandinavian: Meaning & Usage Explained, Nordic vs. Germanic vs. Celtic: Differences & Links Explained (+ Maps), Im a Nordic native (a Swede with a Finnish mother to be precise) who likes to get nerdy and share first-hand experiences, data-driven resources, and useful guides to help people discover and understand the culture, people, life, sights, design, and history (Vikings anyone?) Sweden is one of the most egalitarian societies in the world. Swedes are accustomed to the cold and dark. Hello, slow tv. They simply find it easier to handle most of their problems on their own and not incorporate other people into the situation if they can avoid it. Specifically, the number of women in Swedens parliament has been roughly half of the entire parliament for many years now. 20+ Swedish Stereotypes (And Whether They're True!) There are plenty of famous Scandinavians with notably high cheekbones, a trait which is commonly passed down in the Nordic region through families with Sami heritage. Finland is part of the Nordic region, and therefore bound politically, culturally, and financially to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland in modern times. Do Scandinavians have natural white or platinum blonde hair? Today, were going to take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the place on everyones bucket list. Editor's Choice He ultimately returned to his native Malm with his love, where they now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world. The prevalence of this gene on the Norwegian west coast is thought to be linked to slaves from Ireland and Scotland being brought to Scandinavia. The Egyptian foot shape is characterized by the perfect alignment of all your toes in a descending order. country has remained out of all wars since 1814, when Crown Princess Victoria and her partner, Daniel, got married. Quiz This idea symbolises social. Scandinavia, historically Scandia, part of northern Europe, generally held to consist of the two countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Norway and Sweden, with the addition of Denmark. Only about 8 to 10 percent of the world is believed to have blue eyes. So what do the rest of the Nordics look like? A possible explanation is that the Viking settlements in the northeast coast of the . Contents show. Located near the Baltic Sea, Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe based on land mass. This wave of primarily herders eventually fused with the current habitants (I see a pattern here) to produce the so-called Battle Axe culture group in Scandinavia, establishing themselves and flourishing in modern-day Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Even so, Swedish DNA lives on in those of us who are descended from people who lived in those places once ruled by Sweden, including . Language Blonde hair is highly prized in many parts of the world, but it is merely an everyday thing in Sweden. The Finnish people are, however, of the Baltic Finnic ethnic group, which actually makes Estonia the Finns closest relatives . Physical characteristics of Welsh people include black or ginger hair, blue or green eyes, and a slightly below average height. Recommendations Either way, we are dealing with theories in the end so all we can do is to look at the data we have available and make the best and most logical assumptions we can. The people of Sweden do not want to leave anything to chance when it comes to something like this. Stereotypical character traits that are associated with Welsh people include that they are good singers, obsessed with rugby, proud and nationalistic, friendly and jokey, and country bumpkins. Subscribe to Weird World: http://bit.ly/WeirdWorldSub #vikings #interesting #weirdworld-----. Yes, in every country or area, people have specific physical traits, but Dutch DNA is complicated and intertwined. Europe had been split up into smaller sub-regions, as these countries are among the tallest in the world. Viking identity was not limited to people with Scandinavian genetic ancestry. 6. History Since the Scandinavian region comes with a bit of confusion attached to it, lets look at each of the countries in Scandinavia a little more closely. People would never abandon a fellow man in need, and the majority of citizens are extremely generous. Whether the Scandinavian beauty myth is real or not is hard to say, but Nordic magazine The Local listed Beautiful Women and Handsome Men among the top 10 things US expats notice after theyve lived in Sweden for a while. People with blue eyes have the same genetic mutation that causes eyes to produce less melanin. It seems the research project is well-funded too (https://kaw.wallenberg.org/forskning/atlas-med-forhistoriskt-dna-ger-ny-bild-av-manniskans-ursprung), so they seem to have the best tools available to analyze this type of scientific data. Read more about that in my article about Viking Looks! They prefer to stay out of these situations and to avoid inserting themselves in the affairs of other countries if they can avoid it. The average Viking was 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) shorter than we are today. The Scandinavian peninsula wont give you the sunny beaches and warm weather that you can expect from locations like Morocco or Spain. Scientifically speaking, there are a couple of factors that could play in the Scandinavians favor as far as sexual selection and attractiveness go: I want to point out that beauty is entirely objective, and what is considered attractive for some may not be for others. You can see the nights sky in ways that you never have before, and the experience is awe-inspiring. Most Norwegian People Can Speak English. April 21, 2021. Scandification is a participant in Amazon Service LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites. The lighter hair color isnt genetically unique to this part of the world, but it is one of the Swedish physical characteristics that most people are likely to notice right off the bat. It doesnt matter how close the people are to one another relationally, it is not ideal to try to have a spontaneous visit in Sweden. This makes the workplace environment feel more opened and relaxed. These languages are usually divided into East Scandinavian (Danish and Swedish) and West Scandinavian (Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faroese) groups. A genetic study of Viking-age human . All living humans who descended from Africa have about 2% Neanderthal DNA, and this includes Scandinavians. About 125 inscriptions dated from ad 200 to . Rarely both. If youre ready to learn some interesting facts about Scandinavia, lets begin. One of the Swedish characteristics that people sometimes take for granted is how humble they are as a people. The first farmersoriginating from Anatolia and Syria and commonly called Early European Farmersstart arriving to Europe and Scandinavia around 4 000 BCE with powerful new knowledge and tools, competing and wiltimately fusing with the original inhabitants. Join thousands of others and stay up to date with the our latest articles. Design Scandinavian Sweden has produced many amazing hit pop songs and contributed to many others. The largest city in Sweden is Stockholm, which is located on the eastern coast of the country. DNA studies have also shown that around 40% of modern Swedish men have their roots in bronze age migrations from the Russian steppes, 40% from bronze age migrations via northern Germany, and 20% from before the bronze age migrations. an average adjusted for the population of each country within the region), we can see that the Nordic and Baltic men are the tallest in the world, but as the Baltic ladies are slightly taller (0.5 cm / 0.2 in) than their Nordic sisters, the Baltics narrowly takes the prize as the tallest region in the World in front of the Nordics. Theres very little to worry about when living in Scandinavia. Waterfalls cascade across mountainsides while the glaciers stand firm, offering an amazing insight into the sheer power of nature. The skeletons that the archaeologists have found, reveals, that a man was around 172 cm tall (5.6 ft), and a woman had an average height of 158 cm (5,1 ft). At the same time, DNA testing of remains of ancient Irish people . There are a few theories on why people from Scandinavia, and the Nordics in general, can be light-skinned under low UV conditions (i.e. These are the people that are happy to let people have their own opinions and continue with life as normal without a debate. Experts in the field suggest that this is largely a Swedish genetic trait, given that natural genetic selection along with a diet that is high in protein are what contribute to the above-average height of many Swedes. Especially people from the US or Southern countries feel repelled by . The population of Finland is around 5,542,517 people making it a relatively small country. People trust that youre doing your job well, and things just work. The characteristic of this minority is debated: while some see it as an ethnic group of its own some view it purely as a linguistic minority. You will be surprised how accurate it is! Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. Mythology You may also be interested in: Do Swedish People Speak English (So You Can Live There)? There are other subtle Swedish design influences throughout the world. When you don't remove your shoes before entering our house. Another way to avoid conflicts is to not act in a brash way, but instead trying to display oneself as being humble. To find out the origins of the light hair/light eye color combination we need to look at where people in Scandinavia came from originally, and how they looked (based on DNA samples and analysis). Year after year, Scandinavian countries earn the top spot on the United Nations list of the happiest countries in the world. The way that many in Sweden feel about taking care of their own problems is that they have the power to do so. For instance, Scandinavian people could leave a baby stroller on the street outside of a store . Scandinavians and other Europeans are tall on average primarily due to a vastly improved diet from the mid-1800s and onwards according to Lars Werdelin, a professor in paleozoology at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Still, genealogists from Stockholm university believe modern Swedes are most closely related to the hunter-gatherers from the so-called Pitted Ware culture when it comes to physical appearance. Some reward schemes work solely as a manager's toolwith all recognition flowing through managers or senior leaders, and managers presenting years of long service awards and recognition almost exclusively. Add this one to your bucket list. To sum it up, the average Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Finns, and Icelanders are all very tall compared to the rest of the world. Science There is a quietness about them that can be off putting to some people from other cultures that are much more vocal, but the Swedes prefer to keep things quiet and allow the time it takes to get used to new people. When I came to Sweden for the first time I was really blown away by how good looking the people were in this country. Of course, most famously, the band ABBA is from Sweden, and they were a big hit throughout the world. The terms Scandinavian and Nordic are closely related and often erroneously used interchangeably. However, Scandinavia isnt always as frozen as it may seem. This will help you to find more time to go out hiking and sightseeing which is essential given the beautiful landscapes available to explore. If youre curious about how exactly Nordic people communicate with each other, Ive written an article where I go into detail aboutwhich languages each Nordic nationality actually uses when communicating with fellow Nordics. Nordic spring/summer): First off, there are plenty of people with darker skin in todays Scandinavia, but they generally have more than just Scandinavian heritage in their family. The average Scandinavian isnt necessarily stronger than any other given person in the world, but there has been a very high amount of Worlds Strongest Man contestants and winners from the Nordic and Scandinavian countries, with Nordic men landing in the top 3 a whopping 30 out of the 44 years the competition has taken place (thats a 68% chance of at least one Nordic in the top 3). 20-40,000), Finland (8,000), and the Kola Peninsula of Russia (2,000), with the majority of them living in the first two nations. Sweden is a country of just over 10 million people, but they have produced more than their fair share of contributions to the world. Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Im happy to hear you enjoyed the article! Data But spend a few days in the country and youll definitely start to notice some physical traits appearing more often than others. Theyd pick someone up on the side of the road if they were lost, and they frequently donate a lot to charitable organisations. It is yet another way that the country is a bastion of happiness and joy. This means hotter summer and longer days. Do Scandinavians have a lot of facial hair? He was told that the card would arrive in . Ive compared them thoroughly in different categories and analyzed what online critics on IMDb and other sites think, in order to answer which show is the best of the three. I never heard of a darker skin mixing and become as white as we are today. Scandinavian people take a moderate approach to all things in lifefrom food to work. Avoid manager-focused recognition. On the other hand, further north, theres a more subarctic climate similar to the weather youd find in Finland. In Nordic cultures, recognizing others to reward yourself would be terminal. Usually, the climate in Norway is relatively cold and wet, but its still home to around 5,353,363 people. All Rights Reserved. When you start to see that everyone seemingly has the same hair color, you are bound to take note of this and mark it down as something interesting and unique about the Swedish people. Sweden is blessed to have some of the most beautiful landscapes and weather conditions of anywhere in the world. Nordic fall/winter), but also get a darker tan under high UV conditions (i.e. The supposed physical traits of the Nordics included light eyes, light skin, tall stature, and dolichocephalic skull; their psychological traits were deemed . This can be a Pro or a Con depending on your personal points of view. Located just a short distance away from Stockholm, Swedens capital city, this cluster of amazing islands and rocky cliffs is a must-see. These individuals believe in "everything in moderation.". There are plenty of fun get-togethers in Sweden. We couldnt bring an end to this Scandinavian facts guide without giving you an insight into some of the incredible food youll find in the region. Blue eyes are most common in Europe, especially Scandinavia. Although many visitors prefer to seek out warmer Scandinavian weather when they can, theres a magic to the countries in winter too. Most Swedes have blue eyes. It is part of Swedish culture to try to allow others to take care of their own problems while staying on the sidelines and trying to mind their own business. People from Sweden tend to be shy and take some time to warm up to new people. Maybe it's the lack of sunlight, or maybe it's in the genes. According to Hofstede Insights, Sweden is a 'feminine society' in which balance, inclusivity and consideration for others are core components of the social structure. In many ways, Swedes prefer to listen to others as opposed to ensuring that their own voice is heard. Danish shoe brands: Fall head over heels for these Danish shoes, The best Scandinavian Christmas tree decorations and ornaments, two regions share a very similar way of life, Norway covers around 125,020 square miles, Sweden covers around 173,860 square miles, concept in the Scandinavian culture called Jantelov, AWNL Stockholm: The meteoric rise of Swedish jewellery design, VEJRHJ Watches wood, steel & Nordic minimalism, Meet Larsen and Eriksen: The watch designers from Denmark, Urbanista audio: Scandi designs to suit your lifestyle, Triwa watches: Transforming the watch industry forever. Some of the main staples of traditional Scandinavian food include: Scandinavian countries arent always at the top of a persons wish list when it comes to vacations. This does not mean that all Scandinavians look like this, but it does mean that this is the common view that most people to this day hold on what it means to look Scandinavian, including in the Scandinavian countries. Shopping On top of that, theres a common practice among Scandinavian people to say what you mean and mean what you say. That is, they are not meaning to cut you out from their life or make things challenging. The further north you live, the less sunlight you get during the colder part of the year. How do the modern-day Scandinavians compare to their ancestors? The study shows the genetic history of Scandinavia was influenced by foreign genes from Asia and Southern Europe . That, and the fact that blue eyes are a mutation that developed long ago and has remained in the population ever since. Furthermore, it has been observed that northern Europeans in general also have a much higher frequency of a specific genetic trait that is linked to straight hair. This continues to cycle through the population as new generations come along, and pale skin remains a defining feature of Swedish people. Whether these traits stem from a diverse pre-bronze age population, geographical conditions, or the modern diet of the region as a whole is hard to say, but they all likely played some part at least. How Did Vikings Actually Look? By the way, if you'd like to connect to your inner Scandinavian with some stylish prints and clothing, I've created a collection of high-quality and authentic Nordic posters and apparel. Instead, one of the Swedish traits that many people pick up on is the fact that they like to stay back and remain quiet. For instance, theres a genuine sense of equality in Scandinavian workplaces. . Curious how Vikings actually looked like? The project . Because the Scandinavian people bring fewer politics into their workplace, the environment feels freer and more comfortable. Theres a little bit of controversy here, as different people seem to hold their own opinions about whether certain countries should be featured in the Scandinavian peninsula. Required fields are marked *. The dating site isnt active in Iceland so the Icelanders were not part of the survey. What are typical Swedish personality traits? The Swedish-speaking Finns or Finland-Swedes form a minority group in Finland. Your email address will not be published. The country still has four distinct seasons throughout the year, and the sights and sounds that accompany each season are truly spectacular to take in. The region is famous not just for its incredible per-capita income, but also its low cost of living, fantastic government support, and amazing healthcare. The UK royal family gets all of the press in the United States and many other parts of the world, but Sweden actually has one of the longest-running monarchies in the world. This is core to the Scandinavian culture where people are taught to think independently . Peter Frost also supports this in his study titled European hair and eye color; finding that at least 60% of Scandinavian people have a light head of hair, and at least 50% have light eyes. From snow-capped mountains to the beautiful sight of leaves changing color in the Fall, there is something that will knock you back a few steps when you visit Sweden and see what it is all about. If you asked ten different Scandinavian people why theyre so happy, youd probably get ten different answers. Most people from the Nordics have light eyes and hair, and are quite tall compared to other nationalities. If you include Finland and Iceland in the Scandinavian Peninsula, they add even more diversity to the landscape. They know that youll do your best when youre on the job, and then leave work behind you when you return home. People with Scandinavian . So, whens the best time to visit to get the most out of the Scandinavian weather?