Ultimately, theres a lot more to the Scandinavian peninsula than Ikea, minimalist designs, and breathtaking fashion. The Nordic countries are a geographic region which consists of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Finland, and land.Though these regions have a shared cultural history, they contain culturally distinct historical populations, including the Smi people and the Norse . Avoiding conflict is such a prominent trait in Sweden that the country has remained out of all wars since 1814. Although it isnt exactly common with Epicanthic folds among the Swedish population, Swedes with Sami heritage (famous examples include Jens Byggmark, Anja Prson and Ingemar Stenmark), and from the northern parts in general, have higher rates of Epicanthic eye folds. We wanted to share some of the most interesting and impactful things that Swedish people are known for. Sweden has produced many amazing hit pop songs and contributed to many others. Therefore, many Swedish people are considered to be very beautiful, and the country has a reputation for being a place where many beautiful people live. Of course, not every Swedish person can be lumped into the same categories, but most agree that those traits are typical of the Swedes. I consent to the privacy policy and terms and conditions. Scandinavian jokes. Scandinavian people take a moderate approach to all things in lifefrom food to work. A DNA study of Britons has shown that genetically there is not a unique Celtic group of people in the UK. Outside extreme muscle competitions, the fact that Scandinavians are among the tallest people in the world suggests some additional muscle mass along with the extra height. Many people are surprised when they receive the results of their genealogical DNA test. Even the most adamant pessimist can find something to love about what they see throughout the country. Sweden In fact, a lot of people have a much higher percentage than they expected. Swedish girl names: Your list of top Swedish female names, Swedish boy names: Popular Swedish male names, Viking video games: Video games with Viking and Norse mythology, The Best Bike Tours in Copenhagen, Denmark. Malm People who are native to regions close to the Scandinavian Peninsula are likely to show relatively higher amounts of Scandinavian DNA. There is a word in the Swedish language that refers to the coffee break that many people take throughout their work day. However, the genome also indicates that many European traits, including those from the Middle East, were already present in the first Europeans. Instead, one of the Swedish traits that many people pick up on is the fact that they like to stay back and remain quiet. So, what can we learn from Scandinavian people? Norwegian people think really boring things are interesting. ): How Did Vikings Actually Look? Nordic and Scandinavian Physical Traits Today. Are Epicanthic folds common in Scandinavia? Quiz The idea of Jantelov isnt to see yourself as any less than you are but to recognise the inherent value of every individual person. However, its fair to say that its the Scandinavian people that really capture the attention of the media. This way of living is called lagom, and is a large part of Nordic philosophy. Ive writtenan article where I go into detail about Viking traits and looks, so if you want to find out more about Vikings looks go take a look. Scandinavian watches: What are the best Scandinavian watch brands? (Swedish Fish Facts!). 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. Finland is part of the Nordic region, and therefore bound politically, culturally, and financially to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland in modern times. The varied and beautiful countries in Scandinavia make it an incredible place to visit or to live in. . Vikings vs. Last Kingdom vs. Game of Thrones, Curious how The Last Kingdom compares to Vikings, and how they both compare to Game of Thrones? The other 15 percent uses Nynorsk, which translates to 'new Norwegian.'. It should also be added that the countries around the Dinaric Alps in Western Balkans would place in the top if S.E. Thus, they can potentially spare other people from the potential burden of having to help them out. First, lets get to grips with the countries in Scandinavia. Its about giving more balance back to the employment world. After all, they must be doing something right to continually appear in the lists of the happiest nations on earth. 1. I never heard of a darker skin mixing and become as white as we are today. That, and the fact that blue eyes are a mutation that developed long ago and has remained in the population ever since. The terms Scandinavian and Nordic are closely related and often erroneously used interchangeably. This data may not be representative of the Nordic region as a whole, but at least it gives you an insight into what actual Scandinavian people look like in 2023. When I came to Sweden for the first time I was really blown away by how good looking the people were in this country. Check it out if youre curious! Of course, Swedes also have many positive personality traits. People with Scandinavian . The Finnish people are, however, of the Baltic Finnic ethnic group, which actually makes Estonia the Finns closest relatives . 2. Top Articles Ive written an analysis of The Last Kingdom if you want to find out if its worth watching or not. 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. Historically, . The social events that they do attend are planned well in advance, and they are given notice so that they can prepare themselves for this type of socializing. The Scandinavian peninsula is geographically the largest in Europe, extending from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic Circle. 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. 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. Many of the Scandinavian countries are becoming increasingly diverse but they remain to be some of the safest places on the planet. They are self-confident, have enormous hearts with a gentle soul, and strongly believe in looking out for other people. Scandinavian babes are accommodating, compassionate and quite generous, so they . Lets take a more detailed look at how the Nordic peopleboth male and femalestack up against each other and the world when it comes to height: The Danish are the tallest people in the Nordics, with the average male Dane reaching 182 cm / 512, followed by the Icelandic men at 181 cm, and finally the Swedes, Norwegians, and Finns at 180 cm. Natural platinum blonde or near-white hair occurs occasionally among the population in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, primarily among children (as hair tends to darken with age). Nordic fall/winter), but also get a darker tan under high UV conditions (i.e. 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. In many ways, Swedes prefer to listen to others as opposed to ensuring that their own voice is heard. People dont expect you to put in overtime. 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. This makes them the second-rarest color (behind green), and that is what is so enticing about them. Will heads up Scandifications tech-team, occasionally reviewing the best of Scandinavian tech and design. Over 70% of male Scandinavians have some form of body hair (androgenic hair), which is among the highest rates in the world (along with Mediterranean men). It is believed that the Denisovans had certain physical characteristics, including facial features, that people commonly associated with Asian populations. Music Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. 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. Especially people from the US or Southern countries feel repelled by . Winter, Get in touch with your inner Scandinavian. The gene variant is particularly common in Scandinavia, and can be traced back to Viking DNA, when it appears to . They have had more success doing this than you might imagine, and this has helped further solidify their reputation as a place that hates war and wants people to avoid conflict. What are typical Swedish characteristics when socializing? How are Scandinavians (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians) so tall? . On top of that, theres a common practice among Scandinavian people to say what you mean and mean what you say. Year after year, Scandinavian countries earn the top spot on the United Nations list of the happiest countries in the world. . After all, if youre familiar with facts about Scandinavia, then youll know that all of the countries in the peninsula love their food. (Complete Guide), Recent advancements in DNA analysis tech have led to extraordinary insight into how Vikings looked, from hair and eye color to size and ancestry. All Rights Reserved. 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. There's a lot more to Scandinavian people traits than a Viking or model physique and a great sense of fashion. 3 The notion of ' folkhemmet ' ('the people's home') is a metaphor for the nation of Sweden as a family household. Join thousands of others and stay up to date with the our latest articles. 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 then categorized the colors as either light or dark: In other words, 85% of my friends and family in southern Scandinavia have light hair (ranging from blonde to light brown), and 75% have light eyes (blue, green, hazel, or grey). Despite great progress on issues such as social equality, the Swedish people are not known for being boastful. The Swedish concept of individualism is often practiced to avoid bothering others. Curious how Vikings actually looked like? There are major works of art that are placed in places as routine as the metro stations that people use every day. The Egyptian foot shape is characterized by the perfect alignment of all your toes in a descending order. Or perhaps it is the fact that they have survived being prepared for the worse, and thus continue to think that way. You will be surprised how accurate it is! However, Scandinavia isnt always as frozen as it may seem. Scandinavians as a whole are part of a group of ethnicities (along with Finns, English, Irish, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Polish, Hungarians, and Russians) where the Epicanthic fold is occurring more than in other European populations, but still at a much lower frequency than for example Asian ethnicities. The Scandinavian peninsula wont give you the sunny beaches and warm weather that you can expect from locations like Morocco or Spain. Norwegians breathe in when saying yes. When it all comes down to it the classic Nordic/Scandinavian stereotype seems to hold true still. Finland is located between Russia and Sweden, to the south of Norway. Most of the population lives in small rural towns . Did you know that Alfred Nobel (for whom the Nobel Prize is named) was Swedish? The Swedish-speaking Finns or Finland-Swedes form a minority group in Finland. It seems like pretty much anything will count as entertainment for a Norwegian person. About 125 inscriptions dated from ad 200 to . There is a lot of pomp to these types of events (safe to say that the Swedish flag has a lot of meaning to people on those days! You can view the incredible sparkling of the sky from countless locations across Finland, Iceland, and other locations in Scandinavia. Design A survey by Hotels.com and Match.com asked 5000 Nordic singles in 2014 which Nordic country has the most attractive people, and here are the results: Singles in Norway, Denmark, and Finland all voted for Swedes as the most attractive (you could not vote for your own country), while the Swedes overwhelmingly seem to prefer Norwegian women and men. In order to survive the UV-bombardment during summers as well as the lack of sunlight in the winters, the skin of Scandinavians have needed to be adaptable. I mean, that's just practical. But sometimes, stereotypes do have some basis of fact at their core. Swedes are also well known for their pessimistic outlook. Because Swedes can make reasonable economic . The reasons for this are similar to the reasons why they often have pale skin as well. It is common to add a cinnamon roll (kanelbullar) to the experience. Theres very little to worry about when living in Scandinavia. Editor's Choice Leave a baby stroller outside. Currency in Norway: What currency is used in Norway? Some people may see this as a rude Swedish trait, but it is not meant that way at all. You can see the nights sky in ways that you never have before, and the experience is awe-inspiring. 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. He ultimately returned to his native Malm with his love, where they now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world. They are a global leader in organic agriculture, recycling, and renewable energy. One of the most misunderstood traits that Scandinavians are associated with is their reservation towards strangers or tourists. Please read our. 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 . Shopping The coastlines in Denmark cover 4,545 miles, and the total land area is 16,638 square miles. This article may contain affiliate links. 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. Because the Scandinavian people bring fewer politics into their workplace, the environment feels freer and more comfortable. 6. You can see this every Swedish National Day, when the royal women come out in full Swedish traditional clothing which looks great! 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. Whether they got tested by Ancestry DNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, or some other company, anyone with European ancestors is likely to show some degree of Scandinavian ancestry. Since freckles are thought to be connected to the same genes as red hair, we can assume that between 1-10% of the Scandinavian populationagain depending on where in Scandinavia you arehas freckles, which means they are also more sensitive to UV light. Scandinavian women have very clean stances in their professional and personal lives. The pale skin of most Swedish people has a lot to do with their lack of exposure to a lot of sunlight. Swedish people features and stereotypes include that they tend to be tall, have blue eyes, fair skin, and blond hair. Its not in Scandinavian culture to hold grudges or seek out arguments. Studies show that most Scandinavian men are generally able to grow a full beard if they choose to do so, which of course not everyone does. Notable Nordic winners of the strongman competition include Icelands Hafr Jlus Bjrnsson (of Game of Thrones fame as Ser Gregor Clegane/The Mountain) and Swedens Magnus Samuelsson (who features in the series The Last Kingdom as the Viking band member Clapa). A group of some of the most beautiful countries in the world, Scandinavia doesnt just offer amazing travel opportunities. Read more about that in my article about Viking Looks! Anything that the country can do to brighten things up for people and bring a little joy into their lives is something that they are going to do. Maybe it's the lack of sunlight, or maybe it's in the genes. When speaking, Swedes speak softly and calmly. Your email address will not be published. Scandinavians do have curly hair, but as weve established most of them have wavy or straight hair. The point of doing so is to see some of the most amazing sights in the sky that you may have ever witnessed in your life, especially given how dark it gets in Sweden in this area. Their most well-known company is IKEA, and it is a place where design meets functionality in every item that they sell. Brands from Sweden: What are the most famous Swedish brands? A reason non-Scandinavians can believe this is the difference between cultural norms. (Also see Why Do Norwegians Hate Swedes and Danes? It is estimated that only 3% of Norwegians go to church on a weekly basis. While you may be excited to get to know them and learn more about them, they are unlikely to feel the same, at least in the beginning. Whats more, now that surveys around the world suggest that people are having difficulties balancing their work and personal life, the Scandinavian culture is becoming even more appealing. 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. Most of these traits of Swedish people are highly desirable and highly appreciated. The Nordic people as a whole really like the Swedes and Norwegians. It may be hard to name some of the top Swedish bands right now, but you have likely heard their music or their influence on music in your life. Positive traits of the Swedish personality. The next time you notice something about a building that indicates that it has some sustainability features, you should note that you are likely looking at something that has Swedish influence imprinted on it. Nordic Traits Now scroll down and see what your feet reveal about your personality. So the theory is that on top of any Vitamin D youd get from the sun, Scandinavians have also stocked up on it via their fish intake. Be humble. The way that many in Sweden feel about taking care of their own problems is that they have the power to do so. Western Norway has almost as many redheads as the British isles (who win the red hair race by a mile), whereas southern and northern Sweden barely has any. The Culture of Sweden. Born on October 21, 1833, he is one of the most famous people in the world. Do Scandinavians have a lot of body hair? The relationship between Norway and the Euro. . This goes back to the fact that they are a humble group of people who are not keen on boasting about their accomplishments. Another way to avoid conflicts is to not act in a brash way, but instead trying to display oneself as being humble. Symbolism Lets keep digging and see exactly how different ancient Scandinavians were from us modern Scandis. As a source of inspiration, beauty, and opportunity, Scandinavia is a truly unique space and one that anyone should consider visiting.