. When you go to a Scandinavian house, expect to remove your shoes in the hallway. The Scandinavian peninsula is geographically the largest in Europe, extending from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic Circle. Its worth keeping in mind that Sweden and Norway were part of the same kingdom until 1814 so they have a particularly close relationship. While Scandinavian people indulge in sweet treats and fatty foods, they don't binge too often. You can see this every Swedish National Day, when the royal women come out in full Swedish traditional clothing which looks great! If you include Finland and Iceland in the Scandinavian Peninsula, they add even more diversity to the landscape. Finland is a Nordic Country with Baltic Finnic Heritage. Life However, when you really get to know the Scandinavian peninsula, youll discover that theres more to the region than you thought. As weve established, most Nordic people today have brightly colored eyes, with some areas reaching up to 80% of the population (P. Frost 2006). 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. (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. They dont like to rush anything. Germanic Most people are very athletic and hardy, very punctual, and they have everything exactly set. They will avoid the topic when possible (unless they happen to be a politician themselves), and they prefer to change the subject to matters that are less divisive. Finland is located between Russia and Sweden, to the south of Norway. 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. When the Battle Axe culture group fused with the groups already present in Scandinavia this eventually spawned the Nordic Bronze Age people, who are seen as the ancestors of all Germanic people. 20+ Swedish Stereotypes (And Whether They're True!) It may also be a reason why . Among the Sami people (hailing from Northern Scandinavia), high cheekbones are very common. Scandinavian means belonging or relating to a group of northern European countries that includes Denmark, Norway, and . Get some Scandi spirit in your home with our premium museum-quality prints sent right to your doorstep with free shipping worldwide. The average Viking was 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) shorter than we are today. 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. Overall, the scientists found that people who lived in Scandinavia exhibited high levels of non-Scandinavian ancestry, pointing to a continuous exchange of genetic information across the broader . of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). When you don't remove your shoes before entering our house. Other famous Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg (pictured below to the right), Mads Mikkelsen, Tim Avicii Berg, and Viggo Mortensen. . Dont mistake this lack of warmth as being anti-social though. 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. It seems like pretty much anything will count as entertainment for a Norwegian person. In fact, a lot of people have a much higher percentage than they expected. Photo courtesy of Taylor Trah. For instance, the weather in Denmark typically follows a climate for the marine west coast thats pretty common for its location. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. First, lets get to grips with the countries in Scandinavia. Be humble. Todays Scandinavians are about 65%-80% Scandinavian as far as DNA goes, with the rest of the DNA being primarily Finnish, Western European, British, Eastern European, and Irish (all are > 1%). Yes the origins and visual characteristics of the first Scandinavians were discussed in the SVT article (https://www.svt.se/nyheter/vetenskap/de-var-de-forsta-svenskarna), but more specifically this theory comes from research by Mattias Johansson, professor of genetics at Uppsala University. Symbolism Not only does Scandinavia have some of the happiest people on the planet, but it also has some of the most appealing landscapes too. Swedish Personality (Also see Why Do Norwegians Hate Swedes and Danes? Located just a short distance away from Stockholm, Swedens capital city, this cluster of amazing islands and rocky cliffs is a must-see. 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. There is a word in the Swedish language that refers to the coffee break that many people take throughout their work day. 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. That means that employees arent always trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind co-worker jibes. Often, when people imagine the Scandinavian peninsula, they get images of touring mountains and icy cold plains in their mind. The age of the Swedish dominance of Northern Europe ended officially with the loss of Finland to the Russians in 1809, and definitively with the dissolution of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway in 1905. After all, they must be doing something right to continually appear in the lists of the happiest nations on earth. 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. They don't just drive everywhere, they walk, cycle, and hike. 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). The Finnish people are, however, of the Baltic Finnic ethnic group, which actually makes Estonia the Finns closest relatives . The first inhabitants of the Scandinavian peninsula came from the south with darker skin and blue eyes (known as Western Hunter-Gatherers), later joined by migrants from the east (known as Eastern Hunter-Gatherers) who had lighter skin but darker eyes. The official Scandi countries rank second, third and fourth on the list of the world's tallest people, pipped only by the Dutch. Nordic and Scandinavian Americans - Wikipedia This can be a Pro or a Con depending on your personal points of view. In Scandinavian regions, everyone expects everyone else to perform to the same standard. That, and the fact that blue eyes are a mutation that developed long ago and has remained in the population ever since. People in the north of Europe traditionally consume a lot of fatty fish, rye bread, and root vegetables which have been shown to offer excellent health benefits. The country continues to take the lead on issues such as creating sustainable sources of energy and working towards including more women in positions of power. Because Swedes can make reasonable economic . Subscribe to Weird World: http://bit.ly/WeirdWorldSub #vikings #interesting #weirdworld-----. 3 The notion of ' folkhemmet ' ('the people's home') is a metaphor for the nation of Sweden as a family household. According to a 2020 study published in The Lancet, Danes are the 4th tallest people in the world, followed by the Icelandic in 6th, the Swedes in 12th, Norwegians in 13th, and finally the Finns as 17th tallest people in the world. Swedish Personality & Stereotypes - About Conflict Avoidance It is very common to see Swedish physical traits of blonde hair, blue eyes, a tall figure, pale skin, and thin lips. Scientists have posited many theories on why Scandinavian people have light . Sweden is one of the most egalitarian societies in the world. Keep in mind that its quite chilly, but you can expect slightly warmer temperatures if you move closer towards the inland. Sweden covers around 173,860 square miles and has 1,999 miles of coastline too. This warm, mineral-rich pool sits in the middle of an 800-year-old lava field. Most people in Sweden might be characterized as introverts, and they like it that way. Here is a look at some notable Swedish people who made significant contributions to their fields and made their country proud. Scandinavia: 12 Signs You Definitely Belong There - AWOL Today, were going to take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the place on everyones bucket list. Gods 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. Thus, they can potentially spare other people from the potential burden of having to help them out. Instead, one of the Swedish traits that many people pick up on is the fact that they like to stay back and remain quiet. The relationship between Norway and the Euro. 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. 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 . 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. About 125 inscriptions dated from ad 200 to . What are Nordic physical traits? [Expert Guide!] Scandinavian people crossword clue - LATSolver.com While the people of Scandinavia emerged from Northern Europe, the people of Finland emigrated from the east. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. In his last will of 1895, he devoted a large amount of his . Hello, slow tv. A genetic study of Viking-age human . I don't know why people assume you must be blond to have Scandinavian heritage, and we should stop perpetuating that assumption. Graphs Iceland One of the most notable aspects of Swedish culture is their respect for the environment and commitment to sustainability. While perhaps not homely in appearance, the women nevertheless possess an edgy, rustic look befitting the harsh living conditions of Scandinavia during the Viking Age. Well, some people have started to use the terms Nordic and Scandinavian somewhat interchangeably. This will help you to find more time to go out hiking and sightseeing which is essential given the beautiful landscapes available to explore. 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. If you compare this to a region further away, such as Southern Europe (Italy and . Aside from countless television shows and reports giving us a peak behind the curtain into Scandi experiences, there are also various reports that seem to highlight the value of a Scandinavian lifestyle. Without getting into obvious stereotypes like assuming that all Scandinavian people have blond hair and blue eyes, there are some common traits to consider too. Many of the Scandinavian countries are becoming increasingly diverse but they remain to be some of the safest places on the planet. Its about giving more balance back to the employment world. The theory is that this has had a long-term effect on the genetical makeup that determines skin color and tanning ability in the Scandinavian region. 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. It was considered a race or one of the putative sub-races into which some late-19th to mid-20th century anthropologists divided the Caucasian race, claiming that its ancestral homelands were Northwestern and Northern Europe, particularly to populations such as Anglo-Saxons, Germanic peoples, Balts, Baltic Finns . This is because they have such a strong coffee and food culture. Wondering Why Icelandic People Look Asian? Here's Why Why the Scandinavian Management Model has proven successful - LinkedIn Did you know that Alfred Nobel (for whom the Nobel Prize is named) was Swedish? 5 Surprising Traits of Scandinavian People That Are Actually - Medium People from all over the world with high cheekbones are often seen as attractive by todays standards, with Swedish beauty contestant Ida Ovmar as one recent example where its worked out in her favor. This can be compared to the Mediterranean region, where its concentrated on the chest and back instead. 5 Reasons Why Swedish People Are So Attractive (Number 3 Is - YouTube What is the Sweden and Denmark DNA Ethnicity on Ancestry? They take longer to warm up to new people and new experiences. All living humans who descended from Africa have about 2% Neanderthal DNA, and this includes Scandinavians. To elaborate on this, facial hair is included under the term androgenic hair, so based on data from the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, we see that over 70% of Nordic men (along with Mediterranean men) can grow a beard or mustache (which is well above the global average). Scandinavian 'Socialism': The Truth of the Nordic Model Nordic dishes tend to have fewer ingredients than their southern counterparts. Many of the people in Scandinavian countries are defined as compassionate and accommodating. Their most well-known company is IKEA, and it is a place where design meets functionality in every item that they sell. Popular opinion and mainstream media depict the Vikings in a similar fashion. Not just in the big city of Stockholm, . Nonetheless, some believe that archetypes exist and attribute the shy and reserved traits to Scandinavian people. When speaking, Swedes speak softly and calmly. Sweden is so opposed to war that they will sometimes send their own people to areas where there is conflict to teach them about the benefits of avoiding war. 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). Finland Additionally, unlike many cultures around the world, Scandinavian people will avoid arguments at all costs. When it comes to writing, there are two different versions of written Norwegian; Bokml and Nynorsk. It is because of the lower than average exposure to the sun. In this a man advises his brother to stick with the prevailing Anglo-Saxon style and not enter into the "Danish fashion", which is described as a reverse "mullet" hairstyle, with . Ovmar has even been accused of having undergone plastic surgery due to her high cheekbones, a claim she rebuffs by simply pointing to her Sami background (which seems plausible judging by the picture below to the left). Europe had been split up into smaller sub-regions, as these countries are among the tallest in the world. 20+ Swedish Stereotypes (And Whether They're True!) - Hey Explorer Try to keep this in mind in your dealings with anyone from Sweden. Sweden: Exploring Swedish Culture | Learn with AFS-USA World's largest DNA sequencing of Viking skeletons - ScienceDaily Born on October 21, 1833, he is one of the most famous people in the world. There are also 9,000 Swedish citizens living in Finland. Nordic Traits: What Scandinavians Actually Look Like (Complete Guide) The Egyptian foot shape is characterized by the perfect alignment of all your toes in a descending order. Obviously, not all Scandinavian women look the same, as they have different hair and eye colors, body types, and defining features. How the Scandinavian Way of Life Can Make You Happier One of the Swedish personality traits that is often mistaken as coldness is their individualism. According to Swedish scientific magazine Illustrerad Vetenskap, this type of microevolution developed as a response to the cold and snowy climate in the Arctic region, as the fatty fold isolates against freezing temperatures and shields the bright reflection of the snow somewhat. When speaking with a Swede, you may notice that they avert their eyes or refuse to look directly at you. This atmosphere comes from a concept in the Scandinavian culture called Jantelov which basically means that everyone thinks of themselves as being no better or worse than the rest of the community. As such, it was common that people wanted to hide their Sami heritage, with some even being ashamed of typically Sami features such as high cheekbones and wider eyes (SvD 2012). 1. (And the usual caveat for lists like this: not every Swede is going to be identical, nor are they all going to have the exact same personality traits. 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. Ancient DNA sheds light on the mysterious origins of the first However, its fair to say that its the Scandinavian people that really capture the attention of the media. This is also illustrated in reality when we look at the eye color of Swedish governors after the 2022 election, with 18 out of 21 (~86%) having brightly colored eyes; 16 pairs of blue eyes (~76% of total), and 2 pairs of green (~10% of total). The region offers plenty of rare plants and places to discover, as well as one of the most incredible beaches youll ever see. The varied and beautiful countries in Scandinavia make it an incredible place to visit or to live in. Do Scandinavians have a lot of facial hair? Throughout Scandinavian history the people in the region have had a diet very high in Vitamin D due to a high amount of fish present in the diet. 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. What are typical Swedish personality traits? Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. This is a common trait of people from Sweden as they are more shy than most other people from around the world. The most important we can think of right now are that girls from Scandinavia are: . 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. 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?) Third, Scandinavians do tend to tan and get olive-skinned in the summer, which is due to a mix of genetic makeup, unusually high UV exposure levels, and a diet generally high in Vitamin D. Scandinavians do not have particularly large noses, as Northern Europeans tend to have more narrow noses than people in warmer climates, as an adaptation to the cooler climate. The last of the three original countries in Scandinavia, Denmark, is bordered by Germany on the North and occupies the Jutland peninsula. Read Article Now. 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. The Scandinavian landscape is unlike anything else in the world, offering views that you simply cant find anywhere else. but for many Swedes, this is something that they consider necessary in order to brace themselves for a major social gathering. Dutch DNA: are the Dutch actually Dutch? | DutchReview