As a source of inspiration, beauty, and opportunity, Scandinavia is a truly unique space and one that anyone should consider visiting. In fact, the average height in Sweden is much taller than the world average. 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. Answer (1 of 6): After taking a DNA test I was told I was 29% Scandinavian with other ethnicity such as Southern European,Iberian Peninsula%, Scotland/Ireland/Wales/ Great Britain 15%While I was growing up I was told I was half Portuguese and half German.Whatever the fact isI'm short, stocky a. This is because they have such a strong coffee and food culture. Even more remotely is that it's the combination of both of these factors. Typically, when youre talking about Scandinavia, youre looking at Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Did you know that Alfred Nobel (for whom the Nobel Prize is named) was Swedish? There are no scientific studies suggesting Scandinavians, or any other people for that matter, are considered more attractive than others. 20+ Swedish Stereotypes (And Whether They're True!) At least, some Swedish stereotypes do. So, what can we learn from Scandinavian people? Some researchers have suggested that some modern Icelanders share a genetic makeup with an ancient people group from Asia, called Denisovans.. 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. When speaking with a Swede, you may notice that they avert their eyes or refuse to look directly at you. Are Scandinavians and Nordics especially strong? In fact, there is an entire museum dedicated to ABBA in Stockholm, Sweden for people to visit. 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. But sometimes, stereotypes do have some basis of fact at their core. You will want to check out what Swedens IceHotel is all about. Lets keep digging and see exactly how different ancient Scandinavians were from us modern Scandis. People trust that youre doing your job well, and things just work. Born on October 21, 1833, he is one of the most famous people in the world. 4. An interesting thing about this is the fact that pale skin is considered highly desirable among many types of people. The First Scandinavians Where Dark-skinned and Blue-eyed. When you go to a Scandinavian house, expect to remove your shoes in the hallway. Data Scandinavian women have very clean stances in their professional and personal lives. During the Viking Age, DNA analysis of skeletal remains suggests that the majority of Danish Vikings had red hair, so it seems to have been a prevalent trait in the region for a long time. Curious how Vikings actually looked like? Located in the Scandinavian region between the Northern Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, Norway covers around 125,020 square miles of landscape. Often, we think of stereotypes as negative. And because Scandinavian women fit those four main characteristics, people often consider them the most beautiful women in the world. Year after year, Scandinavian countries earn the top spot on the United Nations list of the happiest countries in the world. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Facts about Scandinavia: Everything you need to know (and more). 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 . Specifically, the number of women in Swedens parliament has been roughly half of the entire parliament for many years now. While the people of Scandinavia emerged from Northern Europe, the people of Finland emigrated from the east. Check it out if youre curious! 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. Emotions are not expressed as . It is a special time for people to take a step back and allow themselves to relax a little from the stresses of the day. A genetic study of Viking-age human . Your email address will not be published. But sometimes it can be fun to discuss stereotypes some of which may just have an element of truth to them!). 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. 3 The notion of ' folkhemmet ' ('the people's home') is a metaphor for the nation of Sweden as a family household. 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. People who had access to more or better food in the Viking age were often taller than the average person due to having . Oslo How Nordics and Scandinavians see each other, an article where I go into detail about Viking traits and looks, which languages each Nordic nationality actually uses when communicating with fellow Nordics, how Vikings actually looked (how big they were, how they wore their hair, where they came from, their hair and eye color, etc. When speaking, Swedes speak softly and calmly. The modern Irish population share many genetic similarities with Scottish and Welsh populations, and to a lesser extent the English. Most Swedes have blue eyes. They are a global leader in organic agriculture, recycling, and renewable energy. You can view the incredible sparkling of the sky from countless locations across Finland, Iceland, and other locations in Scandinavia. A reason non-Scandinavians can believe this is the difference between cultural norms. For instance, the weather in Denmark typically follows a climate for the marine west coast thats pretty common for its location. Norwegian people think really boring things are interesting. 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 . Swedes are also well known for their pessimistic outlook. Some regions have more than 10% redheads, while others only have around 1-3%. The First Scandinavian People. Winter, Get in touch with your inner Scandinavian. Maybe it's the lack of sunlight, or maybe it's in the genes. This may be because Swedish personality traits lean towards open-mindedness and a desire for knowledge and exploration. Between 1-10% of the population of Scandinavia have red hair according to studies that have mapped out the so-called red hair genes. This means that Scandinavians are the earliest Europeans. This makes them the second-rarest color (behind green), and that is what is so enticing about them. 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. The most important we can think of right now are that girls from Scandinavia are: . 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. Most of these traits of Swedish people are highly desirable and highly appreciated. Because the Scandinavian people bring fewer politics into their workplace, the environment feels freer and more comfortable. Avoiding conflict is such a prominent trait in Sweden that the country has remained out of all wars since 1814. (Also see Why Do Norwegians Hate Swedes and Danes? On the other hand, further north, theres a more subarctic climate similar to the weather youd find in Finland. Sweden has produced many amazing hit pop songs and contributed to many others. If you have this type of foot you are likely to be mysterious and secretive. And in a budding romantic relationship, they don't wait for the other person to make a move: they send the first text, ask the person out on a date, or talk openly about marriage. 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. This goes back to the fact that they are a humble group of people who are not keen on boasting about their accomplishments. Sweden is the home of many tall people. However, in Scandinavian countries, when you leave work, you can go home and focus on your personal life its that simple. What are typical Swedish characteristics when socializing? Because people living in Norway are onto something - 18 things, in fact. How do Finland and Iceland fit into this facts about Scandinavia guide? Thus, they can potentially spare other people from the potential burden of having to help them out. I have dark hair and dark eyes. In general, the weather is a combination of mild and pleasant with far less rain than you would get in the UK and other parts of Europe. Mythology 6. The Swedish concept of individualism is often practiced to avoid bothering others. It is also not as though all Dutch people look like twins. For Denmark, youre looking at May to August, when the temperatures are mild, and the countryside is gorgeous. There are other subtle Swedish design influences throughout the world. The coastlines in Denmark cover 4,545 miles, and the total land area is 16,638 square miles. Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Im happy to hear you enjoyed the article! The two groups that came to Scandinavia were originally genetically quite different, and displayed distinct physical appearances. April 21, 2021. Frequently derided by right-wing politicians as an example of everything wrong with Big . I never heard of a darker skin mixing and become as white as we are today. Spontaneous visits to someone are rare, and they may even be considered rude. You need to take advantage of all that the country offers and allow yourself to see just how beautiful it is all year long. Commitment to health: Scandinavian people believe in eating well, looking after themselves, and exercising. However, when you really get to know the Scandinavian peninsula, youll discover that theres more to the region than you thought. What are typical Swedish personality traits? However, the genome also indicates that many European traits, including those from the Middle East, were already present in the first Europeans. Swedish design techniques have left their impact on the planet. Many of the Scandinavian countries are becoming increasingly diverse but they remain to be some of the safest places on the planet. However, Scandinavia isnt always as frozen as it may seem. Although many of the dishes are basic, theyre also packed full of amazing fresh and natural ingredients making them highly healthy and nutritious. They take longer to warm up to new people and new experiences. The men sport scraggly beards and brutish, battle-worn facial features. Research surrounding the EDAR gene indicates that Scandinavians (along with most Europeans) generally have thinner hair, than for example East Asians and Native Americans. 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. Essentially, this means you will likely not meet as many curly-haired Scandinavians as you would southern Europeans or Americans for example. Do Scandinavians have natural white or platinum blonde hair? The other 15 percent uses Nynorsk, which translates to 'new Norwegian.'. Waterfalls cascade across mountainsides while the glaciers stand firm, offering an amazing insight into the sheer power of nature. 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 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. So there is at least something to the myth from a North American perspective (beauty standards differ around the world, after all). NEW VIDEOS EVERY THUR, FRI, SAT & SUN! 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. but for many Swedes, this is something that they consider necessary in order to brace themselves for a major social gathering. The average height of both males and females is high in Scandinavian countries when you look on a global scale, with the Nordic countries all ranking among the tallest 20 countries, and all with a male average height over 180 cm (5 ft 10 in). Read Article Now. Scientists are now able to create eerily realistic facial reconstructions, getting us closer than ever to finding out who they were and what the Vikings looked like. 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. Within the central parts of Scandinavia, around Stockholm and Oslo, you can expect a slightly more continental and humid climate. Editor's Choice Of course, these archetypes do not represent all Swedish people in the 21st Century. I don't know why people assume you must be blond to have Scandinavian heritage, and we should stop perpetuating that assumption. Streaming Tips Swedish people features and stereotypes include that they tend to be tall, have blue eyes, fair skin, and blond hair. Bokml is more widely used by about 85 percent of Norwegians. Language 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. The Nordic race was a racial concept which originated in 19th century anthropology. Swedish people are known for being conflict-avoidant when socializing. In fact, a lot of people have a much higher percentage than they expected. Popular Post This can be a Pro or a Con depending on your personal points of view. A Danish CEO has no problem cleaning out coffee cups after work, so a custodian doesnt have to. Denmark is brimming with low and flat planes, and the temperature is cool, with humid summers and mild winters. Although most Swedes look naturally sun-kissed, the reality is that they spend much of their time living in darkness (like beautiful Scandinavian moles). Not every piece is hung up in a museum somewhere. They are also known to be somewhat shy and to be humble and less than warm to the eye of people coming by for an unplanned visit. Quiz I mean, that's just practical. And while theres definitely an element of truth to that, there are other Swedish traits that youll definitely see more of than others when visiting this amazing country. Whether youre exploring the frozen fjords or hiking along one of Denmarks incredible nature paths, the opportunities for breath-taking scenery are endless. Many of the Scandinavian countries are becoming increasingly diverse but they remain to be some of the safest places on the planet. 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. There is a word in the Swedish language that refers to the coffee break that many people take throughout their work day. 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? This is according to genetic research by Medland et al. 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. Native to northern Scandinavia, recognized as the oldest indigenous peoples of the North, the Sami people live in four countries. Naturally, I wanted to see if this data held up based on my own experience, so I gathered all the hair and eye colors of 103 family members and friends who currently live in or around Malm, Sweden (one of the more culturally diverse cities in Sweden I should add). During the following centuries, these two hunter-gatherer groups intermingled and produced one of the most . The Scandinavian peninsula wont give you the sunny beaches and warm weather that you can expect from locations like Morocco or Spain. Yes, in every country or area, people have specific physical traits, but Dutch DNA is complicated and intertwined. 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. Scandinavian watches: What are the best Scandinavian watch brands? 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. Food Despite their unique roots, nowadays Finns share more cultural traits with the neighboring Scandinavian countries than with their eastern neighbors; for example, Finns have an unshakeable belief in the social welfare system. Not only does Scandinavia have some of the happiest people on the planet, but it also has some of the most appealing landscapes too. Nonetheless, some believe that archetypes exist and attribute the shy and reserved traits to Scandinavian people. Related: Why Are They Called Swedish Fish? Whats more, according to some insights into Scandinavian culture, the countries are also far more committed to health, fitness, and wellness than other regions. The new Battle Axe culture that slowly spread and took over the Scandinavian region is thought to have been a bit more individualistic and was known for how their men were buried with their big battle axes. 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. Keep in mind that its quite chilly, but you can expect slightly warmer temperatures if you move closer towards the inland. 1. Scandinavian languages, also called North Germanic languages, group of Germanic languages consisting of modern standard Danish, Swedish, Norwegian (Dano-Norwegian and New Norwegian), Icelandic, and Faroese. Often, when people imagine the Scandinavian peninsula, they get images of touring mountains and icy cold plains in their mind. It is estimated that at least 50% of Scandinavians have a light hair color, with some regions in Sweden, Finland and Norway reaching 80%. Scandinavian people. One of the most notable aspects of Swedish culture is their respect for the environment and commitment to sustainability. Scandinavian means belonging or relating to a group of northern European countries that includes Denmark, Norway, and . Design 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. The amount of curly-haired people in the Nordics is furthermore a much lesser part of the population compared to the rest of Europe. These events are simply more carefully planned and coordinated than they are in other countries. 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. It is estimated that only 3% of Norwegians go to church on a weekly basis. The Nordic people as a whole really like the Swedes and Norwegians. Recommendations You sound like you are jealous of white people. Nordic and Scandinavian Physical Traits Today. The Scandinavian climate varies depending on exactly where you are of course. He was a Swedish engineer, chemist, and the inventor of dynamite. Currency in Norway: What currency is used in Norway? 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 may have had a reputation for trade, braids and fearsome raids, but the Vikings were far from a single group of flaxen-haired, sea-faring Scandinavians. There are also 9,000 Swedish citizens living in Finland. Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. Guests are given thermal sleeping bags to help keep themselves comfortable as they sleep in these iceboxes. Scandinavian The supposed physical traits of the Nordics included light eyes, light skin, tall stature, and dolichocephalic skull; their psychological traits were deemed . When you are eating meals that come later in the day, you may also enjoy some of the local seafood catches or even meat from a reindeer! Avoid manager-focused recognition. 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. Nordic fall/winter), but also get a darker tan under high UV conditions (i.e. The Swedish-speaking Finns or Finland-Swedes form a minority group in Finland. They are self-confident, have enormous hearts with a gentle soul, and strongly believe in looking out for other people. Even the most adamant pessimist can find something to love about what they see throughout the country. 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. These are the people that are happy to let people have their own opinions and continue with life as normal without a debate. The idea of Jantelov isnt to see yourself as any less than you are but to recognise the inherent value of every individual person. Does Norway use the Euro? One, Scandi societies are safe (r). The Scandinavian landscape is unlike anything else in the world, offering views that you simply cant find anywhere else. While Scandinavian people indulge in sweet treats and fatty foods, they don't binge too often.