If youre visiting the west coast of Norway, youll experience a slightly colder coastal climate depending on the time of year. The word Scandinavia arose in the early eighteenth century as a result of Swedish and Danish universities, which championed the shared arts, mythology, and history of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. 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. It turns out that Swedes dont even like to discuss politics all that much. The physical traits of the Nordics were described as light eyes, light skin, tall stature, and dolichocephalic skull; the psychological traits as truthful, equitable, competitive, naive, reserved, and individualistic. 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. People in Scandinavia dont have to pay to get assistance from a doctor, and there are benefits available if you cant find work. A Danish CEO has no problem cleaning out coffee cups after work, so a custodian doesnt have to. These are Swedish genetic traits that have existed in the population for a long time and will likely continue to exist in the population of this geographic area for a long time. In fact, one of the traits of Swedish women is a desire to participate in decision-making. Certain sources emphasise this, such as an anonymous letter written in Old English. Swedish design techniques have left their impact on the planet. 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. 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. ), which may seem out of character for what we know about the people of Sweden, but they seem to love these events regardless. Read Article Now. But spend a few days in the country and youll definitely start to notice some physical traits appearing more often than others. 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. 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 continues to cycle through the population as new generations come along, and pale skin remains a defining feature of Swedish people. The pale skin of most Swedish people has a lot to do with their lack of exposure to a lot of sunlight. When I came to Sweden for the first time I was really blown away by how good looking the people were in this country. Are Scandinavians and Nordics especially strong? 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. So What Do Scandinavian People Actually Look Like? . The people of Sweden do not want to leave anything to chance when it comes to something like this. If you include Finland and Iceland in the Scandinavian Peninsula, they add even more diversity to the landscape. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Facts about Scandinavia: Everything you need to know (and more). Are Scandinavians seen as unusually attractive? Scandification 2023. It is believed that the Denisovans had certain physical characteristics, including facial features, that people commonly associated with Asian populations. 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. 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). You may also be interested in: Do Swedish People Speak English (So You Can Live There)? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. Additionally, the same is true for the southern areas in Sweden. The other 15 percent uses Nynorsk, which translates to 'new Norwegian.'. Winter, Get in touch with your inner Scandinavian. The region offers plenty of rare plants and places to discover, as well as one of the most incredible beaches youll ever see. When speaking with a Swede, you may notice that they avert their eyes or refuse to look directly at you. Whats more, according to some insights into Scandinavian culture, the countries are also far more committed to health, fitness, and wellness than other regions. Whether you've heard rumors of polar bears wreaking havoc . Did you know that the Nordic countries (including Sweden) consume the most coffee per capita of any country on Earth? Currency in Norway: What currency is used in Norway? After all, they must be doing something right to continually appear in the lists of the happiest nations on earth. 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). Avoiding conflict is such a prominent trait in Sweden that the country has remained out of all wars since 1814. The Scandinavian landscape is unlike anything else in the world, offering views that you simply cant find anywhere else. Sweden is a country of just over 10 million people, but they have produced more than their fair share of contributions to the world. This can be a Pro or a Con depending on your personal points of view. 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. This may be because Swedish personality traits lean towards open-mindedness and a desire for knowledge and exploration. The solution we have for Scandinavian people has a total of 4 letters. Viking identity was not limited to people with Scandinavian genetic ancestry. The white cliffs of Mons Klint in Denmark is easily one of the most beautiful places in the world. That is, they are not meaning to cut you out from their life or make things challenging. People settle down later than ever and tend to always focus on career first. Theres something to be gained from this mindset particularly in the work environment. Hooded eyes are prevalent in the Scandinavian population, and studies have shown that about 18 percent of northern Europeans have so-called sagging eyelids (which is related to hooded eyes but more specifically excess skin over your eye that may or may not disrupt your vision). Most Norwegian People Can Speak English. This way of living is called lagom, and is a large part of Nordic philosophy. Throughout America and England, many employees feel as though they need to be connected to their phone and email 24/7, just in case. Add this one to your bucket list. is the fact that remaining quiet allows them to take in more information. That means that employees arent always trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind co-worker jibes. This will help you to find more time to go out hiking and sightseeing which is essential given the beautiful landscapes available to explore. So what do the rest of the Nordics look like? Top Articles 2. https://www.svt.se/nyheter/vetenskap/de-var-de-forsta-svenskarna, https://www.myheritage.se/ethnicities/sweden/country-ethnicity-distribution, https://jeffwerner.se/SKIASCOPE+6%20JW%20texts.pdf, https://www.ifau.se/globalassets/pdf/se/2016/r-2016-17-arbetsformedlares-beslutsfattande-och-stereotyper-kopplade-till-utseende.pdf, https://www.thelocal.se/20200918/why-not-all-vikings-were-blond-haired-and-blue-eyed/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10086866/, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002929709004649#fig1, https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/skin-cancer-statistics/, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-05/tjnj-ser052314.php, https://academic.oup.com/hmg/article/17/6/835/601141, https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1006616, http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/10/16/1701, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2795070/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Strongest_Man, https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/hotels-com/pressreleases/svenskar-vackrast-i-norden-1015389, https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2015.0211, https://si.se/bilden-av-sverige-i-norden/, https://fof.se/tidning/2015/5/artikel/darfor-blev-vi-plotsligt-langre, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ics.12328, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1474704916631614, https://www.svd.se/samiskt-arv-skulle-doljas, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00333.x. Positive traits of the Swedish personality. 1. 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). Swedes are humble people, most of them can even be considered as reasonable. (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 are a people who prefer to be left alone until they are ready to engage socially. Swedish women are easy to . If you asked ten different Scandinavian people why theyre so happy, youd probably get ten different answers. Although the rest of the Nordics generally view Sweden in a positive light still, there has been a slight shift towards more people having a more negative image of Sweden and Swedes lately. People trust that youre doing your job well, and things just work. Theres nothing quite like a chilly night watching the snow in Norway or Denmark, for instance. Spontaneous visits to someone are rare, and they may even be considered rude. 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. 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. (Complete Guide to Viking Traits), Recent advancements in DNA analysis tech have led to extraordinary insight into how Vikings looked, from hair and eye color to size and ancestry. You need to take advantage of all that the country offers and allow yourself to see just how beautiful it is all year long. BiljaST / Pixabay. Of course, not every Swedish person can be lumped into the same categories, but most agree that those traits are typical of the Swedes. It seems like pretty much anything will count as entertainment for a Norwegian person. The Swedish concept of individualism is often practiced to avoid bothering others. At least, some Swedish stereotypes do. You will find plenty of art in the everyday structures of life, and that is how the Swedish people like it. 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. As weve established, most Nordic people today have brightly colored eyes, with some areas reaching up to 80% of the population (P. Frost 2006). Lifestyle 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. English Sweden has produced many amazing hit pop songs and contributed to many others. Or perhaps it is the fact that they have survived being prepared for the worse, and thus continue to think that way. You shouldnt come on too strong when you first meet someone from Sweden. If youre looking for more of a winter wonderland, the colder weather in Scandinavia runs between December and March. Now scroll down and see what your feet reveal about your personality. Most people are very athletic and hardy, very punctual, and they have everything exactly set. One of the key characteristics of Swedish culture is that Swedes are egalitarian in nature, humble and find boasting absolutely unacceptable. Ultimately, theres a lot more to the Scandinavian peninsula than Ikea, minimalist designs, and breathtaking fashion. Its worth keeping in mind that Sweden and Norway were part of the same kingdom until 1814 so they have a particularly close relationship. 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? It is because of the lower than average exposure to the sun. 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. A genetic study of Viking-age human . 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 . If youre ready to learn some interesting facts about Scandinavia, lets begin. Anyway, I just had my DNA tested and I'm 67% Scandinavian. Hellcat, take your hatred of Americans somewhere else. On the other hand, Iceland is found just west of Ireland and southeast of Greenland, just below the Arctic Circle. One of the Swedish personality traits that is often mistaken as coldness is their individualism. So, whens the best time to visit to get the most out of the Scandinavian weather? 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. Many people are surprised when they receive the results of their genealogical DNA test. Streaming Tips Avoid manager-focused recognition. Nordic They prefer to keep their heads down and continue to work on making the planet a better place. High levels of Vitamin D produces more melanin, which in simple terms enables skin to tan instead of burn. Theres the option to stay in hotels with glass ceilings, or your own personal igloo. One of the most notable aspects of Swedish culture is their respect for the environment and commitment to sustainability. The Reykjanes peninsula is best known for its hot springs and lava fields, but its also home to one of National Geographics 25 wonders of the world the Blue Lagoon. People who had access to more or better food in the Viking age were often taller than the average person due to having . The two species met and started having reproductive relationships in modern-day Israel some 60 000 years ago, before ultimately clashing and resulting in the demise of the Neanderthals. To an outsider, Scandinavia can seem like a group of small, difficult-to-tell-apart Nordic countries. country has remained out of all wars since 1814, when Crown Princess Victoria and her partner, Daniel, got married. When it comes to writing, there are two different versions of written Norwegian; Bokml and Nynorsk. 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. The population of Finland is around 5,542,517 people making it a relatively small country. Quiz A possible explanation is that the Viking settlements in the northeast coast of the . So, let's set a few things straight! Blue eyes are most common in Europe, especially Scandinavia. April 21, 2021. It is common to add a cinnamon roll (kanelbullar) to the experience. The average Viking was 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) shorter than we are today. The average height in Sweden is 175.5cm, which is the same height as your average model. And because Scandinavian women fit those four main characteristics, people often consider them the most beautiful women in the world. 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 way that many in Sweden feel about taking care of their own problems is that they have the power to do so. 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. 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. For example, in Italy, small talk might be considered polite, while in Scandinavia, it can be considered bothersome. published in The American Journal Of Human Genetics. 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. After all, if youre familiar with facts about Scandinavia, then youll know that all of the countries in the peninsula love their food. Be humble. The First Scandinavian People. One of the best reasons to include Iceland in the Scandinavian region is that it offers some of the most impressive sights in the world. 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). The IceHotel is an area in the north of the country where temperatures are very low throughout most of the year and permafrost exists. However, Iceland has one of the most varied landscapes, with waterfalls, canyons, sulphur beds, lava fields, and hot springs. 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. Do Scandinavians have a lot of facial hair? While searching our database we found 1 possible solution for the: Scandinavian people crossword clue. The gene variant is particularly common in Scandinavia, and can be traced back to Viking DNA, when it appears to . When it all comes down to it the classic Nordic/Scandinavian stereotype seems to hold true still.