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. Scientists have posited many theories on why Scandinavian people have light . One of the Swedish characteristics that people sometimes take for granted is how humble they are as a people. 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. When speaking, Swedes speak softly and calmly. Most Swedes have blue eyes. The largest city in Sweden is Stockholm, which is located on the eastern coast of the country. It is estimated that at least 50% of Scandinavians have a light hair color, with some regions in Sweden, Finland and Norway reaching 80%. 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. Located near the Baltic Sea, Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe based on land mass. This is a common trait of people from Sweden as they are more shy than most other people from around the world. They reside in Norway (pop 50-65,000), Sweden (pop. . You will find plenty of art in the everyday structures of life, and that is how the Swedish people like it. Specifically, the number of women in Swedens parliament has been roughly half of the entire parliament for many years now. Popular opinion and mainstream media depict the Vikings in a similar fashion. People with blue eyes have the same genetic mutation that causes eyes to produce less melanin. You sound like you are jealous of white people. 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. 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 coastlines in Denmark cover 4,545 miles, and the total land area is 16,638 square miles. Rarely both. So What Do Scandinavian People Actually Look Like? Winter, Get in touch with your inner Scandinavian. Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Im happy to hear you enjoyed the article! Usually, the climate in Norway is relatively cold and wet, but its still home to around 5,353,363 people. They are a global leader in organic agriculture, recycling, and renewable energy. 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). Fashion They're all socialists. Although most Swedes look naturally sun-kissed, the reality is that they spend much of their time living in darkness (like beautiful Scandinavian moles). 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. published in The American Journal Of Human Genetics. Add this one to your bucket list. 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. Swedes have learned over the years to deal with their own problems on their own terms, and they continue to use this personality trait to help get things done. 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. The most important we can think of right now are that girls from Scandinavia are: . Everything you need to know about travelling in Scandinavia. 10945. The Swedes prefer to keep to themselves most of the time. Swedish design techniques have left their impact on the planet. 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. Ultimately, the reason that Scandinavian culture is so effective isnt 100% certain. Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. The terms Scandinavian and Nordic are closely related and often erroneously used interchangeably. The Scandinavian nature in Norway is diverse, with glacial mountain ranges, fertile plains, and rugged coastline all pulled together into a single space. April 21, 2021. Finally, the fjord region of western Norway will give you a Scandinavian landscape sure to stay in your dreams for years to come. This makes them the second-rarest color (behind green), and that is what is so enticing about them. Oslo Stockholm The Scandinavian peninsula is geographically the largest in Europe, extending from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic Circle. 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. Culture Because we don't like dirt being dragged all over the house. High levels of Vitamin D produces more melanin, which in simple terms enables skin to tan instead of burn. 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. An interesting thing about this is the fact that pale skin is considered highly desirable among many types of people. There is a word in the Swedish language that refers to the coffee break that many people take throughout their work day. Certain sources emphasise this, such as an anonymous letter written in Old English. ), which may seem out of character for what we know about the people of Sweden, but they seem to love these events regardless. Nordic The further north you live, the less sunlight you get during the colder part of the year. Many of the Scandinavian countries are becoming increasingly diverse but they remain to be some of the safest places on the planet. 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?) I never heard of a darker skin mixing and become as white as we are today. 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. After all, if youre familiar with facts about Scandinavia, then youll know that all of the countries in the peninsula love their food. As a source of inspiration, beauty, and opportunity, Scandinavia is a truly unique space and one that anyone should consider visiting. However, its fair to say that its the Scandinavian people that really capture the attention of the media. Of course, Swedes also have many positive personality traits. Norway However, Iceland has one of the most varied landscapes, with waterfalls, canyons, sulphur beds, lava fields, and hot springs. There are other subtle Swedish design influences throughout the world. The First Scandinavian People. Are Scandinavians and Nordics especially strong? Viking identity was not limited to people with Scandinavian genetic ancestry. 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. 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. The average height in Sweden is nearly 5 feet 11 inches tall, making it ranked eighth in the world for height. 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. 20+ Swedish Stereotypes (And Whether They're True!) It turns out that Scandinavians are more closely related to the Kostenki man than any other now-living population. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. People who are native to regions close to the Scandinavian Peninsula are likely to show relatively higher amounts of Scandinavian DNA. Top Articles This will help you to find more time to go out hiking and sightseeing which is essential given the beautiful landscapes available to explore. Iceland Lets keep digging and see exactly how different ancient Scandinavians were from us modern Scandis. Shoes This can be compared to the Mediterranean region, where its concentrated on the chest and back instead. To an outsider, Scandinavia can seem like a group of small, difficult-to-tell-apart Nordic countries. The traits for a Scandinavian management style was defined in an article in MandagMorgen, 22 June 2004: . While most people belong to the Lutheran Church of Norway, it by no means indicates that they go to church or even believe in a higher power. 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. The Egyptian Foot. According to the data, those of Celtic ancestry in Scotland and Cornwall are more similar . 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. Try to keep this in mind in your dealings with anyone from Sweden. Often, we think of stereotypes as negative. Norwegians are not religious. 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. Nordic dishes tend to have fewer ingredients than their southern counterparts. Because people living in Norway are onto something - 18 things, in fact. Emotions are not expressed as . Of course, not every Swedish person can be lumped into the same categories, but most agree that those traits are typical of the Swedes. They believe that taking care of their own problems means that they wont have to bother anyone else with them. But spend a few days in the country and youll definitely start to notice some physical traits appearing more often than others. Your email address will not be published. The project . Although many visitors prefer to seek out warmer Scandinavian weather when they can, theres a magic to the countries in winter too. The Swedish concept of individualism is often practiced to avoid bothering others. He was a Swedish engineer, chemist, and the inventor of dynamite. Swedes are accustomed to the cold and dark. 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. Its worth keeping in mind that Sweden and Norway were part of the same kingdom until 1814 so they have a particularly close relationship. Denmark is brimming with low and flat planes, and the temperature is cool, with humid summers and mild winters. The average Viking was 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) shorter than we are today. These events are simply more carefully planned and coordinated than they are in other countries. (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. Names There are plenty of places you can visit to get a closer look at the fjords, including Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord and more. Sweden is a country of just over 10 million people, but they have produced more than their fair share of contributions to the world. People trust that youre doing your job well, and things just work. Swedish people features and stereotypes include that they tend to be tall, have blue eyes, fair skin, and blond hair. Editor's Choice 1. The study shows the genetic history of Scandinavia was influenced by foreign genes from Asia and Southern Europe . Of course, these archetypes do not represent all Swedish people in the 21st Century. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Scandification explores and celebrates the magic of Scandinavia. Rather, humans around the world generally consider reproductive factors such as waist-to-hip ratio and other indicators of fertility and health as attractive, rather than a specific eye/hair/skin color or similar. While the people of Scandinavia emerged from Northern Europe, the people of Finland emigrated from the east. One, Scandi societies are safe (r). Most Norwegian People Can Speak English. 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. 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. They are self-confident, have enormous hearts with a gentle soul, and strongly believe in looking out for other people. 4. In 2010, when Crown Princess Victoria and her partner, Daniel, got married, it was one of the largest royal events ever held. Research done into the DNA of the Irish has shown that our old understanding of where the population of Ireland originated may have been misguided. It is believed that the Denisovans had certain physical characteristics, including facial features, that people commonly associated with Asian populations. 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. 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. Read Article Now. When it all comes down to it the classic Nordic/Scandinavian stereotype seems to hold true still. There's a lot more to Scandinavian people traits than a Viking or model physique and a great sense of fashion. Only about 8 to 10 percent of the world is believed to have blue eyes. 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. You shouldnt come on too strong when you first meet someone from Sweden. Curious how Vikings actually looked like? Positive traits of the Swedish personality. Another way to avoid conflicts is to not act in a brash way, but instead trying to display oneself as being humble. When I came to Sweden for the first time I was really blown away by how good looking the people were in this country. Keep in mind that its quite chilly, but you can expect slightly warmer temperatures if you move closer towards the inland. In Nordic cultures, recognizing others to reward yourself would be terminal. IKEA stores are so popular with people that many simply walk through them just to say that they have been through one and getting an IKEA Swedish meatball is just a bonus! 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. 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. The way that many in Sweden feel about taking care of their own problems is that they have the power to do so. Because of this, descriptions of the Scandinavian region have started to include places like Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and even Iceland. 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. Norse The white cliffs of Mons Klint in Denmark is easily one of the most beautiful places in the world. Below the neck, this body hair is generally concentrated on the arms and legs in the Nordics. Did you know that the Nordic countries (including Sweden) consume the most coffee per capita of any country on Earth? Speaking of beaches, dont forget to visit the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen if you decide to go to the countrys capital. These individuals believe in "everything in moderation.". They don't just drive everywhere, they walk, cycle, and hike. If youre looking for more of a winter wonderland, the colder weather in Scandinavia runs between December and March. Not only does Scandinavia have some of the happiest people on the planet, but it also has some of the most appealing landscapes too. The country is very small, covering only 39,768 square miles. I mean, that's just practical. Popular Post Contents show. 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. Very few adult Scandinavians have natural platinum blonde hair, but plenty has achieved this hair color by means of artificial coloring (as in the rest of the world). These Scandinavian women traits are not true for all Scandinavian girls, as every girl in Scandinavia is more unique than you would think. Except when there's a party (although, please ask first and never wear heels on our nice wooden floors). So what do the rest of the Nordics look like? Movies This goes back to the fact that they are a humble group of people who are not keen on boasting about their accomplishments. People in Scandinavia dont have to pay to get assistance from a doctor, and there are benefits available if you cant find work. Lets dig a little deeper and look at what we know about the first Scandinavians: 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.During the following centuries, these two hunter-gatherer groups intermingled and produced one of the most diverse populations of the stone age, with a population at the time of about 10 000 to 20 000 in all of Scandinavia.