So, let's set a few things straight! Most of these traits of Swedish people are highly desirable and highly appreciated. It is unlikely that someone in Sweden will have guests over without careful planning ahead of time. Peter Frost also supports this in his study titled European hair and eye color; finding that at least 60% of Scandinavian people have a light head of hair, and at least 50% have light eyes. Norway is also an excellent destination to visit if youre interested in seeing the northern lights. This will help you to find more time to go out hiking and sightseeing which is essential given the beautiful landscapes available to explore. Throw in some of their dry, slightly dark humor and youve got a great, hilarious night out. 1. This is core to the Scandinavian culture where people are taught to think independently . 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). 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/Scandinavian physical stereotypes are as cliche as they are well-knownthe stereotypical Scandis are expected to be a bunch of tall, blonde-haired, and blue-eyed Vikings in most peoples mindsbut can those stereotypes actually be true in modern-day Scandinavia? You shouldnt come on too strong when you first meet someone from Sweden. Movies They are self-confident, have enormous hearts with a gentle soul, and strongly believe in looking out for other people. Karl, Clothes A possible explanation is that the Viking settlements in the northeast coast of the . Music Yes, in every country or area, people have specific physical traits, but Dutch DNA is complicated and intertwined. Malm This means Scandinavian hair mostly fall into these categories: So Scandinavian hair color is mostly light in character, but what types of characteristics does Scandi hair have? So what do the rest of the Nordics look like? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. Although some typical Swedish characteristics may be more well-known than others, Im fairly confident youll find these quickly coming out when you start to chat with the Swedes as you should, as theyre definitely a lot of fun! It is a life experience that you wont be able to forget. Norway This is a common trait of people from Sweden as they are more shy than most other people from around the world. 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? Its about giving more balance back to the employment world. In the rest of the Nordics (namely Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands) the people tend to look very similar to the Scandinavians, with especially Finland having a very large majority of their population being light-haired (blonde, light-brown, red) and light-eyed (blue, green, grey) according to Peter Frost. DNA analysis from specimens from this period has shown people with dark hair, a mix of light and dark skin, and most likely blue eyeswhich sounds like a lot of modern-day Scandinavians I know. 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. Contents show. What the Swedes have discovered (that the rest of the world could perhaps learn from!) However, it offers a very different kind of appeal that makes it a must-see for anyone with a passion for beauty. 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. Between 1-10% of the population of Scandinavia have red hair according to studies that have mapped out the so-called red hair genes. Instead, one of the Swedish traits that many people pick up on is the fact that they like to stay back and remain quiet. 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. Although many visitors prefer to seek out warmer Scandinavian weather when they can, theres a magic to the countries in winter too. He was told that the card would arrive in . 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. The Swedes prefer to keep to themselves most of the time. Only about 8 to 10 percent of the world is believed to have blue eyes. The terms Scandinavian and Nordic are closely related and often erroneously used interchangeably. This way of living is called lagom, and is a large part of Nordic philosophy. It is common to add a cinnamon roll (kanelbullar) to the experience. The lighter hair color isnt genetically unique to this part of the world, but it is one of the Swedish physical characteristics that most people are likely to notice right off the bat. 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. Sweden Countries in Scandinavia are packed full of incredible culture, amazing sights, and unforgettable experiences that you cant find anywhere else in the world. Hellcat, take your hatred of Americans somewhere else. 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 . Theres very little to worry about when living in Scandinavia. Sweden has produced many amazing hit pop songs and contributed to many others. Ultimately, the reason that Scandinavian culture is so effective isnt 100% certain. Guests are given thermal sleeping bags to help keep themselves comfortable as they sleep in these iceboxes. They are a people who prefer to be left alone until they are ready to engage socially. Dont mistake this lack of warmth as being anti-social though. Let's take a look in detail at some of the most common perceptions of people from this fascinating region. As youll soon find, the Swedes are great to speak with. Genetic links in Icelandic people. Many choose to combine their coffee with a food treat. I have dark hair and dark eyes. Hello, slow tv. BiljaST / Pixabay. The Scandinavian nature in Norway is diverse, with glacial mountain ranges, fertile plains, and rugged coastline all pulled together into a single space. To an outsider, Scandinavia can seem like a group of small, difficult-to-tell-apart Nordic countries. This goes back to the fact that they are a humble group of people who are not keen on boasting about their accomplishments. Located just a short distance away from Stockholm, Swedens capital city, this cluster of amazing islands and rocky cliffs is a must-see. So there is at least something to the myth from a North American perspective (beauty standards differ around the world, after all). People who had access to more or better food in the Viking age were often taller than the average person due to having . But spend a few days in the country and youll definitely start to notice some physical traits appearing more often than others. One of the Swedish characteristics that people sometimes take for granted is how humble they are as a people. Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. Certain sources emphasise this, such as an anonymous letter written in Old English. Try to keep this in mind in your dealings with anyone from Sweden. The Swedish concept of individualism is often practiced to avoid bothering others. Or perhaps it is the fact that they have survived being prepared for the worse, and thus continue to think that way. Sweden is one of the most egalitarian societies in the world. Related: Why Are They Called Swedish Fish? Again: love the site and the work behind with lots of information and I dont mean to complain. Read Article Now. The First Scandinavians Where Dark-skinned and Blue-eyed. Well, some people have started to use the terms Nordic and Scandinavian somewhat interchangeably. Popular opinion and mainstream media depict the Vikings in a similar fashion. Your email address will not be published. For Norway and Sweden visit between June and September, when the days are longer, and the weather is slightly warmer. 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. If youre ready to learn some interesting facts about Scandinavia, lets begin. 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. It turns out that Swedes dont even like to discuss politics all that much. You can see this every Swedish National Day, when the royal women come out in full Swedish traditional clothing which looks great! The last of the three original countries in Scandinavia, Denmark, is bordered by Germany on the North and occupies the Jutland peninsula. 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. Interestingly enough, religion just isn't an issue in Norway. The population of Finland is around 5,542,517 people making it a relatively small country. Scandinavian women have very clean stances in their professional and personal lives. 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). 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). 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. (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. February 16, 2017 at 8: . Additionally, rather than having to earn the trust and respect of their employers, employees already have those things when they join the team. Read Article Now. The most important we can think of right now are that girls from Scandinavia are: . If youre visiting the west coast of Norway, youll experience a slightly colder coastal climate depending on the time of year. 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. Historically, . Theres something to be gained from this mindset particularly in the work environment. 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. (Also see Why Do Norwegians Hate Swedes and Danes? When speaking with a Swede, you may notice that they avert their eyes or refuse to look directly at you. Just like with most other countries, the Swedish royalty doesnt hold true political power, but they are the symbolic head of the country regardless. If they are not the ones doing the talking even if there are some truly beautiful words in the Swedish language they could use they can observe more. And thats not even mentioning Roxette, Ace of Base, Avicii, Robyn, Swedish House Mafia, The Cardigans, Europe, Eagle-Eye Cherry Safe to say, we certainly owe the Swedish people a great debt of gratitude for all of the contributions they have made toward the advancement of pop music. 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. Theres the option to stay in hotels with glass ceilings, or your own personal igloo. 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. 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. 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. but for many Swedes, this is something that they consider necessary in order to brace themselves for a major social gathering. It should also be added that the countries around the Dinaric Alps in Western Balkans would place in the top if S.E. Even the most adamant pessimist can find something to love about what they see throughout the country. Currency in Norway: What currency is used in Norway? Because of this, descriptions of the Scandinavian region have started to include places like Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and even Iceland. 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. To sum it up, the average Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Finns, and Icelanders are all very tall compared to the rest of the world. This means that someone who has blue eyes may have a more difficult time avoiding eye damage when they are exposed to a lot of sunlight. Germanic Born on October 21, 1833, he is one of the most famous people in the world. Are Scandinavians seen as unusually attractive? Scandinavian babes are accommodating, compassionate and quite generous, so they . of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). 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. Year after year, Scandinavian countries earn the top spot on the United Nations list of the happiest countries in the world. The study shows the genetic history of Scandinavia was influenced by foreign genes from Asia and Southern Europe . Do Scandinavians have a lot of body hair? Lets keep digging and see exactly how different ancient Scandinavians were from us modern Scandis. Now scroll down and see what your feet reveal about your personality. Finland is part of the Nordic region, and therefore bound politically, culturally, and financially to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland in modern times. There are a few theories on why people from Scandinavia, and the Nordics in general, can be light-skinned under low UV conditions (i.e. You should NOT take this with offense. Research surrounding the EDAR gene indicates that Scandinavians (along with most Europeans) generally have thinner hair, than for example East Asians and Native Americans. The reasons for this are similar to the reasons why they often have pale skin as well. Theyd pick someone up on the side of the road if they were lost, and they frequently donate a lot to charitable organisations. Given the location of the country on the globe, the skin tones of people who have lived in the area for centuries have been paler than it is for people in other parts of the world. If youre looking for more of a winter wonderland, the colder weather in Scandinavia runs between December and March. 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. On top of that, theres a common practice among Scandinavian people to say what you mean and mean what you say. Scandification 2023. Whether youre exploring the frozen fjords or hiking along one of Denmarks incredible nature paths, the opportunities for breath-taking scenery are endless. Photo courtesy of Taylor Trah. Hej, I'm Astrid and I'm here to show you everything that Scandinavia has to offer - based on my own experience living up here in the Nordics! Scientists have posited many theories on why Scandinavian people have light . Scandinavians have been generally more blond and blue-eyed than the rest of the world for a long time; from the Vikingswho were blond in their majority according to researchers at the University of Copenhagento present-day Scandinavians who mostly have light hair and eyes (Lock-Andersen 1999). Part of the reason for this is that the two regions share a very similar way of life. There's a lot more to Scandinavian people traits than a Viking or model physique and a great sense of fashion. 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. If you hear loud-speaking people in the public, they are either non-Swedish or drunk. The study shows the genetic history of Scandinavia was influenced by foreign genes from Asia and Southern Europe . While Scandinavian people indulge in sweet treats and fatty foods, they don't binge too often. The skeletons that the archaeologists have found, reveals, that a man was around 172 cm tall (5.6 ft), and a woman had an average height of 158 cm (5,1 ft).