The largest city in Sweden is Stockholm, which is located on the eastern coast of the country. The people are rude. 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 UK royal family gets all of the press in the United States and many other parts of the world, but Sweden actually has one of the longest-running monarchies in the world. 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? Oslo Additionally, rather than having to earn the trust and respect of their employers, employees already have those things when they join the team. This continues to cycle through the population as new generations come along, and pale skin remains a defining feature of Swedish people. Why Having Viking Ancestry Could Be Bad For Your Health Not just in the big city of Stockholm, . First, lets get to grips with the countries in Scandinavia. Blonde hair is highly prized in many parts of the world, but it is merely an everyday thing in Sweden. At least, some Swedish stereotypes do. 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. People in Scandinavia dont have to pay to get assistance from a doctor, and there are benefits available if you cant find work. If youre visiting the west coast of Norway, youll experience a slightly colder coastal climate depending on the time of year. The supposed physical traits of the Nordics included light eyes, light skin, tall stature, and dolichocephalic skull; their psychological traits were deemed . In 2010, when Crown Princess Victoria and her partner, Daniel, got married, it was one of the largest royal events ever held. What are typical Swedish personality traits? The last of the three original countries in Scandinavia, Denmark, is bordered by Germany on the North and occupies the Jutland peninsula. When speaking, Swedes speak softly and calmly. 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. 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 First Scandinavian People. Scandification explores and celebrates the magic of Scandinavia. They prefer to keep their heads down and continue to work on making the planet a better place. 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. According to a Popular Science Monthly study, most Scandinavians have wavy hair, with some parts of northern Scandinavia having more coarse/straight hair. 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. 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! of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). Do Scandinavians have a lot of body hair? It is yet another way that the country is a bastion of happiness and joy. Finally, dont forget to take in the Swedish art that dots the landscape throughout the country. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Facts about Scandinavia: Everything you need to know (and more). Nordic Traits Theres a lot more to Scandinavian people traits than a Viking or model physique and a great sense of fashion. It has been presented that the ethnic group can also be perceived as a distinct Swedish-speaking nationality in Finland. During the depths of winter, Swedes experience just seven hours of sunlight each day. The way that many in Sweden feel about taking care of their own problems is that they have the power to do so. Except when there's a party (although, please ask first and never wear heels on our nice wooden floors). One of the most notable aspects of Swedish culture is their respect for the environment and commitment to sustainability. Another wave of migrants came into Scandinavia around 4800 years ago from the Russian steppes, originating from the northern shores of the Black sea and commonly called the Western Steppe Herders. The Scandinavian Personality Traits have been under investigation since the late 1800's. There have been multiple publications that have looked at how the Scandinavian Personality Traits are prevalent as much as the light hair and light eyes are prevalent in people with heritage in this region of Europe. Depending on which combination of the genes you have, you will develop either red hair and freckles, only red hair, or only freckles. How are Scandinavians (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians) so tall? Dont mistake this lack of warmth as being anti-social though. Alfred Nobel. While the people of Scandinavia emerged from Northern Europe, the people of Finland emigrated from the east. 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. The Shape Of Your Feet Can Reveal Something Fascinating About - apost Lifestyle 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. Spontaneous visits to someone are rare, and they may even be considered rude. 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. Swedes are accustomed to the cold and dark. However, people living close to the arctic circle are also exposed to extremely high UV exposure levels during the warmer half of the year (on par with Australia which is notorious for high levels of skin cancer) due to the ozone layer being thinner around the poles. What Does it Mean to Have Scandinavian DNA? - Genealogy Explained After all, if youre familiar with facts about Scandinavia, then youll know that all of the countries in the peninsula love their food. People would never abandon a fellow man in need, and the majority of citizens are extremely generous. Sweden is blessed to have some of the most beautiful landscapes and weather conditions of anywhere in the world. 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. Design This may sound like quite a generalization (then again, isnt everything on this list!) Many people are surprised when they receive the results of their genealogical DNA test. 16 Things To Know About Norwegian People - ViaTravelers Whats more, the Scandinavian countries are consistently rated among the happiest locations in the world. Are Epicanthic folds common in Scandinavia? Of course, Swedes also have many positive personality traits. There are plenty of fun get-togethers in Sweden. Ive writtenan article where I go into detail about Viking traits and looks, so if you want to find out more about Vikings looks go take a look. Why Scandinavians Are So Healthy | Reader's Digest Required fields are marked *. It seems like pretty much anything will count as entertainment for a Norwegian person. One of the Swedish characteristics that people sometimes take for granted is how humble they are as a people. Although most Swedes look naturally sun-kissed, the reality is that they spend much of their time living in darkness (like beautiful Scandinavian moles). 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%). Karl, Clothes What do Swedish People Look Like? (Features & Stereotypes) Interestingly enough, religion just isn't an issue in Norway. 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 . The Finnish people are, however, of the Baltic Finnic ethnic group, which actually makes Estonia the Finns closest relatives . Malm The truth, as always, is a little more complicated than a simple good or bad. How the Scandinavian Way of Life Can Make You Happier Scandinavian 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. In Scandinavian regions, everyone expects everyone else to perform to the same standard. One of the Swedish personality traits that is often mistaken as coldness is their individualism. It should also be added that the countries around the Dinaric Alps in Western Balkans would place in the top if S.E. A DNA study of Britons has shown that genetically there is not a unique Celtic group of people in the UK. Swedish women are easy to . Essentially, this means you will likely not meet as many curly-haired Scandinavians as you would southern Europeans or Americans for example. However, the genome also indicates that many European traits, including those from the Middle East, were already present in the first Europeans. Recognizing Across Cultures: Scandinavia - Workhuman April 21, 2021. I then categorized the colors as either light or dark: In other words, 85% of my friends and family in southern Scandinavia have light hair (ranging from blonde to light brown), and 75% have light eyes (blue, green, hazel, or grey). 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. Some researchers have suggested that some modern Icelanders share a genetic makeup with an ancient people group from Asia, called Denisovans.. Names Theres something to be gained from this mindset particularly in the work environment. Swedes - Wikipedia The Scandinavian Hunter-Gatherers lived in the region between 8000 BCE and 2800 BCE, and have been found to have had mixed eye colors (ranging from blue to light-brown), mostly dark hair (with the odd blondes present), and intermediate skin color (somewhere in between dark and light) with the odd light-skinned individual also present. This is core to the Scandinavian culture where people are taught to think independently . The modern Irish population share many genetic similarities with Scottish and Welsh populations, and to a lesser extent the English. Within the central parts of Scandinavia, around Stockholm and Oslo, you can expect a slightly more continental and humid climate. When someone is dealing with a Swedish person, they can rest assured that they are dealing with someone who is likely to deal with them in a fair and forthright manner. By the way, if you'd like to connect to your inner Scandinavian with some stylish prints and clothing, I've created a collection of high-quality and authentic Nordic posters and apparel. Comparing The Scandinavian Girls by Country - Live Scandinavia Contents show. Of course, most famously, the band ABBA is from Sweden, and they were a big hit throughout the world. That said, blue eyes are also rare throughout the world, and that makes them more desirable to many others. On top of that, theres a common practice among Scandinavian people to say what you mean and mean what you say. Anyway, I just had my DNA tested and I'm 67% Scandinavian. Stockholm Hellcat, take your hatred of Americans somewhere else. Viking identity was not limited to people with Scandinavian genetic ancestry. Swedish people are known for being conflict-avoidant when socializing. These languages are usually divided into East Scandinavian (Danish and Swedish) and West Scandinavian (Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faroese) groups. People from Sweden tend to be shy and take some time to warm up to new people. Located near the Baltic Sea, Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe based on land mass. As a native Swede with a Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both Nordic and Scandinavian. All of our knowledge about pre-Viking Scandinavians comes from DNA analysis and theories, but for an idea of how modern-day Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians look like we can turn to some cold hard data and settle some standard questions right off the bat. Scandinavian people do not have a very high prevalence of the EDAR gene, thought to be connected with thicker hair (among other traits). 2. You can see below for what to perhaps expect the next time you meet a Swede. Throw in some of their dry, slightly dark humor and youve got a great, hilarious night out. 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. 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. Or perhaps it is the fact that they have survived being prepared for the worse, and thus continue to think that way. Shopping It is very common to see Swedish physical traits of blonde hair, blue eyes, a tall figure, pale skin, and thin lips. What did the Vikings look like? - National Museum of Denmark It is estimated that only 3% of Norwegians go to church on a weekly basis. Other famous Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg (pictured below to the right), Mads Mikkelsen, Tim Avicii Berg, and Viggo Mortensen. 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. Gods For another deep-dive into Scandinavian looks, Ive plowed through massive amounts of archaeological objects and DNA analysis to find out how Vikings actually looked (how big they were, how they wore their hair, where they came from, their hair and eye color, etc. The Egyptian foot shape is characterized by the perfect alignment of all your toes in a descending order. These Scandinavian women traits are not true for all Scandinavian girls, as every girl in Scandinavia is more unique than you would think. I don't know why people assume you must be blond to have Scandinavian heritage, and we should stop perpetuating that assumption. 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 goes back to the fact that they are a humble group of people who are not keen on boasting about their accomplishments. In fact, a lot of people have a much higher percentage than they expected. Their citizens have one of the longest life . Waterfalls cascade across mountainsides while the glaciers stand firm, offering an amazing insight into the sheer power of nature. Join thousands of others and stay up to date with the our latest articles. Yes, in every country or area, people have specific physical traits, but Dutch DNA is complicated and intertwined. The region is famous not just for its incredible per-capita income, but also its low cost of living, fantastic government support, and amazing healthcare. Finland is a Nordic Country with Baltic Finnic Heritage. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Scandification explores and celebrates the magic of Scandinavia. 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 pale skin of most Swedish people has a lot to do with their lack of exposure to a lot of sunlight. If youre ready to learn some interesting facts about Scandinavia, lets begin. When I came to Sweden for the first time I was really blown away by how good looking the people were in this country. 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. After all, they must be doing something right to continually appear in the lists of the happiest nations on earth. 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. (Also see Why Do Norwegians Hate Swedes and Danes? When you go to a Scandinavian house, expect to remove your shoes in the hallway. The country still has four distinct seasons throughout the year, and the sights and sounds that accompany each season are truly spectacular to take in. You sound like you are jealous of white people. 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 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. Another way to avoid conflicts is to not act in a brash way, but instead trying to display oneself as being humble. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close. Much of that protein comes from an animal protein diet, and this is believed to contribute to the height of people who live there. Year after year, Scandinavian countries earn the top spot on the United Nations list of the happiest countries in the world. On the other hand, Iceland is found just west of Ireland and southeast of Greenland, just below the Arctic Circle. There are two things happening here. The further north you live, the less sunlight you get during the colder part of the year. How Did Vikings Actually Look? A group of some of the most beautiful countries in the world, Scandinavia doesnt just offer amazing travel opportunities. 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. Swedish Culture - Core Concepts Cultural Atlas . ), which may seem out of character for what we know about the people of Sweden, but they seem to love these events regardless. Scandinavian means belonging or relating to a group of northern European countries that includes Denmark, Norway, and . 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). Do Scandinavians have natural white or platinum blonde hair? Finland is located between Russia and Sweden, to the south of Norway. Scandinavian women have very clean stances in their professional and personal lives. For instance, theres a genuine sense of equality in Scandinavian workplaces. Recommendations It turns out that Scandinavians are more closely related to the Kostenki man than any other now-living population. 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. Blue eyes are not as resistant to sunlight as other colors (such as brown). There are also 9,000 Swedish citizens living in Finland. heritage by features: Swedish Features: - Blogger Scandinavian people crossword clue - LATSolver.com Do Scandinavians have a lot of facial hair? Nordic Traits: What Scandinavians Actually Look Like (Complete Guide) They prefer to stay out of these situations and to avoid inserting themselves in the affairs of other countries if they can avoid it. 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. Why Are Scandinavian Women So Beautiful? - Scandinavia Facts The population of Finland is around 5,542,517 people making it a relatively small country. 19 Typical Traits of Swedish People (Stereotype or Truth?) Born on October 21, 1833, he is one of the most famous people in the world. That means that the population density is pretty low equaling out at 60 people per square mile. A possible explanation is that the Viking settlements in the northeast coast of the . You will want to check out what Swedens IceHotel is all about. 10 Things Scandinavian Women Do That Others Shy Away From