Although most Swedes look naturally sun-kissed, the reality is that they spend much of their time living in darkness (like beautiful Scandinavian moles). All living humans who descended from Africa have about 2% Neanderthal DNA, and this includes Scandinavians. After all, if youre familiar with facts about Scandinavia, then youll know that all of the countries in the peninsula love their food. Karl, Clothes This goes back to the fact that they are a humble group of people who are not keen on boasting about their accomplishments. Gods & Goddesses People in Scandinavia dont have to pay to get assistance from a doctor, and there are benefits available if you cant find work. They are self-confident, have enormous hearts with a gentle soul, and strongly believe in looking out for other people. Only about 8 to 10 percent of the world is believed to have blue eyes. According to the data, those of Celtic ancestry in Scotland and Cornwall are more similar . 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. A group of some of the most beautiful countries in the world, Scandinavia doesnt just offer amazing travel opportunities. 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. It is common to add a cinnamon roll (kanelbullar) to the experience. Scandinavia is the home of mid-century modernism and contemporary minimalism - white walls, clean lines and a distinct . All Rights Reserved. Another way to avoid conflicts is to not act in a brash way, but instead trying to display oneself as being humble. For instance, theres a genuine sense of equality in Scandinavian workplaces. Native to northern Scandinavia, recognized as the oldest indigenous peoples of the North, the Sami people live in four countries. Today, were going to take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the place on everyones bucket list. People trust that youre doing your job well, and things just work. In fact, when it comes to Scandinavian nature, there are a handful of things that you simply have to add to your bucket list. Europe had been split up into smaller sub-regions, as these countries are among the tallest in the world. If you have this type of foot you are likely to be mysterious and secretive. Everyone's house looks like an IKEA showroom. 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. 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. It should also be added that the countries around the Dinaric Alps in Western Balkans would place in the top if S.E. This idea symbolises social. People who had access to more or better food in the Viking age were often taller than the average person due to having . However, the genome also indicates that many European traits, including those from the Middle East, were already present in the first Europeans. 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. Swedish people are known for being conflict-avoidant when socializing. If you include Finland and Iceland in the Scandinavian Peninsula, they add even more diversity to the landscape. Theres nothing quite like a chilly night watching the snow in Norway or Denmark, for instance. Now scroll down and see what your feet reveal about your personality. They reside in Norway (pop 50-65,000), Sweden (pop. In fact, a lot of people have a much higher percentage than they expected. The coastlines in Denmark cover 4,545 miles, and the total land area is 16,638 square miles. (Swedish Fish Facts!). Located near the Baltic Sea, Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe based on land mass. This can be a Pro or a Con depending on your personal points of view. Again: love the site and the work behind with lots of information and I dont mean to complain. You can see this every Swedish National Day, when the royal women come out in full Swedish traditional clothing which looks great! 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). Recommendations Nordic Traits The solution we have for Scandinavian people has a total of 4 letters. 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. This way of living is called lagom, and is a large part of Nordic philosophy. The gene variant is particularly common in Scandinavia, and can be traced back to Viking DNA, when it appears to . People with Scandinavian . I love this site, and I dont want to make sound as Im complaining now but I must say that I am very skeptical of the dark-skinned and blue-eyed people who are said to be the first Scandinavians. From snow-capped mountains to the beautiful sight of leaves changing color in the Fall, there is something that will knock you back a few steps when you visit Sweden and see what it is all about. A Danish CEO has no problem cleaning out coffee cups after work, so a custodian doesnt have to. Are Scandinavians seen as unusually attractive? There are also 9,000 Swedish citizens living in Finland. English This is according to genetic research by Medland et al. The idea of Jantelov isnt to see yourself as any less than you are but to recognise the inherent value of every individual person. Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. The people of Sweden do not want to leave anything to chance when it comes to something like this. 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? Even the Vikings were known for bleaching their hair, although the main reason to do so may have been primarily to kill hair lice. Norwegian people think really boring things are interesting. As a source of inspiration, beauty, and opportunity, Scandinavia is a truly unique space and one that anyone should consider visiting. 4. 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. 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. The study shows the genetic history of Scandinavia was influenced by foreign genes from Asia and Southern Europe . Blue eyes are not as resistant to sunlight as other colors (such as brown). Experts in the field suggest that this is largely a Swedish genetic trait, given that natural genetic selection along with a diet that is high in protein are what contribute to the above-average height of many Swedes. Shopping Often, we think of stereotypes as negative. After all, they must be doing something right to continually appear in the lists of the happiest nations on earth. Depending on which combination of the genes you have, you will develop either red hair and freckles, only red hair, or only freckles. Most people are very athletic and hardy, very punctual, and they have everything exactly set. To elaborate on this, facial hair is included under the term androgenic hair, so based on data from the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, we see that over 70% of Nordic men (along with Mediterranean men) can grow a beard or mustache (which is well above the global average). As well as offering plenty of unique cultures and stores to explore, the region is also packed full of great food too. It turns out that Swedes dont even like to discuss politics all that much. Rarely both. 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). 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. When I came to Sweden for the first time I was really blown away by how good looking the people were in this country. However, its fair to say that its the Scandinavian people that really capture the attention of the media. 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. People from Sweden tend to be shy and take some time to warm up to new people. As weve established, most Nordic people today have brightly colored eyes, with some areas reaching up to 80% of the population (P. Frost 2006). Most people from the Nordics have light eyes and hair, and are quite tall compared to other nationalities. A possible explanation is that the Viking settlements in the northeast coast of the . Curious how Vikings actually looked like? Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. 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. Hellcat, take your hatred of Americans somewhere else. The First Scandinavian People. According to Swedish scientific magazine Illustrerad Vetenskap, this type of microevolution developed as a response to the cold and snowy climate in the Arctic region, as the fatty fold isolates against freezing temperatures and shields the bright reflection of the snow somewhat. Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Im happy to hear you enjoyed the article! 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. That word is: Fika. The Culture of Sweden. 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. Historically, . The country has produced many great scientists and thinkers. Blonde hair, blue eyes. While Scandinavian people indulge in sweet treats and fatty foods, they don't binge too often. 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? 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. Symbolism 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. If youre ready to learn some interesting facts about Scandinavia, lets begin. That means that employees arent always trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind co-worker jibes. Design Even more remotely is that it's the combination of both of these factors. If youre visiting the west coast of Norway, youll experience a slightly colder coastal climate depending on the time of year. Everything you need to know about travelling in Scandinavia. Gods 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. Part of the reason for this is that the two regions share a very similar way of life. 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 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). To advertise your brand to a global audience, contact our advertising team below. 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? What are typical Swedish personality traits? Read Article Now. 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. That means that the population density is pretty low equaling out at 60 people per square mile. Mythology 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. Scientists have posited many theories on why Scandinavian people have light . is the fact that remaining quiet allows them to take in more information. One of the most misunderstood traits that Scandinavians are associated with is their reservation towards strangers or tourists. Yes, in every country or area, people have specific physical traits, but Dutch DNA is complicated and intertwined. Read more about that in my article about Viking Looks! However, Scandinavia isnt always as frozen as it may seem. One, Scandi societies are safe (r). The terms Scandinavian and Nordic are closely related and often erroneously used interchangeably. Known for its rolling lowlands and beautiful mountains; Sweden is a temperate location with a population of 9,960,095 people. Are Scandinavians and Nordics especially strong? 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. Nordic 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. Because of this, descriptions of the Scandinavian region have started to include places like Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and even Iceland. Just like with most other countries, the Swedish royalty doesnt hold true political power, but they are the symbolic head of the country regardless. 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. 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. 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. On top of that, theres a common practice among Scandinavian people to say what you mean and mean what you say. It is believed that the Denisovans had certain physical characteristics, including facial features, that people commonly associated with Asian populations. 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. The numerous finds of combs show that people combed their hair regularly. The Swedish concept of individualism is often practiced to avoid bothering others. 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. 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. Photo courtesy of Taylor Trah. Because Swedes can make reasonable economic . Scandinavia before the bronze age had the most genetically diverse population in Europe, with the original darker skinned people being present much longer in Scandinavia compared to the rest of Europe (where the light-skinned farmers pushed away the dark-skinned hunters almost entirely). It is estimated that at least 50% of Scandinavians have a light hair color, with some regions in Sweden, Finland and Norway reaching 80%. Of course, not every Swedish person can be lumped into the same categories, but most agree that those traits are typical of the Swedes. Not only does Scandinavia have some of the happiest people on the planet, but it also has some of the most appealing landscapes too. Theres no guarantee that it will show on any given night but the colourful lights are visible about 200 nights each year. Avoid manager-focused recognition. While the people of Scandinavia emerged from Northern Europe, the people of Finland emigrated from the east. Do Scandinavians have a lot of facial hair? So there is at least something to the myth from a North American perspective (beauty standards differ around the world, after all). 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 means hotter summer and longer days. At the same time, DNA testing of remains of ancient Irish people . Did you know that Alfred Nobel (for whom the Nobel Prize is named) was Swedish? You sound like you are jealous of white people. 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. Your email address will not be published. However, Iceland has one of the most varied landscapes, with waterfalls, canyons, sulphur beds, lava fields, and hot springs. 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 . 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. 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. I consent to the privacy policy and terms and conditions. Avoiding conflict is such a prominent trait in Sweden that the country has remained out of all wars since 1814. Here is a look at some notable Swedish people who made significant contributions to their fields and made their country proud. Studies show that most Scandinavian men are generally able to grow a full beard if they choose to do so, which of course not everyone does. 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. of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). He was told that the card would arrive in . To find out the origins of the light hair/light eye color combination we need to look at where people in Scandinavia came from originally, and how they looked (based on DNA samples and analysis). When you ask whats the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Swedish people, blond, tall and blue eyed are often the first words you hear. 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. In his last will of 1895, he devoted a large amount of his . For example, in Italy, small talk might be considered polite, while in Scandinavia, it can be considered bothersome. Sweden covers around 173,860 square miles and has 1,999 miles of coastline too. 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. It may be hard to name some of the top Swedish bands right now, but you have likely heard their music or their influence on music in your life. BiljaST / Pixabay. 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. If youre looking for more of a winter wonderland, the colder weather in Scandinavia runs between December and March. Swedish people features and stereotypes include that they tend to be tall, have blue eyes, fair skin, and blond hair. According to Hofstede Insights, Sweden is a 'feminine society' in which balance, inclusivity and consideration for others are core components of the social structure. But sometimes it can be fun to discuss stereotypes some of which may just have an element of truth to them!). Year after year, Scandinavian countries earn the top spot on the United Nations list of the happiest countries in the world. Data What are typical Swedish characteristics when socializing? Scandinavian watches: What are the best Scandinavian watch brands? Swedes are accustomed to the cold and dark. Swedes are also well known for their pessimistic outlook. A reason non-Scandinavians can believe this is the difference between cultural norms. Sweden is bordered by Finland to the east, and Norway to the west, sitting on the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea. Movies 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. They're all socialists. This will help you to find more time to go out hiking and sightseeing which is essential given the beautiful landscapes available to explore. I have dark hair and dark eyes. 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. (And the usual caveat for lists like this: not every Swede is going to be identical, nor are they all going to have the exact same personality traits. 1. The amount of curly-haired people in the Nordics is furthermore a much lesser part of the population compared to the rest of Europe. Join thousands of others and stay up to date with the our latest articles. These are the people that are happy to let people have their own opinions and continue with life as normal without a debate. Other famous Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg (pictured below to the right), Mads Mikkelsen, Tim Avicii Berg, and Viggo Mortensen. The Egyptian foot shape is characterized by the perfect alignment of all your toes in a descending order. Scandinavian people take a moderate approach to all things in lifefrom food to work. How are Scandinavians (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians) so tall? The varied and beautiful countries in Scandinavia make it an incredible place to visit or to live in. Viking identity was not limited to people with Scandinavian genetic ancestry. 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. You will want to check out what Swedens IceHotel is all about. If you hear loud-speaking people in the public, they are either non-Swedish or drunk. 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. 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. 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. Theres something to be gained from this mindset particularly in the work environment. You can see below for what to perhaps expect the next time you meet a Swede. In 2010, when Crown Princess Victoria and her partner, Daniel, got married, it was one of the largest royal events ever held. 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. Keep in mind that its quite chilly, but you can expect slightly warmer temperatures if you move closer towards the inland. All Scandinavians are wealthy. This is because they have such a strong coffee and food culture. This warm, mineral-rich pool sits in the middle of an 800-year-old lava field. Germanic 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. Many of the Scandinavian countries are becoming increasingly diverse but they remain to be some of the safest places on the planet. Finland is part of the Nordic region, and therefore bound politically, culturally, and financially to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland in modern times. Life Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. Scandinavian babes are accommodating, compassionate and quite generous, so they . 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. Ive written an analysis of The Last Kingdom if you want to find out if its worth watching or not. Leave a baby stroller outside. 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. You shouldnt come on too strong when you first meet someone from Sweden. Because people living in Norway are onto something - 18 things, in fact. A survey by Hotels.com and Match.com asked 5000 Nordic singles in 2014 which Nordic country has the most attractive people, and here are the results: Singles in Norway, Denmark, and Finland all voted for Swedes as the most attractive (you could not vote for your own country), while the Swedes overwhelmingly seem to prefer Norwegian women and men. 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. Countries in Scandinavia are packed full of incredible culture, amazing sights, and unforgettable experiences that you cant find anywhere else in the world. Comparisons . 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. . Genetic links in Icelandic people. 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. Spring and Autumn months are definitely best for bird watching. 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. Its not in Scandinavian culture to hold grudges or seek out arguments. He left Sweden at 19 to explore the world, and stayed abroad for almost 8 yearsduring which he backpacked, worked every job there was, earned a degree from UC Berkeley, and met the future mother of his children. Interestingly enough, religion just isn't an issue in Norway. Editor's Choice Sweden is one of the most egalitarian societies in the world. This is a common trait of people from Sweden as they are more shy than most other people from around the world. Its worth keeping in mind that Sweden and Norway were part of the same kingdom until 1814 so they have a particularly close relationship. It is fairly typical for quietness to be mentioned among Swedish peoples traits. February 16, 2017 at 8: . Finland is located between Russia and Sweden, to the south of Norway. They prefer to keep their heads down and continue to work on making the planet a better place. The population of the nation is 337,780, which would make it the smallest of all the Scandinavian countries.