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. Blue eyes are most common in Europe, especially Scandinavia. 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. He was told that the card would arrive in . To an outsider, Scandinavia can seem like a group of small, difficult-to-tell-apart Nordic countries. Only about 8 to 10 percent of the world is believed to have blue eyes. 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 prefer to stay out of these situations and to avoid inserting themselves in the affairs of other countries if they can avoid it. 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. 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. At work, they compete with men for positions. Swedish Culture - Core Concepts Cultural Atlas Hellcat, take your hatred of Americans somewhere else. Currency in Norway: What currency is used in Norway? 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. This can be compared to the Mediterranean region, where its concentrated on the chest and back instead. Why Scandinavians Are So Healthy | Reader's Digest People with blue eyes have the same genetic mutation that causes eyes to produce less melanin. 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? Wondering Why Icelandic People Look Asian? Here's Why Are Scandinavians seen as unusually attractive? They reside in Norway (pop 50-65,000), Sweden (pop. Here is a look at some notable Swedish people who made significant contributions to their fields and made their country proud. 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. published in The American Journal Of Human Genetics. The Swedish concept of individualism is often practiced to avoid bothering others. Because Swedes can make reasonable economic . 17 Little ways to annoy a Scandinavian person - ScandiKitchen This has served them well, and it is now a staple of the way that many people in the country behave. There are no scientific studies suggesting Scandinavians, or any other people for that matter, are considered more attractive than others. The way that many in Sweden feel about taking care of their own problems is that they have the power to do so. Usually, the climate in Norway is relatively cold and wet, but its still home to around 5,353,363 people. Nordic They have had more success doing this than you might imagine, and this has helped further solidify their reputation as a place that hates war and wants people to avoid conflict. However, the genome also indicates that many European traits, including those from the Middle East, were already present in the first Europeans. Bokml is more widely used by about 85 percent of Norwegians. During the depths of winter, Swedes experience just seven hours of sunlight each day. The population of Finland is around 5,542,517 people making it a relatively small country. 10 Stereotypes About Sweden That Are Actually True The study shows the genetic history of Scandinavia was influenced by foreign genes from Asia and Southern Europe . People dont expect you to put in overtime. Since freckles are thought to be connected to the same genes as red hair, we can assume that between 1-10% of the Scandinavian populationagain depending on where in Scandinavia you arehas freckles, which means they are also more sensitive to UV light. Swedish Personality & Stereotypes - About Conflict Avoidance Most Norwegian People Can Speak English. Contents show. 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). 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. Well, some people have started to use the terms Nordic and Scandinavian somewhat interchangeably. A Brief Overview of Swedish People and their Culture 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. 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. 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. So there is at least something to the myth from a North American perspective (beauty standards differ around the world, after all). Ive written an analysis of The Last Kingdom if you want to find out if its worth watching or not. 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. 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). Did you know that the Nordic countries (including Sweden) consume the most coffee per capita of any country on Earth? Swedes are accustomed to the cold and dark. ): How Did Vikings Actually Look? Most Swedes have blue eyes. 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. Even the most adamant pessimist can find something to love about what they see throughout the country. How do Finland and Iceland fit into this facts about Scandinavia guide? A possible explanation is that the Viking settlements in the northeast coast of the . Most of the population lives in small rural towns . Guests are given thermal sleeping bags to help keep themselves comfortable as they sleep in these iceboxes. 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. Sweden covers around 173,860 square miles and has 1,999 miles of coastline too. Its worth keeping in mind that Sweden and Norway were part of the same kingdom until 1814 so they have a particularly close relationship. If youre visiting the west coast of Norway, youll experience a slightly colder coastal climate depending on the time of year. A genetic study of Viking-age human . 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. Culture There's a lot more to Scandinavian people traits than a Viking or model physique and a great sense of fashion. This atmosphere comes from a concept in the Scandinavian culture called Jantelov which basically means that everyone thinks of themselves as being no better or worse than the rest of the community. Sweden is blessed to have some of the most beautiful landscapes and weather conditions of anywhere in the world. The IceHotel is an area in the north of the country where temperatures are very low throughout most of the year and permafrost exists. It turns out that Swedes dont even like to discuss politics all that much. What stereotypes are associated with Scandinavian people? If youre looking for more of a winter wonderland, the colder weather in Scandinavia runs between December and March. 6. 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. 1. Karl, Clothes Emotions are not expressed as . Data Whether they got tested by Ancestry DNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, or some other company, anyone with European ancestors is likely to show some degree of Scandinavian ancestry. Life in a Sami Village: Herding Reindeer in Norway Much of that protein comes from an animal protein diet, and this is believed to contribute to the height of people who live there. As youll soon find, the Swedes are great to speak with. Scandinavians do have curly hair, but as weve established most of them have wavy or straight hair. One of the key characteristics of Swedish culture is that Swedes are egalitarian in nature, humble and find boasting absolutely unacceptable. It was considered a race or one of the putative sub-races into which some late-19th to mid-20th century anthropologists divided the Caucasian race, claiming that its ancestral homelands were Northwestern and Northern Europe, particularly to populations such as Anglo-Saxons, Germanic peoples, Balts, Baltic Finns . It should be added that those athletes are extreme outliers, and not at all representative of the general Nordic population. 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. Copenhagen red light district: Where is it, and is it safe? The varied and beautiful countries in Scandinavia make it an incredible place to visit or to live in. Although most Swedes look naturally sun-kissed, the reality is that they spend much of their time living in darkness (like beautiful Scandinavian moles). These are the people that are happy to let people have their own opinions and continue with life as normal without a debate. According to Hofstede Insights, Sweden is a 'feminine society' in which balance, inclusivity and consideration for others are core components of the social structure. According to the data, those of Celtic ancestry in Scotland and Cornwall are more similar . Photo courtesy of Taylor Trah. 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. World's largest DNA sequencing of Viking skeletons reveals they weren't 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. Thus, they can potentially spare other people from the potential burden of having to help them out. I mean, that's just practical. 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. What are the typical facial features of a Scandinavian? - Quora Vikings vs. Last Kingdom vs. Game of Thrones, Curious how The Last Kingdom compares to Vikings, and how they both compare to Game of Thrones? 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. The average Scandinavian isnt necessarily stronger than any other given person in the world, but there has been a very high amount of Worlds Strongest Man contestants and winners from the Nordic and Scandinavian countries, with Nordic men landing in the top 3 a whopping 30 out of the 44 years the competition has taken place (thats a 68% chance of at least one Nordic in the top 3). The prevalence of this gene on the Norwegian west coast is thought to be linked to slaves from Ireland and Scotland being brought to Scandinavia. As a native Swede with a Finnish mother, Karl identifies as both Nordic and Scandinavian. Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. It should also be added that the countries around the Dinaric Alps in Western Balkans would place in the top if S.E. So what do the rest of the Nordics look like? Swedish women are easy to . When you go to a Scandinavian house, expect to remove your shoes in the hallway. It turns out that Scandinavians are more closely related to the Kostenki man than any other now-living population. 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. Despite great progress on issues such as social equality, the Swedish people are not known for being boastful. . That said, beards are currently fairly popular in the Nordics, as they were during the Viking Age (when insulting another mans beard could lead to death). Viking identity was not limited to people with Scandinavian genetic ancestry. But sometimes, stereotypes do have some basis of fact at their core. Nordic race - Wikipedia 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. Scandinavian women have very clean stances in their professional and personal lives. Sweden is the home of many tall people. Scandinavian Personality Traits - HRF Scandinavian people. People would never abandon a fellow man in need, and the majority of citizens are extremely generous. 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 . At the same time, DNA testing of remains of ancient Irish people . Scandinavian people take a moderate approach to all things in lifefrom food to work. 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. The Shape Of Your Feet Can Reveal Something Fascinating About - apost Let's take a look in detail at some of the most common perceptions of people from this fascinating region. Theres a lot more to Scandinavian people traits than a Viking or model physique and a great sense of fashion. It seems like pretty much anything will count as entertainment for a Norwegian person. Finland is part of the Nordic region, and therefore bound politically, culturally, and financially to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland in modern times. Theres nothing quite like a chilly night watching the snow in Norway or Denmark, for instance. Norway is also an excellent destination to visit if youre interested in seeing the northern lights. 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. Spring and Autumn months are definitely best for bird watching. Other famous Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg (pictured below to the right), Mads Mikkelsen, Tim Avicii Berg, and Viggo Mortensen.