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. Lets take a more detailed look at how the Nordic peopleboth male and femalestack up against each other and the world when it comes to height: The Danish are the tallest people in the Nordics, with the average male Dane reaching 182 cm / 512, followed by the Icelandic men at 181 cm, and finally the Swedes, Norwegians, and Finns at 180 cm. I consent to the privacy policy and terms and conditions. Well, some people have started to use the terms Nordic and Scandinavian somewhat interchangeably. Nordic Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close. 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. A group of some of the most beautiful countries in the world, Scandinavia doesnt just offer amazing travel opportunities. When you are eating meals that come later in the day, you may also enjoy some of the local seafood catches or even meat from a reindeer! People who had access to more or better food in the Viking age were often taller than the average person due to having . This has served them well, and it is now a staple of the way that many people in the country behave. Please read our. When you don't remove your shoes before entering our house. To an outsider, Scandinavia can seem like a group of small, difficult-to-tell-apart Nordic 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. Leave a baby stroller outside. The First Scandinavians Where Dark-skinned and Blue-eyed. Whether youre exploring the frozen fjords or hiking along one of Denmarks incredible nature paths, the opportunities for breath-taking scenery are endless. During the following centuries, these two hunter-gatherer groups intermingled and produced one of the most . There are two things happening here. Swedish design techniques have left their impact on the planet. 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. 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. Scientists have posited many theories on why Scandinavian people have light . 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. 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%). I have dark hair and dark eyes. For instance, Scandinavian people could leave a baby stroller on the street outside of a store . The traits for a Scandinavian management style was defined in an article in MandagMorgen, 22 June 2004: . When you go to a Scandinavian house, expect to remove your shoes in the hallway. Required fields are marked *. However, it offers a very different kind of appeal that makes it a must-see for anyone with a passion for beauty. Theres no guarantee that it will show on any given night but the colourful lights are visible about 200 nights each year. 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. is the fact that remaining quiet allows them to take in more information. Their most well-known company is IKEA, and it is a place where design meets functionality in every item that they sell. He was a Swedish engineer, chemist, and the inventor of dynamite. 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. Finland is a Nordic Country with Baltic Finnic Heritage. So, whens the best time to visit to get the most out of the Scandinavian weather? A reason non-Scandinavians can believe this is the difference between cultural norms. Scandinavian people take a moderate approach to all things in lifefrom food to work. Located near the Baltic Sea, Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe based on land mass. At least, some Swedish stereotypes do. Some researchers have suggested that some modern Icelanders share a genetic makeup with an ancient people group from Asia, called Denisovans.. 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. 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 . 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). 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. Everything you need to know about travelling in Scandinavia. 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. 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. Third, Scandinavians do tend to tan and get olive-skinned in the summer, which is due to a mix of genetic makeup, unusually high UV exposure levels, and a diet generally high in Vitamin D. Scandinavians do not have particularly large noses, as Northern Europeans tend to have more narrow noses than people in warmer climates, as an adaptation to the cooler climate. Enjoy your visit! 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. Are Scandinavians seen as unusually attractive? 10945. After all, they must be doing something right to continually appear in the lists of the happiest nations on earth. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. Historically, . I never heard of a darker skin mixing and become as white as we are today. Although many visitors prefer to seek out warmer Scandinavian weather when they can, theres a magic to the countries in winter too. A question of perspective. Not only does Scandinavia have some of the happiest people on the planet, but it also has some of the most appealing landscapes too. This idea symbolises social. Blonde hair is highly prized in many parts of the world, but it is merely an everyday thing in Sweden. 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. The gene variant is particularly common in Scandinavia, and can be traced back to Viking DNA, when it appears to . People with blue eyes have the same genetic mutation that causes eyes to produce less melanin. It is also not as though all Dutch people look like twins. 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). But spend a few days in the country and youll definitely start to notice some physical traits appearing more often than others. Theres nothing quite like a chilly night watching the snow in Norway or Denmark, for instance. 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. 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. 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. 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). Overall, the scientists found that people who lived in Scandinavia exhibited high levels of non-Scandinavian ancestry, pointing to a continuous exchange of genetic information across the broader . The Finnish people are, however, of the Baltic Finnic ethnic group, which actually makes Estonia the Finns closest relatives . Whats more, now that surveys around the world suggest that people are having difficulties balancing their work and personal life, the Scandinavian culture is becoming even more appealing. 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. (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. Shopping Shoes When it comes to writing, there are two different versions of written Norwegian; Bokml and Nynorsk. 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. Read Article Now. Gods 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. 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. Once again, not everyone in Sweden will look like this. Hooded eyes are prevalent in the Scandinavian population, and studies have shown that about 18 percent of northern Europeans have so-called sagging eyelids (which is related to hooded eyes but more specifically excess skin over your eye that may or may not disrupt your vision). Other famous Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg (pictured below to the right), Mads Mikkelsen, Tim Avicii Berg, and Viggo Mortensen. Nordic fall/winter), but also get a darker tan under high UV conditions (i.e. Spring and Autumn months are definitely best for bird watching. Of course, these archetypes do not represent all Swedish people in the 21st Century. Your email address will not be published. People from Sweden tend to be shy and take some time to warm up to new people. 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. (Also see Why Do Norwegians Hate Swedes and Danes? The dating site isnt active in Iceland so the Icelanders were not part of the survey. Scandinavian means belonging or relating to a group of northern European countries that includes Denmark, Norway, and . 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. According to the data, those of Celtic ancestry in Scotland and Cornwall are more similar . Your email address will not be published. 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). English About 125 inscriptions dated from ad 200 to . If youre visiting the west coast of Norway, youll experience a slightly colder coastal climate depending on the time of year. Ultimately, theres a lot more to the Scandinavian peninsula than Ikea, minimalist designs, and breathtaking fashion. It has been presented that the ethnic group can also be perceived as a distinct Swedish-speaking nationality in Finland. They may have had a reputation for trade, braids and fearsome raids, but the Vikings were far from a single group of flaxen-haired, sea-faring Scandinavians. 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. Swedes are accustomed to the cold and dark. They take longer to warm up to new people and new experiences. Most people are very athletic and hardy, very punctual, and they have everything exactly set. 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. Anyway, I just had my DNA tested and I'm 67% Scandinavian. Avoiding conflict is such a prominent trait in Sweden that the country has remained out of all wars since 1814. Curious how Vikings actually looked like? To advertise your brand to a global audience, contact our advertising team below. 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. Sweden is one of the most egalitarian societies 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. Countries in Scandinavia are packed full of incredible culture, amazing sights, and unforgettable experiences that you cant find anywhere else in the world. They are a people who prefer to be left alone until they are ready to engage socially. Today, were going to take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the place on everyones bucket list. Comparisons Did you know that Alfred Nobel (for whom the Nobel Prize is named) was Swedish? Because of this, descriptions of the Scandinavian region have started to include places like Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and even Iceland. Native to northern Scandinavia, recognized as the oldest indigenous peoples of the North, the Sami people live in four countries. The social events that they do attend are planned well in advance, and they are given notice so that they can prepare themselves for this type of socializing. Quiz In fact, the average height in Sweden is much taller than the world average. 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. Check it out if youre curious! country has remained out of all wars since 1814, when Crown Princess Victoria and her partner, Daniel, got married. Add this one to your bucket list. 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.