Common Scandinavian characteristics include: Commitment to health: Scandinavian people believe in eating well, looking after themselves, and exercising. Oslo ), chicken or fish, combined with carbs in the form of pasta, potatoes, or rice. Their most well-known company is IKEA, and it is a place where design meets functionality in every item that they sell. 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. To check how this looked in real life, I compiled a list of all the hair and eye colors of 103 family members and friends, who all are born in or around Malm in southern Sweden (one of the more culturally diverse cities in Sweden I should add). Youre not alone, and youve definitely reached the right place! 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. High levels of Vitamin D produces more melanin, which in simple terms enables skin to tan instead of burn. Food They dont like to rush anything. This is due to the differences in geography, climate and cultural way of life between the two countries. So What Do Scandinavian People Actually Look Like? In social settings, Swedish people have been observed by both historians and business leaders to be generally more team-oriented, conflict-averse, empathetic, calm, structured, cold, and safety-focused than other nationalities. For example, many Swedish Women have fair skin and light hair, which is a common trait in people of Nordic descent. Add this one to your bucket list. During the work week, Swedes often go out to restaurants for lunch, eating a Dagens lunch (daily lunch special) that is usually priced around 100 kr ($9 USD / 8 GBP). Again: love the site and the work behind with lots of information and I dont mean to complain. The fourth class for women was "moderate spine pain," (13%) and for men was "mild extremity pain" (13%). Europe had been split up into smaller sub-regions, as these countries are among the tallest in the world. Lifestyle 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. Editor's Choice Instead, one of the Swedish traits that many people pick up on is the fact that they like to stay back and remain quiet. We wanted to share some of the most interesting and impactful things that Swedish people are known for. Culture 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. Swedish design techniques have left their impact on the planet. This is of course not an everyday thing for most people due to the cost, and when we dont go out to eat Swedes usually bring lunch boxes from home in the form of leftovers or a sandwich or two. Even the most adamant pessimist can find something to love about what they see throughout the country. Does Sweden have the most blonde-haired? Fashion 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. 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). You are now officially an expert at all things Swedish, and well-equipped to navigate the weird world of Swedes without any issues. (Swedish Fish Facts!). Popular Post Scandinavians as a whole are part of a group of ethnicities (along with Finns, English, Irish, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Polish, Hungarians, and Russians) where the Epicanthic fold is occurring more than in other European populations, but still at a much lower frequency than for example Asian ethnicities. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a6c57075cd6e2f9fdccbf113b34f96c1" );document.getElementById("j39e62affa").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Read Article Now. This may sound like quite a generalization (then again, isnt everything on this list!) Typical Swedish character and stereotypes - (photo credit: Melker Dahlstrand/imagebank.sweden.se ) Anyone who says Swedes lack passion is wrong. They tend to have fair skin with a rosy complexion, blonde hair, and blue or green eyes. The Scandinavian Personality Traits have been under investigation since the late 1800's. There have been multiple publications that have looked Scientifically speaking, there are a couple of factors that could play in the Scandinavians favor as far as sexual selection and attractiveness go: I want to point out that beauty is entirely objective, and what is considered attractive for some may not be for others. It is yet another way that the country is a bastion of happiness and joy. Culture Symbolism Germanic In average, Swedish women are among the tallest in Europe. Do Scandinavians have a lot of body hair? What are typical Swedish characteristics when socializing? 38 Things Sweden Is Known For: An Epic Guide to Swedishness, It sometimes surprises me how much people actually know about this small home country of mine even if its remotely located in the cold Nordics, covered in darkness for half the year, and home to a measly 10 million socially awkward and abnormally tall people. [9] Genetic testing has shown that the Finns and the Smi are "phenotypically and genetically typical . These individuals believe in "everything in moderation." Viking women's faces had more masculine features than they have today. Contents show. Read more about that in my article about Viking Looks! The IceHotel is an area in the north of the country where temperatures are very low throughout most of the year and permafrost exists. They don't just have long legs; they have beautiful hair and pale skin. Sweden I love getting into new sports when I travel, and when I moved from Sweden to countries like Australia and the US, there were quite a few new ones I had to get acquainted with (that I eventually grew to love watching and playing). The dating site isnt active in Iceland so the Icelanders were not part of the survey. Stereotypical Swedish 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. Notable Nordic winners of the strongman competition include Icelands Hafr Jlus Bjrnsson (of Game of Thrones fame as Ser Gregor Clegane/The Mountain) and Swedens Magnus Samuelsson (who features in the series The Last Kingdom as the Viking band member Clapa). Streaming Tips Urine metabolomic profiles of autism and autistic traits - a twin study 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. Malm Swedish Breakfast Habits: A Complete Guide, If you want to start eating more like a Swede in the morning, or if you just want to prepare yourself mentally before a visit, Ill be walking you through everything you should know about Swedish breakfast habits in this article. Many Swedish women place a strong emphasis on taking care of their appearance and physical health. 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. Read Article Now. 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. Read Article Now. Language Im sure its more complex than that, as this article describes. Here are some typical Swedish stereotypes that are spot-on, for better or worse: Of course, some of the stereotypes we encounter are just silly, or at the very least not very representative of the population as a whole. The cultural heritage of Sweden has played a significant role in the formation of their personal qualities, shaping their values and beliefs. How Swedes Like to Dress: The Most In-Demand Clothing Brands in Sweden, How Swedes Actually Dress: The Most Common Clothing Brands in Sweden, Swedish Traditional Clothing: National & Regional Folk Costumes. Required fields are marked *. If you made it all the way through the article, congratulations! Self-delusion cannot last forever. Mythology Here are just a few of the most impactful Swedish inventions that have changed the world: View more examples and read more about the most influential Swedish inventions that had a great impact on the world as a whole. Lions' Brad Holmes: Physical thresholds matter, too, in evaluating draft prospects. The country has produced many great scientists and thinkers. 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. 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. 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. However, there is a growing appreciation for diversity and individuality in recent years, and many Swedish women embrace their unique features and refuse to conform to traditional beauty standards., As a woman living in Sweden, I feel that there is a lot of focus on health and wellness when it comes to beauty standards. Related: How to Celebrate Mothers Day in Sweden and When Is It? Why Do So Many Swedes Have Blonde Hair? - Scandinavia Facts What are the differences between Swedish Women and Norwegian Women? On the other hand, cultural background has also influenced the appearance of Swedish Women. What Are Some Typical Swedish Personality Traits? Genetics plays a significant role in determining the physical characteristics of individuals, such as hair color, eye shape, and skin tone. Do Scandinavians have a lot of facial hair? Scandinavian Swedish peoples characteristics include many noble things, such as honesty. Science How are Scandinavians (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians) so tall? 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. Still, both parents are usually able to work full-time after around a year of paid parental leave, as every Swedish child has the right to heavily subsidized childcare and schooling from one year of age to adulthood. Data We asked women living in major cities in Sweden in different regions of the country to share their opinions on the beauty standards of Swedish women. Life This meal usually includes a main course, vegetables, some type of bread, a drink, and a coffee afterward. The idea that geographical location and genetics plays a huge role in how personality develops. This makes them the second-rarest color (behind green), and that is what is so enticing about them. Rather, humans around the world generally consider reproductive factors such as waist-to-hip ratio and other indicators of fertility and health as attractive, rather than a specific eye/hair/skin color or similar. Much of that protein comes from an animal protein diet, and this is believed to contribute to the height of people who live there. Remains of silk have been found in Viking graves. Denmark If you would like to find out more about Swedish clothing culture, and read more about as well as find out where to shop the different brands, Ive written an article about the best and most popular Swedish clothing brands: The Best & Most Popular Swedish Clothing Brands (Fashion + Outdoor), There has been a signficant boom within the Swedish fashion industry since the turn of the millennia, with multiple clothing designers seeing success both home and abroad with their own takes on the classic Swedish design school. Please read our. Among the Sami people (hailing from Northern Scandinavia), high cheekbones are very common. country has remained out of all wars since 1814, when Crown Princess Victoria and her partner, Daniel, got married. 31 Swedish Inventions That Made a Big Impact on the World, Throughout history, Sweden has been responsible for a surprising number of inventions and innovations that have had a profound impact on the world. Your email address will not be published. Very few adult Scandinavians have natural platinum blonde hair, but plenty has achieved this hair color by means of artificial coloring (as in the rest of the world). Unwritten Rules in Sweden: The Dos and Don'ts Among Swedes. The most common body type is an hourglass shape, which is characterized by a well-defined waist and equal measurements for the hips and bust. Winter, Dressing in a decent and fashionable manner, towards families with small children in public. 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. Being fit and taking care of your body is highly valued, but there is also a strong emphasis on being natural and comfortable in your own skin. Its not as common for Swedes to spontaneously invite friends over for dinner, whereas this is common in many other cultures all over the world (and specifically considered rude if you dont). What are the Swedish Women's beauty standards? In fact, one of the traits of Swedish women is a desire to participate in decision-making. The way that many in Sweden feel about taking care of their own problems is that they have the power to do so. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. This is also illustrated in reality when we look at the eye color of Swedish governors after the 2022 election, with 18 out of 21 (~86%) having brightly colored eyes; 16 pairs of blue eyes (~76% of total), and 2 pairs of green (~10% of total). 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). 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.