Mythology 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). Science 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. 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. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a64a299dd6c362ace5a6dd0bdf8bb5fa" );document.getElementById("j39e62affa").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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). In terms of weight, the average for a Swedish female is approximately 64 kg (140 lbs). The typical Dane is usually seen as a slightly decadent hedonist, with a can of beer never far from reach. This means one in five Swedish athletes chose football as their sport, with around 6 million active athletes in total in the country. Read Article Now. Your email address will not be published. Many choose to combine their coffee with a food treat. The social and economic environment in Sweden has also contributed to the development of modern Swedish women. (group on facebook) It turns out that Swedes dont even like to discuss politics all that much. Do Scandinavians have a lot of body hair? When confronted with this, their niceness mask falls off and become quite mean. Lifestyle To sum it up, the average Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Finns, and Icelanders are all very tall compared to the rest of the world. Here the complete list.) 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. It should be added that those athletes are extreme outliers, and not at all representative of the general Nordic population. Here are the full results: What are the most common stereotypes about Swedes you have heard whilst traveling abroad?. Physical Features Scandinavian women have light eye colors which make them look striking, these eye colors are commonly hazel, blue, grey, or green. Facts That, and the fact that blue eyes are a mutation that developed long ago and has remained in the population ever since. Furthermore, according to a 2016 study published in Wiley, people of European origin generally have a facial hair growth pattern concentrated around the upper lip, cheek, neck, and chin, so it can be assumed that most Scandinavians also are able to generally grow whats considered a full and thick beard. The Swedish concept of individualism is often practiced to avoid bothering others. 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. Visitors to Sweden and expats living here usually remark on how it can be hard to get up close and personal with Swedish people, and how we can seem cold and unwelcoming in comparison to other cultures because of how rigid our societal norms are. Swedish personality characteristics include humbleness, open-mindedness, honesty, creativity, quietness, competitiveness, and fairness. There are other subtle Swedish design influences throughout the world. 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. There is a lot of pomp to these types of events (safe to say that the Swedish flag has a lot of meaning to people on those days! Required fields are marked *, By providing my email address, I agree to receive occasional emails from countrywaybridalboutique.com. 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. When it comes to watching sports, Swedes also strongly prefer football (soccer) with the total of all average attendances landing at 179 526. Iceland Denmark But, as you go off for a walk in the streets of Stockholm or Malmo, it's likely that you'll think the shorter brunettes are quite shy! 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. He ultimately returned to his native Malm with his love, where they now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world. I get that ethnicities are important to a lot of people. Your email address will not be published. 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. Common Scandinavian characteristics include: Commitment to health: Scandinavian people believe in eating well, looking after themselves, and exercising. That is, they are not meaning to cut you out from their life or make things challenging. 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. In fact, the average height in Sweden is much taller than the world average. Mary stays informed on cultural trends and dating practices to assist others in finding love and happiness. This is something US expats have found out the hard way, as they rank Sweden in the bottom 10 globally in ease of settling in, with making friends being the weakest sub category. Most Swedes have blue eyes. Norwegian women, on the other hand, look more rugged and open, with a tanned complexion, dark hair and eyes. Swedish design techniques have left their impact on the planet. Vikings liked to wear colourful and patterned clothes. Scandinavians do have curly hair, but as weve established most of them have wavy or straight hair. Swedish psychologist Anna Bennich offers a few theories on why Swedes are particularly bad at making friends when discussing this with TV4, and I have added a few examples Ive seen myself again and again: Swedes are usually not very good at small talk, which is perhaps why we sometimes refer to it as cold talk. They attach great importance to family and community, and value a simpler and more ecological way of life. 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. Some regions have more than 10% redheads, while others only have around 1-3%. Ive written more in-depth articles on Swedish food habits that are linked below, but I wanted to include the highlights here to give you an idea of how and what Swedes like to eat. One of the Swedish characteristics that people sometimes take for granted is how humble they are as a people. 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 two species met and started having reproductive relationships in modern-day Israel some 60 000 years ago, before ultimately clashing and resulting in the demise of the Neanderthals. It is commonly believed that Swedish women look more Scandinavian: they have lighter skin, lighter hair, and lighter eyes. 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. This can be compared to males in the US reaching an average of 177 cm (5 ft 9in) and US females 163 cm (5 ft 4 in). However, personal anecdotes are not good enough on their own in my opinion, so Ive also included plenty of relevant data, studies, and examples that support these experiences and views on what Swedes are really like, generally speaking. Not bad for a country of only 10 million people! But sometimes it can be fun to discuss stereotypes some of which may just have an element of truth to them!). For example, many Swedish Women have fair skin and light hair, which is a common trait in people of Nordic descent. These women also have light hair colors that range from blonde to light brown shades but among them, Icelandic women have darker shades of hair colors. If I would list all of the Swedes Ive encountered (as a late-thirties Swede who likes to travel and chat with people, thats likely tens of thousands), Id describe the majority of them as part of a larger collective consciousness a Swedish hivemind if you will. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. In the case of modern Swedish Women, genetics and cultural background have worked together to create a unique look that is specific to this group of women. We can see how the Swedish hivemind actually looks like by looking at what Swedes do in their free time, and what their interests are: Sources: SCB 2017, Intressekompassen 2015. Features: Some Swedes have a full faces, with the eyes high up. Personality traits you are likely to find among the Swedish population include being fair, courteous, competitive, quiet, honest, creative, empathetic, structured, imaginative, cold, open-minded, responsible, and humble. Swedish Women are known for their unique and striking facial features, as well as their strong and independent personalities. The Swedes prefer to keep to themselves most of the time. Though it is only a small group, it at least gives you an insight into what actual Swedish people look like in 2023. 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. It is common to add a cinnamon roll (kanelbullar) to the experience. 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. Overall, Swedish women have a distinct, effortlessly beautiful look that is both fresh and understated. You should NOT take this with offense. Without the DNA results my dermatologist refused to even believe there was any such thing as Celiac intolerance for gluten. Read Article Now. And thats not even mentioning Roxette, Ace of Base, Avicii, Robyn, Swedish House Mafia, The Cardigans, Europe, Eagle-Eye Cherry Safe to say, we certainly owe the Swedish people a great debt of gratitude for all of the contributions they have made toward the advancement of pop music. 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. Data Taking in the verdant terrain of northern Europe and disappearing into the Arctic Circle, Scandinavia is . Required fields are marked *. This may be because Swedish personality traits lean towards open-mindedness and a desire for knowledge and exploration. Around 42% of Swedish adults are currently married as of October 2022 according to SCB, and after a period of increased popularity between 2001 (when 39 157 couples married) and 2019 (when 53 017 couples married), the marriage rate of Swedes has once again gone down to around 38 000 newlywed couples per year. While I was growing up and living with my parents, we often had Spaghetti Bolognese and Korv Stroganoff as well, along with Fish, Meatballs, Sausage, Chicken, and Salmon. Gods & Goddesses Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. 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. 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. It should be added that Swedish youth and young adults are generally more flexible and open-minded when it comes to social encounters and privacy. The average height in Sweden is nearly 5 feet 11 inches tall, making it ranked eighth in the world for height. When compared to women from other countries, Swedish women stand out for their confidence, assertiveness, and self-reliance. This article may contain affiliate links. Contents show. In fact, there is an entire museum dedicated to ABBA in Stockholm, Sweden for people to visit. Read Article Now. Recommendations Why Swedish girls are so beautiful? Swedish Impact & Fame: What Are Swedes Famous For? Long hair tied in a knot or braided behind the back. ), How the Dutch & Scandinavians Are Connected (Complete Guide), Norse vs. Norwegian vs. Nordic: Differences Explained, Average Height in the Nordics (Data & Graphs), https://kaw.wallenberg.org/forskning/atlas-med-forhistoriskt-dna-ger-ny-bild-av-manniskans-ursprung. 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). This is particularly true for Swedish Women who have migrated from other countries or have married someone from a different cultural background. 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. Still, looking at polls, studies, data, and my personal experiences in general they are fairly accurate in describing the vast majority of the Swedish population. How they look like Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. As weve established, most Nordic people today have brightly colored eyes, with some areas reaching up to 80% of the population (P. Frost 2006). Enjoy your visit! What is Considered Polite Behavior in Sweden? Finnish vs. Swedish Sauna: 5 Differences According to Finns in Sweden, Im a Nordic native (a Swede with a Finnish mother to be precise) who likes to get nerdy and share first-hand experiences, data-driven resources, and useful guides to help people discover and understand the culture, people, life, sights, design, and history (Vikings anyone?) On top of modern everyday fashion, Swedes also wear traditional Swedish folk costumes occasionally during holidays such as midsummer and the national day, as well as for special events such as weddings and graduations. As youll see throughout this article, these tendencies have been identified in many different studies and polls regarding Swedes behaviors and interests, and as a Swede, I would generally agree that large parts of the population share most of these traits, activities, and interests. This is something we can see in data too, with three out of four respondents of a 2018 Demoskop poll saying good relations with their workmates is the most important source of their workplace happiness. Overall, the emphasis on a healthy and active lifestyle in Sweden contributes to the physically fit appearance of its citizens. Viking women's faces had more masculine features than they have today. Natural platinum blonde or near-white hair occurs occasionally among the population in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, primarily among children (as hair tends to darken with age). The physical aspect. Also see Do Swedes Avoid Conflict? The country has produced many great scientists and thinkers. We identified 208 metabolites in the . Finland 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. Nordic and Scandinavian Physical Traits Today. 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). It is unlikely that someone in Sweden will have guests over without careful planning ahead of time. Its interesting to note that the physical appearance of Swedish Women is not only shaped by internal factors but also by external factors such as migration and intermarriage. Food The average Viking was 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) shorter than we are today. How About in Business Settings, What Are Swedish People Like at Work? 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. What factors have shaped the personalities of modern Swedish Women? Most of these traits of Swedish people are highly desirable and highly appreciated. With age, female blonde hair darkens more gradually than males. Of course, these archetypes do not represent all Swedish people in the 21st Century. Youre not alone, and youve definitely reached the right place! Culture The Scandinavian Personality Traits have been under investigation since the late 1800's. There have been multiple publications that have looked Guests are given thermal sleeping bags to help keep themselves comfortable as they sleep in these iceboxes. They don't just drive everywhere, they walk, cycle, and hike. It is very common to see Swedish physical traits of blonde hair, blue eyes, a tall figure, pale skin, and thin lips. Scandinavian What physical characteristics do typical Swedish Women have? Names They are a people who prefer to be left alone until they are ready to engage socially. Standing out from the crowd is often frowned upon in many situations of Swedish life, and Swedes generally dont get as much practice in social etiquette as other cultures might because of this. Nordic vs. Scandinavian: Meaning & Usage Explained, Nordic vs. Germanic vs. Celtic: Differences & Links Explained (+ Maps), Im a Nordic native (a Swede with a Finnish mother to be precise) who likes to get nerdy and share first-hand experiences, data-driven resources, and useful guides to help people discover and understand the culture, people, life, sights, design, and history (Vikings anyone?) 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). 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. The cultural heritage of Sweden has played a significant role in the formation of their personal qualities, shaping their values and beliefs. ), chicken or fish, combined with carbs in the form of pasta, potatoes, or rice. Sweden has produced many amazing hit pop songs and contributed to many others. These individuals believe in "everything in moderation." This allows inhabitants there to wear more skin-revealing clothing than other Europeans at similar latitudes, further contributing to their development of more easily tannable skin. Many have striking blue or green eyes, which are a result of the country's gene pool. 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. English So what does all of this mean in reality? 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. 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. Comparisons [9] Genetic testing has shown that the Finns and the Smi are "phenotypically and genetically typical . Located near the Baltic Sea, Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe based on land mass. 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. It seems contradictory to put non-prominent cheekbones in bold at the beginning of the article, when the attractiveness summary near the end of the article says Scientifically speaking, there are a couple of factors that could play in the Scandinavians favor as far as sexual selection and attractiveness go and includes High cheekbones as one of the top 5 positive traits. With modern technology, it now appears that the Finns and the Smi may have originated from an "old population in Europe which diverged from other European populations prior to subsequent linguistic and cultural diversification.". Check it out if youre curious! Below Ive compiled 19 of my favorite Nordic Noir and Scandinavian Drama series, along with critic ratings and a short description that doesnt spoil too much. Maybe its our Viking heritage, or maybe its just because the majority feel more relaxed whilst traveling (which 59% of Swedes do according to the same YouGov poll) whatever the cause, it seems to be in our nature to get extra flirty on trips. 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? What is a typical Swedish dinner? For both men and women, the "moderate-severe multisite" pain classes reported the highest levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, poorer sleep, and higher work physical activity than the "no pain" class. Not every piece is hung up in a museum somewhere. Answer (1 of 3): Noses. Again: love the site and the work behind with lots of information and I dont mean to complain. Germanic I get that the question really is about the features of some unique ethnic Swedishness, but there's no such thing, as there's no "real" Swedish ethnicity. According to a 2020 study by Rodriguez-Martinez, Swedish males reach an average height of 180 cm (5 ft 10 in), while the average Swedish female is 167 cm (5 ft 5 in). Nordic Blue eyes are not as resistant to sunlight as other colors (such as brown). (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. Read Article Now. The physical appearance and facial features of modern Swedish Women have been shaped by a combination of genetics and cultural background.