When the Battle Axe culture group fused with the groups already present in Scandinavia this eventually spawned the Nordic Bronze Age people, who are seen as the ancestors of all Germanic people. Nordic spring/summer): First off, there are plenty of people with darker skin in todays Scandinavia, but they generally have more than just Scandinavian heritage in their family. However, its not uncommon for Swedish people to have dark brown (or sometimes even black) hair. (Carpelan), [9] A genetic distinctness even exists within the heterogeneous Smi, which leads some to believe that perhaps being classified as a Smi should be a grouping based on living a certain way of life rather than having a certain genetic component. The Nordic people as a whole really like the Swedes and Norwegians. Some regions have more than 10% redheads, while others only have around 1-3%. The genetic origin of the Smi people is complex and difficult to trace. 1999. Design 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). Some of the familiar Scandinavian personality traits include: reticence, a highly skeptical personality, general mistrust of strangers, cautious behavior, somewhat reserved personality and a lack of empathy. So what did the Vikings actually look like? Their eyes are light in many cases, including blue and green. Denmark These features make them stand out among their Nordic neighbours. Facts These average heights can be compared to the current average male height of 175.3 cm (5 ft 8 in) in both the US and England, which means most Vikings were likely quite tall even by modern standards. Second, early Scandinavian ancestors are thought to have been dark-skinned, but after mixing with other populations and adapting to the geographical area this trait eventually disappeared. Shoes Well, in many cases not at all. Genome Research. Curious how modern-day Scandinavians look compared to their Viking ancestors? Christian started Scandinavia Facts to explore his family heritage, raise awareness of one of his academic interests as a professor, and civilly promote the region. They also often have a straight nose but a hump at the noses bridge. Many of the names of rivers and lakes have no linguistic roots. Many Vikings were named after to their abnormal strength, size, or general prowess, like Gngu-Hrlfr (Walking Rollo; too big to ride a horse), Bjrn Ironside (legend said he could not be harmed in battle), Thorkell the Tall (incredibly skilled warrior and leader of Jomsvikings), and St. Olaf the Stout (the only Viking to be canonized). Scandinavian So lets see what we know about what the Vikings actually looked like, based on what weve established through DNA studies, archeological findings, and documented history. As a result of their high cheekbones, they have a high chance of being considered more attractive by foreign men. If a light-haired and light-eyed Swede had a child with a dark-haired and dark-eyed person, the child is less likely to have light hair and eyes because the darker colors will be more dominant. Music Having worked with graphic design for most of my life, Im a huge fan of typography and symbolism, and also a huge history nerd. So, if a person ever decides to visit Sweden, they should be prepared to see lots of blue eyes! The Finns had always been thought of as the more dominant group but now new theories claiming that it was the Finns who got their language from the Smi have started to arise. So its not entirely out of this world to assume that they could also decorate their bodies by other means, just not very likely with the evidence we have available. Norway The Smi, as well of the Finns, are a very heterogeneous group of people who display a wide range of physical features. Greek people features stereotypically include having olive-brown skin, brown eyes and dark brown hair. Symbolism 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. For several hundred years, there was a belief that the Smi and the Finns had a Mongoloid origin. Sweden's Saami Policy 1550 Present: Racist? Sweden Circum Polar Perspective. Some scientists give quite a bit of weight to the genetics of personality and it would stand to reason that at the very least some of personality is genetic which would lead to the idea that if you are Nordic or from Northern Europe than you are going to share some of that dog eat dog personality of your ancestors. A study by the National Library of Medicine concluded that its more challenging for skin with more pigmentation (i.e., darker skin) to absorb vitamin D [4]. English Gedde-Dahl, Issel-Tarver, DiRienzo, Pbo. Lifestyle Swedish people are generally tall, like many individuals in Nordic countries (like Denmark and Norway). 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! This procreation keeps these genetics alive. Pale WebSwedish people often look pale due to a lack of melanin. Thanks Jonna for your comment, and Im happy to hear you enjoyed the article! I never heard of a darker skin mixing and become as white as we are today. March 22, 1996. The Swedish eye color is similar to the Nordic eye color. 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. A Swedish child is more likely to have dark hair if the other parent has dark hair. Swedish ( ethnic ones not Saamis), mostly belong to what is called the Nordic race which is centered in Northern Europe. A high and narrow face wit Scandinavian countries have historically been no nonsense type countries throughout history. Streaming Tips The Swedish have a blue eye and are taller (Niskanen 122), [15] http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq23.html (accessed February 26, 2005). Your email address will not be published. Ragnar & Uthred), it is of course possible that some Vikings styled their hair like that. How do the modern-day Scandinavians compare to their ancestors? Science Science 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. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. Of course, there are Swedes with darker hair (like dark brown and black), but its not as common as in other nations. (Savontaus), [2] 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). Since sunlight exposure is one of the best ways to absorb vitamin D, its normal to wonder if Swedes are often deficient in this vitamin. The First Scandinavians Where Dark-skinned and Blue-eyed. Quiz Some famous Scandinavians with high cheekbones include Fredrik Ljungberg, Tim Avicii Berg, and Viggo Mortensen. 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. What are typical Swedish features? 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. As weve established, most Nordic people today have brightly colored eyes, with some areas reaching up to 80% of the population (P. Frost 2006). Although blond hair and eyes are recessive genes, Swedes are more likely to receive these genes because they procreate with one another. Fashion WebMajority are brunettes, the rest are fake blondes. They are also known for having dark eyes. Sajantila, Lahermo, Anttinen, Luuka, Sistonen, Savontaus, Aula, Beckman, Tranebjaer. Mythology Your email address will not be published. The taller Vikings reached around 190 cm and the shorter around 170 cm. WebFor example, dimensions can be mapped to the following facial characteristics: eye size, eye spacing, nose length, nose width, mouth curvature, mouth width, mouth openness, pupil size, eyebrow slant, eye eccentricity, and head eccentricity. [16]. This ice age did not officially end until 9500 BCE with larger population growth not occurring until 8000 BCE. The sagas often tell tales of exceptional strength, which is supported by several forms of archaeological evidence. Its also important to note that while there is no evidence of the mohawk-style haircut we see so much in TV shows (i.e. Vikings were known to braid their beards in different ways according to written primary sources, among them the stories about Svein Tveskgg (Forkbeard), known for his beard that was split into two braids. Icelands epic landscapes draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. [15], Sajantilas ten-year old theory, though empowering to the Smi, has been suggested to be somewhat false in many of its aspects, as recently as 2002. The Scandinavians have high cheekbones, which makes them more likely to be a desirable type of person. 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. The sample size and dental conditions were similar in both studies. While the eyes are not an important part of the Scandinavian facial features, they have bright, large, and beautiful eyes. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. Is there a link between Scandinavians, Vikings, and the Germanic people who migrated across Europe during the fall of the Roman Empire? Research surrounding the EDAR gene indicates that Scandinavians (along with most Europeans) generally have thinner hair, than for example East Asians and Native Americans. Vikings were likely quite tall even by modern standards, with adult Norse males in Sweden, Norway, and England found to average around 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) in height, compared to 175.3 cm (5 ft 8 in) in modern-day USA and England. Norse People in Europe have many contrasting facial features that can create them stand out from one another. Swedish people are known to tower over others due to their long legs, so its no surprise theyre considered a tall nation. Ive written an article for those who are thinking of watching the show but havent made up their minds yet, where I also compare the shows IMDb ratings in detail toGame of ThronesandThe Last Kingdom. Life They also have a rather rounded face and very delicate facial features. Other things we can read about in the sagas and see on artifacts left behind for us to marvel at. The highest cheekbones are another trait associated with Scandinavians. The Valkyrie knot is the most commonly depicted hairstyle, as the Valkyries are the most commonly depicted Viking females. of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). Im diving deeper into what we know of Viking hair and hairstyles in a separate article, so if youd like to find out more and see some examples of fairly historically accurate modern Viking hairstyles go check that out. Though it is likelier that it was used for the cosmetic effect since most Vikings had light hair, and it was likely seen as a sought-after trait for some. It is thought that at one point in time that this group may have ranged as far as northern Germany up through Scandinavia. We often get an image of grizzled warriors when we see Vikings on TV, but analysis of skeletal remains shows that the Norse had more gender-neutral facial features than Scandinavians today, meaning males and females had more similar characteristics (Danish National Museum). It should be added that those athletes are extreme outliers, and not at all representative of the general Nordic population. The average linear dimensions were greater in males than in females, although both groups had slightly higher cheekbones. Winter, Hang some Old Norse mythology on your walls. Symbolism (Gene Expression), [14] Thank you for visiting Scandinavia Facts. When he has finished, the servant carries the bowl to the man next to him. Do Scandinavians have a lot of body hair? In fact, Vikings were likely more dark-haired than Scandinavians are today. Those with these facial features have high cheekbones, but they are not considered attractive. Popular Post This was used in their beards as well, and had the benefit of killing hair lice (a very common problem at the time). 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). 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. http://www.itv.se/boreale/samieng1.htm (accessed February 26, 2005). And the eyes are also one of the most important factors of physical attraction. Since up to 78% of the Swedish population has blue eyes, its easy to see that blue is the dominant color, even if it is technically a recessive gene! Modern Swedes are closely related to hunter-gatherers of the Pitted Ware culture. 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. Genetic testing has shown that the Finns and the Smi are phenotypically and genetically typical Europeans. By Chris Drew (PhD) / February 26, 2023. The Scandinavians are a distinct group. Beards and mustaches were very common in Vikings according to archeological findings and written records. Iceland Streaming Tips The Scandinavian facial features are unique in terms of appearance. http://www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/000245.html (accessed February 26, 2005). Food ), 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. They had a diet full of carbs (bread), protein and fat (fish, pork), which combined with constant physical activity from a young age likely produced stronger-than-average men and women. There is a general belief among Norse historians that Vikings and Germanic people in general assigned special powers to long hair and beards, with the Suebi knot and Merovingian kings being two good Germanic examples where longer hair presented in a certain way was believed to have an effect on strength and power. Their cheekbones are high and their noses are thin. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Nordic resources, insights, tips, hidden gems, and much more. In order to survive the UV-bombardment during summers as well as the lack of sunlight in the winters, the skin of Scandinavians have needed to be adaptable. Vikings were known as clean and hygienic compared to the Anglo-Saxons in England, but for the Muslim chronicler Ibn Fadlan, their way of cleaning themselves seemed disgusting. WebIn research made by M. Ingman and U. Gyllensten in 2006 is a slightly different setting shown: Norwegian Sami belongs to U5b as well as U5b1b1 to 56.8%, Finnish Sami with As mentioned earlier, there is often a lack of melanin in a Swedish persons iris, leading to light-colored eyes. Are Scandinavians and Nordics especially strong? http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/where_do.html (accessed February 26, 2005). [1] But it has so many exciting places that deciding which area to visit can be challenging. Gods & Goddesses 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?) Lets keep digging and see exactly how different ancient Scandinavians were from us modern Scandis. As recently as 1999, the Smi had not yet been placed on the language and gene map of Europe. As such, there was a larger proportion of dark-haired Vikings found in the study than there are dark-haired Scandinavians today, affirming that while they are largely associated with coming from the Scandinavian region, there was plenty of diversity from all over the known world within the people identifying as Viking. While the Finns speak Finnish and the Smi speak many different languages among themselves, all of these variants of human speech belong to the Finno-Ugric or Uralic language group. Darkening the areas around the eyes would also help against sunlight reflections at sea and on snow, so there are likely practical as well as cosmetic elements behind this custom. Still this does not answer the underlying question of where the Smi originally came from. Light eyes are common tho, but so are brown and hazel. Savontaus, Marja-Liisa. The most common light eye colors in Sweden include: According to an article by WorldAtlas, up to 78% of Swedes have blue eyes [2]. 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. In life Swedish people can generally act calm and reserved, seem a bit cold, like to keep things professional, prefer a well-planned approach, and believe maybe is a conflict-free way to say no. Thats a high amount, considering that only around 2% of the worlds population has blonde hair [7]. Old Nordic Symbols: Norse Runes & Viking Ornaments (Meanings & Examples). (Sanjantila), [7] Ive written articles aboutGermanic ties and ancestry in Vikings, as well as an article aboutthe origin of Vikings before they came to Scandinavia. Top Articles These individuals have a higher percentage of their head than other Scandinavians. Fashion When you couple this with the opportunity to spend time on athletic endeavors and have access to a protein-rich and generally plentiful diet it is easier to see why some Nordic people tend to generally do well in muscle competitions. Movies Lifestyle Vikings were often described and depicted with well-groomed and sometimes elaborate facial hair, ranging from full and long beards to more practical Viking-style mutton chops and mustaches. [4] Viking sculptures and engravings have been found with generally long hair and beard that was usually shaped, tied or braided in different ways in order to not be in the way (while in combat or working). 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