of the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland). Shopping I would say 5050, there has always been mosty people with brown hair in Sweden, the vikings did dye their hair blonde. But most have blue eyes, no And then again, Vikings loved to express their creative sides in artful and ornamental ways, and were known to have filed down their own teeth in likely attempts to look scarier (and cooler), as seen in archeological findings. The study of Y chromosomal polymorphisms also seems to support the theory of the Smis long isolation; however, it seems that they were not always living completely alone. Between 1-10% of the population of Scandinavia have red hair according to studies that have mapped out the so-called red hair genes. So many Swedes have light hair and eyes because its in their genetics. The significance of this rests with the fact that this mutation has only been found in six other samples. 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? So, if a person ever decides to visit Sweden, they should be prepared to see lots of blue eyes! The surgeons in Scandinavia can correct the issue and give you a more attractive and balanced face. The study of these Y chromosomal polymorphisms shows two major founding male lineages in not only the Smi, but the Finns as well. With the help of modern technology we have gotten a phenomenal insight into what the Vikings and Norse people might have looked like, and the unique diversity in the Viking bands who spread across Europe. Old Norse mythology is filled with fascinating symbolism, and the runic alphabets of Germanic Europe have told numerous tales of heroic deeds and tragic deaths over the years. Their eyes are light in many cases, including blue and green. In Norse mythology, the valkyries were responsible for bringing half the warriors who have fallen in battle to Valhalla, while the other half go to another famous Viking female figure; Freya, the goddess of fertility, love, beauty, and war. (Sajantila), [10] Vikings were known to use strong soaps made of ashes and animal fats, which had a high lye content that bleached their hair. Design Of course, there are Swedes with darker hair (like dark brown and black), but its not as common as in other nations. Language The consensus among historians and nerds alike is that tattoos were likely not common at all in the Norse world, since the sagas are fairly descriptive about the heroes and characters as a whole, and not one of them mentions tattoos on anyone. Music Old Nordic Symbols: Norse Runes & Viking Ornaments (Meanings & Examples). This means that the Smi could very well have been almost completely isolated for several thousands of years. 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?) Ive compared them thoroughly in different categories and analyzed what online critics on IMDb and other sites think, in order to answer which show is the best of the three. Life And the eyes are also one of the most important factors of physical attraction. In this article, Ill use the terms interchangeably, because although the term Viking stems from the Old Norse word for pirate, it gradually came to encompass all Norse people who embarked upon elaborate naval expeditions from Scandinavia during the Viking Age. Of course, thats not to say there arent many Swedes with brown eyes. In very recent studies, some overwhelming new evidence has challenged the myth of the Finns and the Smi as having a strictly Asian origin. Vikings were mostly blond (with Danes specifically being mostly red-haired) according to skeletal DNA studies, but identifying as Viking wasnt limited to people with Scandinavian ancestry (vikingr just means pirate after all). https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/27702690.pdf, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2688-8, https://books.google.se/books/about/The_Annals_of_Fulda.html, https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-04-18-highs-and-lows-englishman%E2%80%99s-average-height-over-2000-years-0, https://www.arkeologi.uu.se/Research/Projects/viking-phenomenon/, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270795692_St_Johns_College_Oxford_St_Brices_Day_Massacre_Chapter_3_A_Late_Saxon_Mass_Grave_The_Human_Bone, https://books.google.se/books?id=E26YDwAAQBAJ, https://books.google.se/books?id=XZ4ZDAAAQBAJ, https://historiska.se/upptack-historien/artikel/det-hangde-pa-haret/, https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vast/modetrendens-blodiga-historia, https://arkeologerna.com/bloggar/kyrkoarkeologi/okand-kyrkogard-hittad-i-vreta-kloster/, https://varldenshistoria.se/civilisationer/vikingar/vikingar-slaktades-och-slangdes-i-massgrav, http://pediatrisk-endokrinologi.no/2008/1/Werner_2008_1.pdf, https://forskning.ku.dk/soeg/result/?pure=da/persons/26558, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228627175_European_hair_and_eye_color_A_case_of_frequency-dependent_sexual_selection, https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/the-people/appearance/, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-13064786. 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. She proffers it to her master, who washes his hands and face in it, as well as his hair. http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/geeneng.html (accessed February 26, 2005). 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? [16]. 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. The sagas often tell tales of exceptional strength, which is supported by several forms of archaeological evidence. So it does appear that the Smi experienced a period of isolation and at some point in time the Finns seem to be included in this isolation. Language A young serving girl comes every morning with breakfast and with it a great basin of water. It merely appears this way due to the many generations that the Europeans have been farming, an activity that has caused physical features, such as high cheekbones that allow for bigger masseter muscles to chew tougher food, to reduce in size. If this is true, they would have been separated from other Europeans, who traveled back south during this time. [4] Science Comparisons Nevertheless, since many light-featured Swedes have children together, the same traits are passed down through generations. 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. Some Swedes have dark hair, but its more common for them to have lighter hair. But for Ibn Fadlan, the Rus Viking way of washing oneself every day wasnt really deemed satisfactory, as he wrote the following in a section titled Disgusting habits: Every day without fail they wash their faces and their heads with the dirtiest and filthiest water there could be. It is thought that at one point in time that this group may have ranged as far as northern Germany up through Scandinavia. May 2000. Fika There has been a discovery of a Smi motif, which is a group of three specific mutations found in 1/3 of the Smi people. (Yli-Kuha), [3] Sweden is a beautiful country that attracts many tourists and ex-pats each year. Savontaus, Marja-Liisa. He ultimately returned to his native Malm with his love, where they now have 3 Swedish-American boys eager to explore the world. Read More About Modern-Day Nordic Traits. Curious how Vikings actually looked like? Korean people often have wide, open eyes. However, if someone has never been there before or doesnt know much about it, they might wonder what Swedish people look like. Peter Frost also supports this in his study titled European hair and eye color; finding that at least 60% of Scandinavian people have a light head of hair, and at least 50% have light eyes. A study comparing the facial profile of young adult Swedes and Danes found that the Scandinavians have slightly higher cheekbones than the Danish population. That particular haircut has just never been described or documented in any way as far as we know. Denmark 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! When adding genetic evidence to the Baltic-Finnish and the Smi language relationship, it appears that the two groups did descend from one single genetic and linguistic population, with the Finns diverging because of Baltic and Germanic agricultural influences; however, because of the distinctness between the two groups, the common ancestor may have divided as long ago as 23,000 BP and then reunited at around 8,500 BP. Though differences in size are generally bigger between men and women than between different ethnicities. [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. 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. It should be added that those athletes are extreme outliers, and not at all representative of the general Nordic population. Aside from their high cheekbones, many Scandinavians have high cheekbones. They also often have a straight nose but a hump at the noses bridge. 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. Swedes are not only known for having light eyes and pale skin but also for their fair hair. Norse Scandinavian countries have historically been no nonsense type countries throughout history. The lack of empathy may not win you popularity contests but it certainly is a valuable trait in a competitive career field. Average Height in the Nordics (Data & Graphs), The average height of both males and females in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland) are all among the tallest 20 countries in the world (or top 10%), but why is that? The average linear dimensions were greater in males than in females, although both groups had slightly higher cheekbones. Hello, I am interested in this claim here: It is believed that Vikings had more gender-neutral facial features than Scandinavians today, meaning males and females had more similar characteristics. 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. Other things we can read about in the sagas and see on artifacts left behind for us to marvel at. Iceland 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. Its a matter of perspective, in other words, but what we do know specifically is that Vikings washed themselves every morning, and even had one dedicated day (Laugardagur / Lrdag / Saturday) to get thoroughly clean. What is interesting here is that this particular hairstyle was so associated with the Vikings/Normans that this English man felt shame that his brothers would wear his hair like that. However, more recent work in genetics shows there is a relation among the Smi that comes from more than just sharing a lifestyle. Mythology As weve established, most Nordic people today have brightly colored eyes, with some areas reaching up to 80% of the population (P. Frost 2006). The dating site isnt active in Iceland so the Icelanders were not part of the survey. The average height of Swedes is slightly higher than the average height of Americans, both male and female. Usenet newsgroup. [10] This is a result of a founding effect or a bottleneck effect. 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). Chinese people have rounder eyes, while Japanese people usually have almond-shaped eyes. According to Swedish scientific magazine Illustrerad Vetenskap, this type of microevolution developed as a response to the cold and snowy climate in the Arctic region, as the fatty fold isolates against freezing temperatures and shields the bright reflection of the snow somewhat. WebSome of the familiar Scandinavian personality traits include: reticence, a highly skeptical personality, general mistrust of strangers, cautious behavior, somewhat reserved WebThey have a pronounced nose, high cheekbones, and slim lips. While there are some that feature darker Mongoloid-like characteristics, there are others who display very light colored pigments in their skin and hair. Your email address will not be published. Streaming Tips Genes and Languages in Europe: An Analysis of Mitochondrial Lineages. 1995. So there is at least something to the myth from a North American perspective (beauty standards differ around the world, after all). Although blond hair and eyes are recessive genes, Swedes are more likely to receive these genes because they procreate with one another. [8] 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. DNA analysis of specimens from this period shows that people with this cultures distinctive facial features have dark hair, a mix of light and dark skin, and blue eyes. 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). Soft features mean the face is less angular and has fewer harsh lines (like sharp jaw bones and chin definition). As a result, much of the Swedish population has similar light features. So other than the color of the eyes, lets look at which other eye characteristics are unique or interesting in the Scandinavian region. The darker the brown, the more attractive the person. published in The American Journal Of Human Genetics. Scandinavia before the bronze age had the most genetically diverse population in Europe, with the original darker skinned people being present much longer in Scandinavia compared to the rest of Europe (where the light-skinned farmers pushed away the dark-skinned hunters almost entirely). Curious how modern-day Scandinavians look compared to their Viking ancestors? Thank you for visiting Scandinavia Facts. 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. Can you tell me which of the articles that refers to and on which page I can find that claim? The Nordic people as a whole really like the Swedes and Norwegians. 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?) 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. But, it turns out there are some accurate depictions out there too, so there is definitely hope if youd like to find (or create) a historically accurate Viking hairstyle in modern times. They built powerful cultures and countries. General Smi Website. Who is this group of people? Blonde hair is highly prized in many parts of the world, but it is merely an everyday thing in Sweden. Some Swedes have dark eyes (like brown), but its more common for people in the country to have blue and other lighter-colored eyes. 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. She goes on passing the basin round from one to another until she has taken it to all the men in the house in turn. Graphs We exists to inform people about the people, culture, and history of Northern Europe. The study further reinforces this by showing how the Viking population was very diverse compared to neighboring cultures and peoples, especially in popular trade spots such as Gotland, land, and Zealand. [2] Pale pink skin often with moles, blue eyes, thin to rounded lips, high not that sculptured cheekbones, a bit fat on cheeks(not visable chin/cheek m Its no so hard to understand Ibn Fadlans disgust, when you factor in that according to muslim faith one has to wash in running water or water poured from a bowl (and not reused). Karl, Clothes Yli-Kuha, Kari. After the divergence of the Finns from the Smi, the Smi tended to have offspring within their own group; however, the influence from the Baltic and Germanic people caused the Finns to intermix with other Indo-Europeans, making them more genetically similar to the Europeans than the Smi are. Winter, Hang some Old Norse mythology on your walls. (Examples), https://nordicperspective.com/history/vikings/how-vikings-actually-looked-complete-guide#index2, Northern Europeans Average (R Steckel 2004), Anglo-Saxons, England (G Galofr-Vil 2017), Global Average (based on archeological findings), Romans 500 BCE500CE, Italy (G Kron 2005). Do Scandinavians have a lot of body hair? Still, genealogists from Stockholm university believe modern Swedes are most closely related to the hunter-gatherers from the so-called Pitted Ware culture when it comes to physical appearance. Ive noticed that surgeons in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark all offer surgery to counteract this condition in case it disrupts your eyesight, or as an elective procedure for cosmetic reasons, and this procedure isnt as commonly seen in other areas of the world. 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