Scandinavia refers to a group of three countries in Northern Europe; Norway, Sweden, and Denmark because of their shared cultural and historical endowments. Besides their wealthy travel opportunities and unique heritage, the Scandinavian countries are invariably categorized among the happiest places worldwide. Here are some incredible facts about the Scandinavian culture.
Scandinavia consists of three countries
The Scandinavia countries form a sub-region of Northern Europe that borders Finland and Russia to the East. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are the three countries that makeup Scandinavia. In most cases, many people use other terms like Nordic and northern Europe to refer to Scandinavia. However, when referring to the Nordic region, you have to include Iceland and Finland. Sometimes Faroe Islands, Aland, and Greenland get in the mix due to their Nordic Council cooperation participation.
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Still, the countries forming Scandinavia remain to be three. If you visit any of the three countries in Scandinavia, you can request a reliable writing service to do your assignment at an affordable price. The three countries, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, used to have economic and international affairs or policies controlled by a single monarch through the Kalmar union from 1397 to 1523.
First, Norway has a population of about 5.3 million people who mostly have high living standards due to the country’s economic stability from petroleum and energy resources, shipping, and fishing, which are major exports of the country. They are also green coffee exporters if you were ever looking to buy coffee bags in bulk. Second, Sweden shares the Scandinavian peninsula with Norway and has a population approximated at 10 million people. Third, Denmark is the smallest of the three countries, and it occupies the Jutland peninsula and has about 5.8 million people.
Football is a summer sport
In the Scandinavian countries, football, like other sporting activities, is related to the countries’ democracy, social, and gender equality virtues while integrating youths from various groups, including immigrants. According to Scandinavian culture facts, football is a sport-for-all activity. There has been increasing professionalization of the sport in recent decades, making it a commercial and voluntary profession for all people.
The foundation of national football associations in the three countries can date back to 1889, 1902, and 1904 in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, respectively. Currently, there are 124 licensed men’s professional football teams in the three countries. Most football teams play their soccer seasons in Scandinavia during the summer since the countries experience extreme cold conditions. Therefore, the best season to have the most sporting activities is in the summer when the freezing conditions reduce.
Women’s football has been played in Norway as early as 1928. The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) first officially recognised women’s football in 1976 and the first national team was established two years later. (Editor’s note).
The term ‘Scandinavia’ originated in the 18th century
The name behind the three countries has an exciting history that is worth exploring. The term Scandinavia came into existence in the early years of the 18th century. The name resulted from universities in Denmark and Sweden advocating for shared cultural heritage, history, social and moral virtues of the Scandinavia countries.
The movement started in Scania (Skåne) province in southern Sweden, which gave rise to Scandinavia’s name. It is vital to comment that Norway and Denmark operated under one kingdom until 1814. The years after 1814 saw Norway and Sweden under one domain until 1905 when Norway became an independent country.
Reliable writing services like do your essay about Scandinavians did for me can make history faster. With such connections between the three countries, and ‘Scania’ and ‘Scandinavia’ having matching etymology, the three nations have a common reference title. Scandinavia is a cultural name that has put the countries intertwined along the lines of traditions, holidays, literature, and many more virtues.
The region is coffee-obsessed
If you visit a Scandinavian country now, you will mostly see coffee joints; coffee is prevalent among Scandinavians. According to Stieg Larsson, people in those three countries drink a lot of coffee than any other beverage. The cafeteria/restaurants and any other hospitality destinations prioritize offering a cup of coffee to their visitors.
Scandinavia facts show that if you visit any household, a coffee cup will mostly form part of the invitation. In the culture of Scandinavia countries, ‘coffee parties’ are very famous. The Swedes usually call their coffee breaks ‘fika.’ Still, they drink coffee in a real sense, social gatherings where people drink a lot of coffee with cake.
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Although Scandinavia’s facts show the region is far from the coffee belt, the three Nordic countries are significant importers and consumers of coffee beans. In the 19th century, Scandinavian countries imposed high taxes on alcohol production, and people could not afford the cost; therefore, Scandinavians found an occupying alternative in coffee. In the process, religion played a very vital factor in popularizing coffee in Scandinavia by offering coffee drinks and cakes after service.
All three countries use the Nordic cross
There is something unique in Scandinavian countries flags, the Nordic cross; it is the main symbol of the Nordic region. As a fact, all Nordic countries except Greenland, their flags have the symbolic Nordic cross. The Nordic cross was first used on banners during the war as a symbol of Christianity. According to Scandinavian history facts, the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, the kingdom adopted a yellow flag with a red cross. In many wars, Kalmar Union troops used to hoist the flag as their symbol of unity.
But since every country gained independence, there are different flags which came in place, while retaining the cross on their flags. First, Denmark’s flag consists of a white cross and red body, which the country adopted in 1854, though there is a long history behind it. Second, the Swedish flag, on the other hand, features a blue body with a yellow or gold cross, and the country adopted it in 1906. Lastly, the Norwegian flag consists of a white-outlined blue cross and red body. They embraced it officially in 1899 after the resolution of the Norway-Sweden union. There are Nordic flag days. They refer to ‘constitution’ days in each of the three countries: 17th May, 5th June, and 6th June in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.
Scandinavians Understand each other
As the three countries in Scandinavia, there are also Scandinavian languages, which people around the region can use and mutually understand each other. The languages include Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. Beyond the three languages, English is very vital in Scandinavian life. Although the local languages have a close connection, formal meetings use the English language as communication mode. English is becoming popular as students in Scandinavia have been learning the language at an early age.
Related: Language of the Vikings
Scandinavia is a region with cultural diversity in the three countries; Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Scandinavians have a great connection through sporting activities, history, culture, language, and many other life aspects. The Nordic cross is symbolic in all Scandinavian countries, and you will find it in their flags. Remember, Scandinavians drink so much coffee.
Best Facts About Scandinavian Culture, is written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Kenny Gill. Kenny is a senior advisor and writer in the department of customessayorder.com. He is familiar with corporate events, sports, education. He is responsible for supporting internal communications needs for specific business functions, as well as writing, creating and editing various quality content. He performs a leading role in developing and creating good content, chiefly for different types of audience. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram
Additional image credits:
Feature image (on top): Hamarøy, Norway – photo by Kym Ellis on Unsplash
Football: Photo by Arseny Togulev on Unsplash
Coffee: Photo by Mike Kenneally on Unsplash