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Credit: Roar Paaske
Scandinavia - Nordic Countries
Scandinavian or Nordic?
The origin of the word “Scandinavia” arose in the early 18th century as a result of Danish and Swedish universities championing the shared history, mythology, arts, and culture of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
The base of the movement was Scania, also known as Skåne, the southernmost province of Sweden; this gave rise to the term “Scandinavia.”
When referencing the geographic region of Scandinavia, there are three countries: Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Greenland, which is a Danish territory, and the Faroe Islands, which is a self-governing part of Denmark, are also included in the list. If you’d like to include Finland and Iceland in that same context, use the word “Nordic'
Languages
The Scandinavian languages include Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic (and Old Norse), and Faroese. Like English and German, they belong to the group of languages called Germanic that share a linguistic ancestor and many everyday words.
Finnish language on the other hand belongs to the Baltic-Finnic branch of the Finno-Ugric language group, being most closely related to Estonian. Another member of the Finno-Ugric language group is Hungarian.
Most people up in the Nordics speak English very well but it is always nice to learn at least a few local expressions - like 'kiitos' (Finnish) or 'tack (Swedish)/takk (Norwegian)/tak (Danish)' which all mean 'thank you'.
Denmark
The most famous Danish word that has conquered the world must be 'hygge'. In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cosying up with a loved one for a movie – that’s hygge, too. And there's nothing more hygge than sitting around with friends and family, discussing the big and small things in life.
Not sure if Vikings shared or felt 'hygge'? The Vikings, or "Vikingr" in Old Norse, is the collective term used to describe the Scandinavian explorers, traders and warriors who raided, traded, explored and settled across large parts of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from around the eighth to the middle of the eleventh century.
The Viking rune stones at Jelling, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are inscribed by Harald Bluetooth, the first king of a united Denmark around 1000 years ago. HM The Queen of Denmark is descended from him and Denmark is filled with a rich array of royal monuments, buildings and treasures spanning a thousand years. From castles and fortresses, to royal art collections and the Crown Jewels, you can experience royal Denmark at many sites across the country.
Denmark is dotted with charming small towns where you can walk through centuries of Danish history. Each has a unique charm and special atmosphere, away from the bustle of everyday life. The 'father' of fairy tales Hans Christian Andersen was born in a tiny yellow house on a cobbled street in the centre of Odense in 1805. Today it’s one of the oldest poet museums in the world. Denmark also has seven UNESCO World Heritage sites and the great thing is that you can go on a true UNESCO hunt because in Denmark everything is always close by.
You most likely have heard of LEGO. LEGO® came into being around 1930, when a Danish carpenter from Billund in Jutland fell on hard times building houses. He supplemented his trade making wooden toys and was so successful that he was soon only making his wooden building blocks. He called the company LEGO®, a mix of the Danish words for 'to play' - 'at lege' and 'good' - 'godt'. It was the perfect name for a perfectly simple toy. The LEGO that we now know and love around the world was born! Legoland is a very popular destination for travellers of all ages.
Denmark has led the way in Scandinavian gourmet cuisine for over a decade so what better place than here to dive in face-first and experience delicious and elegant New Nordic cuisine? Denmark is Scandinavia's gourmet food powerhouse with a total of 39 Michelin Stars and 28 star-studded restaurants to choose from, everywhere from Aarhus to Copenhagen. For a small country, Denmark has an exceptional reputation for design and architecture as well. Danish design is world-renowned for its functionality, playfulness and minimalism.
Denmark may not be the biggest of countries, but its nature still packs a powerful punch. You can find everything from steep cliffs to deep-blue lakes and even a glimpse into space. Or if a more cultivated nature is your thing, the country is dotted with incredible parks and gardens. Did I mention bicycles? Practically everybody has a bike in Denmark, and Copenhagen has long been known as 'the city of bikes'. In recent years, heavy investments have been made to keep Copenhagen bicycle-friendly and as safe as possible by providing cycling paths along the major streets. In the surrounding areas, there are marked cycling routes leading through some of the green and scenic parts of the area.
Source: Visit Denmark
Norway
Norway is a great destination for anyone who loves outdoor activities and spending time in nature. The concept of friluftsliv – or “outdoor life” – is as Norwegian as cross-country skis and woollen sweaters.
The expression 'friluftsliv' was invented by the famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in the 1850s, who used the term to describe the value of spending time in remote locations for spiritual and physical wellbeing. But the concept of being in nature for purely recreational purposes has been part of Norwegian culture for centuries. Friluftsliv is an incorporated part of Norwegian national identity, and the love for the outdoors is reflected in all aspects of their lives. Using lousy weather as an excuse for staying indoors, is simply not an option in most Norwegian homes. If you happen to complain, you’ll likely hear the well-known quote: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!” (In Norwegian, it rhymes.)
And when you experience the natural beauty of Norway you understand why Norwegians love the outdoors so much. The glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls showcase raw, sublime power, while natural wonders such as the northern lights, the midnight sun, the fjords, and peaceful national parks offer serenity. Norway is famous particularly for its stunning fjords. The fjords are often described as “nature’s own work of art”, formed when the glaciers retreated and seawater flooded the U-shaped valleys. Think of Norway’s fjords as main roads with side streets and narrow back alleys – a bit like the canals of Venice on a much larger scale.
Norwegians also love their traditions and customs. In Norway, Constitution Day is huge. While many countries celebrate their national day with a military parade, Norway’s 17 May is more of a party for everyone, especially children. Before taking to the streets, many like to gather for a 17 May breakfast – often a pot luck with friends and neighbours – with freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and (for the grown-ups) champagne. Children’s parades then take place across the country, as marching bands lead processions through local communities. The biggest parades attract tens of thousands of people. The day is also an opportunity to show off one's 'bunad', Norway’s traditional costume worn by both men and women. Like a Scottish kilt, there are many variations, with colours and styles indicating where in Norway the owner’s ancestry lies.
The Viking legacy is strong in Norway, with many fascinating artefacts, museums, tours, and living villages throughout the country. The Norwegian Vikings were characterised by their courageous, fatalistic outlook, which made them born risk-takers. The raiding groups seem to have had an incredible ability to shrug off losses, whether in land battles or on dangerous sea expeditions. Although the number of deaths caused by war was sometimes shockingly high in relation to the total Viking population, this did not stymie their hunger for conquest and exploration, which carried on for around 250 years. The Vikings are mostly known for their relentless pillaging, and rightly so. At the same time, many of them lived peacefully as traders and farmers, and many expeditions were based on barter deals.
Source: Visit Norway
Sweden
When we think of Sweden two words come to mind: 'lagom' and 'fika'. 'Lagom' is a Swedish philosophy which roughly translates to “not too much, not too little.” Any lagom definition will describe this concept as being all about balance. The Swedish way of life champions the idea of only having what you need and nothing more.
'Fika', the delightful custom of enjoying a coffee and a treat with friends, is as Swedish as ABBA. So ingrained in the Swedish psyche is the custom that some companies add a clause to contracts stating that employees are entitled to fika breaks. A clever move, since a spot of fika can be therapeutic, promoting wellbeing and productivity. But it is not all about coffee and cinnamon buns, Sweden in recent decades has developed an exciting culinary scene that blends classic dishes with international influences, emphasising sustainability and locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
There is more to Swedish design than IKEA. The classic Swedish emphasis on functionality and reduced form in design has undergone a change, and today sophisticated colour schemes, a broad range of sustainable materials and conceptual ideas form a new diversity. In recent years collaborations between design producers and small-scale crafts industries has also established itself as an important aspect of contemporary Swedish design.
Sweden has hundreds of historic castles, palaces and stately homes, concentrated in the country’s southern third. Tour Stockholm’s massive Royal Palace, stroll through the beautiful gardens of lakeside Drottningholm Palace or go back in time at the turreted Renaissance castles of Gripsholm, Vadstena and Kalmar.
In Stockholm, you find the historic old city Gamla Stan (Old Town) with narrow streets and beautiful old houses many hundred years old. The city has enough museums, historic buildings and other attractions to keep you busy for weeks. but some of its greatest pleasures are the simplest ones, found in Stockholm’s vibrant neighbourhoods.
Swedes love nature – so much so that the right to enjoy it freely is enshrined in law. No matter where you are, it’s easy to lace up your hiking shoes and hit the trail, whether for an urban hike in Stockholm’s Royal National City Park, a day trip to a rural nature reserve or a multi-day trek on one of Sweden’s many long-distance hiking routes, found in every region of the country. An excellent public transportation network makes even remote trails accessible by bus, train or ferry.
Some 30,000 islands and skerries make up the scenic Stockholm archipelago. Year-round passenger ferries and speedier summer excursion boats operate to destinations throughout the region. One of the most ambitious construction projects in Swedish history, the Göta Canal connects the Baltic Sea with the country’s largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern, linking up with the Trollhättan Canal for a full coast-to-coast crossing, complete with 66 locks and two aqueducts.
The northern part of Sweden offers a wide range of things to do, regardless of season. During early summer, you can enjoy the unique Midnight Sun. In winter, the spectacular Northern Lights can be seen in Swedish Lapland and you can enjoy a variety winter activities. Northern Sweden is also home to the Sami, one of the world’s indigenous people.
Source: Visit Sweden
Iceland
Volcanic activity is a fact of life in Iceland. People have learned to live with both its drawbacks and considerable advantages, such as geothermal energy and a dramatic natural environment - and even entertainment. Iceland sits on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a 40.000 km long crack in the ocean floor caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Even today, the country is growing by about 2 cm per year, as it splits wider at the points where the two tectonic plates meet, and new magma fills up the gaps. Accordingly, the western part of Iceland belongs to the North American plate and the eastern region to the Eurasian plate, which means Iceland is split between two continents. Another key player in Iceland volcanism is a powerful magma plume that creates an upwelling of heat and magma in the mantle under the island and lifts Iceland's crust above sea level. On average, Iceland experiences a volcanic event every four years.
This same geological activity is also responsible for some of the most dramatic features of Icelandic nature. The mountainous landscapes, black lava fields, black sand beaches, geothermal pools and geysers, and even glaciers result from a continuous interplay between volcanic activity and the natural elements. All these unique natural features truly makes Iceland an outdoor enthusiast's paradise.
Icelanders have also reaped the benefits of vast geothermal energy resources - one of the cheapest and cleanest forms of energy in existence. Over 85% of housing in Iceland is heated by natural geothermal heat from hot springs common in most parts of Iceland. In addition, meltwater from glaciers provides the country with a potential source of hydroelectric power. All this clean energy has made Iceland one of the least polluted countries in the world. Ever since the earliest settlement, Icelanders have enjoyed bathing in geothermally heated warm water pools all year round and that is still a big part of the weekly or even daily routine for many Icelanders. The oldest man made geothermal pools in the country can be traced back to the 13th century, and one of them, Snorralaug is located in Reykholt, in the western part of Iceland.
Iceland has also emerged as one of Europe's most dynamic gastronomic destinations, full of exciting places to taste thrilling new recipes. Chefs create modern dishes with traditional ingredients, influenced by the philosophy of the New Nordic Cuisine, where freshness and local seasonal ingredients play a vital role.
Source: Visit Iceland