Scandinavian region. Scandinavia - Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland: visa, attractions, language, currency, time difference, summer and winter holidays, fishing, what to bring. What to bring from Denmark
Many people associate Scandinavia with fairy tales, pure nature, ski resorts, chocolate. However, this concept contains much more meaning and can give travelers much more than just walking.
What is Scandinavia
Geographically, Scandinavia is a region consisting of four countries. All these countries belong to Northern Europe. They are connected not only geographically, but have a similar ethnic culture and similar languages.
Scandinavia
Scandinavian countries and their capitals. Location on the world map
Scandinavia includes Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.
Geographically, Scandinavia extends beyond the Arctic Circle, however, the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current, warms this area and softens the weather. It is thanks to this warm current that the Scandinavian mountains have an alpine tundra climate. Nature will delight travelers with lakes and ancient glaciers.
Scandinavia covers the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Jutland Peninsula and the adjacent islands of Gotland, Zealand and others.
Scandinavian Peninsula on the world map – located in the northwestern part of Europe
Sometimes Scandinavia is considered in a broader concept, including Finland and the North Atlantic islands, thereby bringing together the concepts of Scandinavia and the “Northern European Countries”. But in this case it is more correct to use the term Fennoscandia rather than Scandinavia.
Language
The languages of the countries belonging to Scandinavia are related to each other and are very similar. Most of the indigenous population consists of the ancestors of emigrant Germanic tribes who settled in what is now Denmark.
Opinions vary about which countries belong to Scandinavia. Some scientists include Denmark, Norway and Sweden in this group. However, other sources join this group in Finland and Iceland. Such a union is called the Nordic countries.
Term Scandinavia
The term itself appeared relatively recently, just a couple of hundred years ago. It was at that time, historians believe, that the idea was accepted that these countries had one common heritage.
The term is used by politicians, scientists and, of course, tour operators to designate Scandinavia and where it is located on the world map. Due to the fact that Scandinavia is spread over a fairly large area, its climate is very diverse. Tourists can find mountains, valleys and archipelagos in Scandinavia. In the east of this territory you can find lakes and hills, and in the south there are lowlands and river valleys. In the west and north you can enjoy mountainous terrain.
Scandinavia
The climate is completely different both in the north and in the west. It changes in two directions. If in the western part of Scandinavia the climate can be called maritime, then in the center the climate takes on a more continental character. In the north you can find a subarctic climate.
Thus, on west coast tourists will experience cool summers and warm winter, in the center of Scandinavia there will be warm summers and cold winters, while in the north there is practically no summer.
Sights of Scandinavia
Chernan Tower
This building is located in the Swedish city of Helsingborg and is its symbol. The city has a very rich and interesting history; the oldest mention of this city was found in the records of the first hundred of the second millennium. Literally translated, the name of the tower means core. The structure consists of brick, the volume of this tower is amazing: six tens of meters. The height of this ancient structure is more than eleven floors. In the tenth century, on the site of this tower there was a wooden structure, and already in the fifteenth century a stone tower was built.
Chernan Tower
Bunde Palace
The second place worth traveling for is also in Sweden. Bunde Palace is a small building with a laconic design. The light-colored walls and the contrasting roof are an indicator of conciseness and good taste. Now it serves to make fair decisions, in other words, this is the building of the Supreme Court of Sweden. The organization located in this building is the highest authority in the consideration of civil and criminal cases. The building itself appeared in the eighteenth century. It was officially erected in 1989. It was Gustav III, the ruler of Sweden, who founded the Supreme Court.
Bunde Palace
Previously it consisted of twelve judges. Nobles and ordinary citizens received the same number of positions. The king could vote last and could vote for two. In the nineteenth century, they increased the required number of judges to sixteen and slightly changed the requirements for them, namely now judges had to have a certain rank. It was in this building that a rather big event for the modern world took place. At the very beginning of this century, a woman was chosen as chairman.
Bunde Palace
Whirlpool Saltstraumen
The character of this place is natural, not made by man. Essentially, this attraction is a strong tidal current. What is attractive about him? This current is recognized by humanity as the strongest on the planet. In order to see the attraction, you need to come to the town of Bude, near which this natural phenomenon appeared. An unusual flow can be observed every few hours. The spectacle itself is mesmerizing: four hundred million cubic meters of water pick up speed up to four tens of kilometers per hour and flow through the strait. The latter cannot be called wide; its size is only one and a half hundred meters.
Whirlpool Saltstraumen
The whirlpools are simply huge: more than a dozen meters in diameter and half that size in depth. The strait connects the Sherstadfjord and Saltenfjord with the sea. It’s worth coming to this area not only for this amazing phenomenon; in this part of Norway you can go fishing; this area has long been famous for its skillful hunters who fished precisely in these troubled waters. In addition, water tourism is very developed here. Diving and surfing enthusiasts flock here. If you are interested in an interesting and educational holiday- you need to go here.
Whirlpool Saltstraumen
This attraction is located in the city of Gothenburg. What is a plus is that this city is not very popular with tourists, so you can not expect a lot of crowds and relax quietly. The Swedish East India Company appeared in the eighteenth century. It was created in order to establish trade with eastern countries using the sea. Now the East India Company building houses museums. During its time, this trading company allowed it to quickly develop this city. With the help of her services, very rare and expensive goods were brought to the city eastern countries, namely India and China.
House of the East India Trading Company
The city was filled with porcelain, tea, and spices. These goods were sold mainly at auctions, which made it possible to sell them for more high price. This attraction was not always owned by this company. In the eighteenth century the building served as offices. Thanks to its influence, the East India Company became an undisputed monopolist among similar companies. Now the building houses two museums: archaeological and historical. The museums themselves began to function in the eighties of the twentieth century.
This question comes up quite often in discussions. In fact, there is not such a simple answer to this question. The answer to what Scandinavia is varies depending on the context of the question and who you ask. If we talk about geography, culture or language, then the options can be completely different. If you add the word “Nordic” to everything else, things take on an even more incomprehensible picture. Some use the words "Nordic" and "Scandinavian" interchangeably, while others assign a specific meaning to each word.
Naturally, I see that not everyone agrees with the definitions and concept of Scandinavia, so I have collected various terms and the aspects in which they are used to try to make sense of this chaos.
And finally understand what kind of Scandinavia this is?
What does the word "Scandinavia" mean?
The term "Scandinavia" arose in the early 18th century as a result of Danish and Swedish universities beginning to champion the shared history, mythology, art and culture of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Let me remind you that until 1814, Sweden and Norway were actually united into one kingdom. Scania is a historical region in southern Sweden, consisting of the three former Danish provinces of Skåne, Halland and Blekinge, approximately coinciding with the three modern counties of Skåne, Halland and Blekinge. Until 1658, Scania was part of Denmark under the name of the Eastern Provinces. The island of Bornholm, then transferred to Sweden, but later returned to Denmark, is also sometimes included in Scania. This is what ultimately gave rise to the term “Scandinavia”.
Scandinavian geography
Let's start with something simple. Scandinavia is geographically limited to three countries: Denmark, Sweden and Norway (commonly, the Scandinavian Peninsula and adjacent islands). Greenland (belongs to Denmark), and Faroe islands(self-governing part of Denmark) are also included in this list.
Finland and Iceland are not part of Scandinavia geographically.
Scandinavian language
If you've ever studied comparative linguistics, you've probably heard of the North Germanic languages. They belong to the branch of Germanic languages, a subgroup of Indo-European languages. North Germanic languages include Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Faroese and Icelandic.
So what language is spoken in Scandinavia? The term "Scandinavian languages" refers exclusively to three languages that are mutually understood (in theory) by native speakers of each language, namely Danish, Swedish and Norwegian.
Finnish is part of the Uralic language family, which also includes Estonian and Hungarian. Swedish is one of the official languages of Finland, and Swedish-speaking Finns make up 5% of the population. This dialect is called Finnish Swedish (suomenruotsi).
Scandinavian culture
This is probably the most widely used context for conversations about Scandinavia, and also the least understood. When we refer to Scandinavian culture, what we are most referring to is the shared history, traditions, literature and design. As Scandinavian design has become popular throughout the world, the term is often used when talking about the minimalist design traditions of mid-century modern.
Because the histories and traditions of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland are so intertwined, this group of five countries is often called culturally Scandinavian. Political systems In all these countries, especially the device models are similar, but not identical. When we talk about the “Nordic” or “Scandinavian” model of society, we usually mean all five countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway).
The history of Finnish design and architecture is closely linked and intertwined with the culture of other regions of Scandinavia, and it would be a mistake to exclude Finland from this list (for example, an architect such as Alvar Aalto) when discussing Scandinavian design. It is therefore considered reasonable to include both Iceland and Finland in discussions of Scandinavia in the context of a cultural region. It would probably be more logical to refer to “Nordic culture.”
Additional questions on the topic
Is Finland part of Scandinavia?
It depends on political and geographical attitudes. Finland is part of the Nordic countries, but does not belong to the Scandinavian region. From a linguistic point of view, Finland is classified in a special category, since the official language of the majority of the population is not related to the Scandinavian languages. However, there is significant use of Scandinavian (particularly Swedish) languages in Finland, with Swedish being the official language.
Culturally, Finland can certainly be considered Scandinavia. From history, social patterns to design traditions, Finland is closely linked to other Scandinavian countries. In terms of design, famous Finnish brands such as Artek, Marimekko and Friends of Industry fall into the Scandinavian design heritage.
Is Iceland part of Scandinavia?
Iceland is not included in Scandinavia when discussing politics and geography. However, Iceland is part of Northern Europe. From a linguistic point of view, Icelandic belongs to the North Germanic subgroup of languages and is the closest to the Old Norse language, so native speakers of Icelandic can easily read the Old Norse sagas in the original.
Are the Faroe Islands part of Scandinavia?
Definitely yes! The Faroe Islands are an autonomous region, but it belongs to Denmark, so by any definition it is considered part of Scandinavia. However, Faroese culture and language can be considered separate from Scandinavian culture and language. But in any case, the Faroese language belongs to the linguistic group of North Germanic languages. So yes twice.
What does the word "Nordic" mean?
Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, a proponent of pan-Scandinavianism, wrote a poem in 1839, “I am a Scandinavian,” he noted that he wanted to convey “the beauty of the northern spirit.” In fact, the words “Scandinavian” and “Nordic” were synonymous.
The word "Nordic" can be used to refer to the geography and politics of the Nordic region, which includes: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland.
Let me briefly summarize what was written above.
In a specific geographic or political context, "Scandinavia" refers to the region that includes Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. If we include Finland and Iceland in the same context, it is better to use the word “Nordic”.
Where is Scandinavia?
Scandinavia is a historical and cultural region in Northern Europe, characterized by a common ethnocultural North Germanic heritage with the closely related North Germanic languages. The term "Scandinavia" includes three kingdoms - Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The outlying Norwegian islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen, as well as Greenland and the Danish overseas territory, are not usually considered part of Scandinavia. However, the Faroe Islands, Danish Overseas Territory, Iceland, Finland and Finnish autonomous region The Åland Islands, due to their historical connections with Scandinavian countries, peoples and languages, are sometimes included as part of Scandinavia.
In a geographical sense, the concept of Scandinavia is synonymous with the concept of the Scandinavian Peninsula.The name Scandinavia originally vaguely referred to the former Danish, now Swedish region of Scania.The terms "Scandinavia" and "Scandinavian" were coined by the early linguistic and cultural Scandinavian movement, and came into use in the late 18th century, referring to Denmark, Norway, Sweden and their Germanic peoples, and uniting their languages and cultures.
The majority of Scandinavia's population is descended from northern Germanic tribes who originally inhabited southern Scandinavia and spoke a Germanic language that later evolved into Old Norse.Icelanders and Faroese are descended from Norwegian tribes, so they are often considered Scandinavians. Finland is mainly populated by Finns with a significant Swedish-speaking minority. NA small number of Sami people live in the far north of Scandinavia.
Danish, Norwegian and Swedish form a dialect continuum and are known as the Scandinavian languages and are mutually intelligible.Faroese and Icelandic, sometimes called the island Scandinavian languages, are similar to the continental Scandinavian languages, only to some extent.The Finnish and Meänkiel languages (also Tornedal Finnish) are closely related to each other, but are far from the Sami languages and have absolutely no relation to the Scandinavian languages. In addition to the languages listed, German, Yiddish and Romani are recognized minority languages in Scandinavia.
The southern and most densely populated areas of Scandinavia have a temperate climate. Regionextends north of the Arctic Circle, but has a relatively temperate climate for its latitude due to the Gulf Stream.Most of the Scandinavian mountains have an alpine tundra climate.The legacy of the last ice age, which ended about ten thousand years ago, are lakes and moraines (a geological body formed by the collapse of a glacier).
Scandinavia is
The use of the name "Scandinavia" as a general term for the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden began only recently. According to some historians, it was adopted and introduced in the eighteenth century, when ideas about a common heritage began to emerge and develop in the early literary and linguistic social movement. Until this time, the term Scandinavia was familiar mainly from the writings of the classical scholar Pliny the Elder and was used for Scania and the southern region of the peninsula.
As a political term, "Scandinavia" was first used by students who agitated for pan-Scandinavianism in the 1830s.Popular use of the term in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, as a unifying concept, originated in the 19th century with Hans Christian Andersen's poem "I Am a Scandinavian". After his visit to Sweden, Andersen became a supporter of early political Scandinavianism. In a letter describing a poem to a friend, it was said: “Suddenly I realized how connected the Swedes, Danes and Norwegians are and with this feeling, after my return, I immediately wrote a poem: “We are one people, we are called Scandinavians!” "
Finland as part of Scandinavia
The clearest example of the use of the term "Scandinavia" as a political and social construct is the unique position of Finland, based largely on the fact that Finland has been part of the Swedish kingdom for hundreds of years, thus much of the world associates Finland with all of Scandinavia.However, the creation of a Finnish identity is unique in the region in that it was shaped by the Swedish and Russian models of empire, as described by the editors of the Finnish journal Yearbook of Political Thought at the University of Jyväskylä.
A term is often defined according to the conventions of cultures that claim the term in their own usage. When the speakerwants to explicitly combine Finland with Scandinavia, the geographical terms in English Fenno-Scandinavia or Fennoscandia are sometimes used, although such terms are unlikely to be used at all in Scandinavia itself. More precisely, and without any dispute, the term Finland is part of the broader term "Nordic countries".
Tourism in Scandinavia
Various Nordic advertising agencies in the United States, such as the American-Scandinavian Foundation, founded in 1910 by Danish American industrialist Niels Poulsen, serve to promote market and tourism interests in the region.Today, five Nordic heads of state serve as patrons of the organization and according to an official statement, the organization's mission is to "promote the Nordic region as a whole while enhancing the attractiveness of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in New York and the United States."The official tourist boards of Scandinavia sometimes work under the same roof as the Nordic Tourist Board.The cooperation was introduced for the Asian market in 1986, towhen the Swedish national tourism board joined the Danish National Tourist Board to coordinate intergovernmental promotion of the two countries. The Norwegian government joined a year later. All five Nordic governments are involved in joint promotional activities in the United States through the North American Nordic Tourism Board.
Scandinavian countries
Although the term "Scandinavia" is usually used for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the term "Scandinavian countries" is also used for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, including their adjacent territories (Greenland, Faroe Islands and Åland Islands), i.e.Thus, Scandinavia can be considered part of the Nordic countries.Additionally, the term "Fennoscandia" refers to Scandinavia, Finland and Karelia, excluding Denmark and the overseas territories.However, the use of this term is limited to geology when referring to the Fennoscandian Shield (Baltic Shield).
In addition to mainland Scandinavian countries:
- Denmark (Constitutional Monarchy with Parliamentary System)
- Norway (Constitutional Monarchy with Parliamentary System)
- Sweden (Formal Monarchy with Parliamentary System)
The Scandinavian countries also consist of:
- Finland (Parliamentary Republic)
- Iceland (Parliamentary Republic)
- Åland Islands (autonomous region of Finland since 1920)
- Faroe Islands (autonomous, self-governing country within the Danish kingdom since 1948)
- Greenland (autonomous, self-governing country in the Kingdom of Denmark since 1979)
- Svalbard, which is under the sovereignty of Norway, is not considered part of Scandinavia as a cultural and historical region, but is part of the Kingdom of Norway (since 1925) and is part of the Scandinavian countries.
Although Estonia is considered one of the Baltic countries, it applied for membership in the Nordic Council, citing its cultural heritage and close linguistic ties with Finland, as well as historical ties with Denmark and Sweden.This is similar to the situation with Finland in the 1920s, which was considered one of the Baltic states. After emerging from Russian domination along with other countries under similar circumstances. WhileFinnish and Estonian are Finnish languages, Latvian and Lithuanian are Baltic languages.
It should be noted that the term "Scandinavia" traditionally refers to the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. There is a certain ambiguity regarding the ethnic aspect of the concept in the modern era, sincethe term also includes members of minorities, such as the Sami and Mean peoples, in a political and to some extent cultural sense, who are citizens of Scandinavian countries and speak Scandinavian languages as their first or second language. However, "Scandinavia" is still considered an ethnic term for most of the Germanic peoples of Scandinavia, and therefore the inclusion of Sami and Finnish peoples can be seen as controversial in relation to these groups.
Origin of the name Scandinavia
The origins of the names Scandinavia and Scania (the southernmost province of Sweden) are considered to be the same.Both terms go back to the Proto-Germanic compound Skaðin-awjō, which appears later in Old English as Scedenig and in Old Norse as Skáney.The earliest identified source for the name Scandinavia is the Natural Histories, compiled around 77 AD. e. Pliny the Elder.
Various references to the region can also be found in Piteis, Pomponius Mela, Tacitus, Ptolemy, Procopius and Jordanes, usually under the title Scandza.The name used by Pliny is believed to be of West Germanic origin, originally meaning Scania.According to some scholars, the Germanic root was transformed into Skaðan (Skaidan), meaning "danger" or "damage" (English scathing, German Schaden, Dutch schade).The second part of the name has been reconstructed as awjō, meaning "land on water" or "island".The name "Scandinavia" would then mean "dangerous island", which refers to treacherous sandy shores, surrounding Scania.
The Old Norse goddess name Skaði, along with Sca(n)dinavia and Skáney, may be related to Gothic skadus, Old English sceadu, Old Saxon scado and Old German scato, meaning "shadow".Scholar John McKinnell suggests that the origin of the name is related to the goddess Skadi, and that she may once have been the personification of the geographical region of Scandinavia or associated with the underworld.
Descriptions of Scadinavia
Pliny's descriptions of Scatinavia and the surrounding area are not always easy to decipher.According to him, there were 23 islands and the "most famous" island of the region, Scatinavia, of unknown size, wherelived the Gillevions.The belief that Scandinavia was an island was common among classical authors in the first century and dominated classical texts for subsequent centuries.
Pliny describes Scatinavia as the territory in which it is located Mountain chain called Saevo, which extends to a large cape called Kimbri (Kimbrorum) and ends in a bay called Codanus Sinus. It is here, in this abyss, that you can find the island of Scatinavia.Geographical features have been identified in various ways;According to some scholars, "Saevo" is considered to be the mountainous Norwegian coast at the entrance to the Skagerrak, and the Cimbrian Peninsula is considered to be Skagen, the northern tip of Jutland, the only mainland part of Denmark.As described, Saevo and Scatinavia could also be the same place.
Pliny mentions Scandinavia again in Book VIII in his description of an animal native to the island of Scandinavia called the ahl. The animal grazes, has a large upper lip and some mythical attributes.
The name "Scandia", later used as a synonym for Scandinavia, also appears in Pliny's Natural Histories, but is used for a group of northern European islands which he refers to as lands north of Britain.Thus, "Scandia" does not appear to refer to the island of Scadinavia in Pliny's text.The idea that "Scadinavia" may have been one of the islands of "Scandia" was introduced by Ptolemy (c. 90 - 168 BC), a mathematician, geographer and astrologer from Roman Egypt.He used the name "Scandia" for the largest, easternmost of the three islands of "Scandia", which he said were located east of Jutland.
The lists of the Scandinavian tribes of Plytius and Ptolimaeus do not include the Suiones mentioned in the Tacitian Chronicles.Some early Swedish scholars of the Swedish Hyperborean school during the period of 19th century Romantic nationalism put forward the general theory that they must have been mentioned in the original texts and lost over time due to spelling errors or other changes.
Scandinavian countries interesting facts
The Latin names in Pliny's text gave rise to various forms in medieval Germanic texts. According to the historian Jordan(551 BC) about the origin and deeds of the Getae, the form "Scandza" was used for the name of their original dwelling, separated by sea from Europe.The location of where Jordans wanted to find this supposedly legendary island is still hotly debated, both in scientific discussions and in nationalist discourse in various European countries.The form of Scandinavia as the original home of the Lombards appears in the histories of Paulus Diaconus.Other versions of Lombard history include forms such as Scadan, Scandanan, Scadanan and Scatenauge.Frankish sources used Sconaowe and Aethelweard, Anglo-Saxon historians - Scani. In the poemBeowulf used the forms Scedenige and Scedeland.
Other origins of the name
Other theories are that all or part of the name segments were derived from the Mesolithic people inhabiting the region.In modern times, Scandinavia is a peninsula, but approximately 10,300 and 9,500 years ago South part Scandinavia was an island separated from the northern peninsula by the waters of the Baltic Sea through the area where Stockholm is now located.
Some Basque scholars have provided the idea that the sk segment that appears in Skaðinawjō is related to the name of the Yuzko peoples, native to the Basque people who inhabited parts of Europe during the Bronze Age.According to some of these intellectuals, Scandinavians share certain genetic characteristics (DNA) with the Basque people.
Location of Scandinavia on the world map
The geography of Scandinavia is extremely diverse.Well-known are the Norwegian fjords, the Scandinavian mountains, the flat, low regions of Denmark and the archipelagos of Sweden and Norway.Sweden has many lakes and moraines that are a legacy of the Ice Age.
The climate changes from north to south and from west to east. Maritime climate on the west coast, typical of Western Europe, predominates in Denmark, southern Sweden and along the west coast of Norway, characterized by frequent precipitation, reaching 5000 mm in some areas of Norway. The central part, from Oslo to Stockholm, has a humid continental climate, which gradually gives way to a subarctic climate further north and a cool maritime climate on the west coast. A small area along the northern coast east of the North Cape has a tundra climate, resulting in cool summers. The Scandinavian mountains block the soft, humid air from the southwest, so northern Sweden and the Finnmarksvid plateau in Norway receive little rainfall and cold winters. Most of the Scandinavian mountains have an alpine tundra climate.
The hottest temperature recorded in Scandinavia is 38.0 °C in Malilla (Sweden), andthe lowest temperature is 52.6 °C in Vuoggatlmeme (Sweden).The coldest month of 1985 was February in Vittangi (Sweden) with a temperature of -27.2 °C.
Due to southwesterly winds, the narrow Norwegian fjords experience warm winter temperatures;Tafjord recorded 17.9°C in January, and Sunndal recorded 18.9°C in February.
Scandinavian languages
North Germanic (Scandinavian) and Sami languages are language groups that have coexisted since ancient times on the Scandinavian Peninsula. Later, as a result of migrations, Finnish, Jewish and Gypsy languages spread. In Denmark, German is also a minority language. Along with common languages, Sami and minority languages such as Hebrew and Romani are protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
North Germanic languages of Scandinavia
The North Germanic languages of Scandinavia are traditionally divided into East Scandinavian (Danish and Swedish) and West Scandinavian branches of the family (Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese), but due to changes seen in the languages since 1600, the East Scandinavian and West Scandinavian branches in have now been reorganized into the insular Scandinavian branch with the participation of Icelandic, Faroese and mainland Scandinavian, including Danish, Norwegian and Swedish.The modern division is based on the degree of mutual understanding between the languages of the two branches.The population of Scandinavian countries whose native language is Scandinavian can, with at least some training, understand each other's standard languages as they are used in print and heard on radio and television.
The reason why Danish, Swedish and the two official written forms of Norwegian (Nynorsk and Bokmål) are traditionally viewed as different languages, rather than dialects of one common language, is that each of them is the generally accepted standard language in its own country.Danish, Swedish and Norwegian have been influenced to varying degrees by Low German and Standard German since the Middle Ages.Much of this influence was a by-product of the economic activity caused by the Hanseatic League.
Norwegians accustomed to the variety can perceive Danish and Swedish at the level of distant dialects.This is due to the fact that they have two official written standard languages, in addition to a strong penchant for local dialects.People from Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen and Denmark have great difficulty understanding other Scandinavian languages.In the Faroe Islands and Iceland, learning Danish is compulsory.This leads to the fact that the Faroese, as well as the Icelanders, become bilingual and speak two completely different North Germanic languages at once, which allows them to understand the other two continental Scandinavian languages with relative ease.
Although Iceland was under Danish political control, the Danish language had little influence on Icelandic, and remainedpreferred language among the ruling classes in Iceland.Danish was not used for official communications, most royal officials were of Icelandic origin, and the language of the church and courts remained Icelandic.
Finnish language
The Scandinavian languages (as a language family) are completely unrelated to the Finnish, Estonian and Sami languages, which, like the Uralic languages, are distantly related to Hungarian.Due to the close proximity, there is still a lot of borrowing from Swedish and Norwegian by Finnish and Sami languages.The long history of linguistic influence of Swedish on Finnish is also explained by the fact that Finnish, the language of the majority of the Finnish population, was considered a minority language while Finland was part of Sweden.Finns had to learn Swedish in order to advance their careers to higher positions.The Swedish language spoken in modern Finland includes many words borrowed from Finnish, while the written language remains closer to Swedish.
Finland is officially bilingual, with Finnish and Swedish having equal status at the national level. The majority of Finland's population is Finnish, whose native language is either Finnish (approximately 95%) or Swedish, or both. The Swedish-speaking minority lives mainly on the coast from the city of Porvoo in the Gulf of Finland to the city of Kokkola in the Gulf of Bothnia.The Åland Islands, an autonomous province of Finland, located in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden, are entirely Swedish-speaking. Studying official language at school depends on the origin of the children: d For Swedes it is Finnish (usually from 3rd grade), and for Finns it is Swedish (usually from 3rd, 5th or 7th grade).
Finnish speakers constitute a linguistic minority in Sweden and Norway.There are also languages derived from Finnish that developed separately, such as Meänkiel in Sweden and Kven in Norway.
Sami languages
Sami languages are minority languages in Scandinavia.They belong to a branch of the Uralic language family and are not related to the North Germanic languages, except for some grammatical (especially lexical) characteristics resulting from long-term contact. Sami languagedivided into several languages or dialects.Consonant gradation is a feature in both the Finnish and Northern Sami dialects, but is not present in the Southern dialect, which is thought to have a different linguistic history.According to the Sami Information Center of the Sami Parliament in Sweden, the southern Sami population may have arisen as a result of earlier migration from the south to the Scandinavian Peninsula.
History of the Scandinavian countries
During the period of Christianization and state formation in the 10th-13th centuries, numerous Germanic small kingdoms and chiefdoms were united into three kingdoms:
Denmark, formed from the Danish lands (including Jutland, Zealand and Scania on the Scandinavian Peninsula).
Sweden, formed from the Swedish lands on the Scandinavian Peninsula (excluding the provinces of Bohuslan, Härjedalen, Jämtland, Idre-Särna, Halland, Blekinge and Scania of modern Sweden, but including most of modern Finland).
Norway (including Bohuslan, Härydalen, Jämtland and Ydre Särna on the Scandinavian Peninsula and the island colonies of Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Shetland, Orkney, the Isle of Man and the Hebrides).
In 1387, the three Scandinavian kingdoms joined the Kalmar Union under Queen Margaret I of Denmark.Sweden left the union in 1523 under the leadership of King Gustav Vasa.After Sweden separated from the Kalmar Union, an outbreak broke out in Denmark and Norway. Civil War and pfollowed by the Protestant Reformation.When everything was settled, the Norwegian Privy Council was abolished, meeting for the last time in 1537. The close alliance formed by the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway in 1536 lasted until 1814. From this unequal union subsequently emerged three sovereign successor states: Denmark, Norway and Iceland.
The borders between the three countries took the form they had since the mid-17th century. In the 1645 Treaty of Bremsebro, Denmark-Norway ceded to Sweden the Norwegian provinces of Jämtland, Härjedalen, Idre-Särna, as well as the Baltic Sea, Gotland and Osel Islands (in Estonia). Treaty of Roskilde, signed in 1658, forced Denmark-Norway to cede to Sweden the Danish provinces of Scania, Blekinge, Halland, Bornholm and the Norwegian provinces of Bohuslän and Trøndelag.The Treaty of Copenhagen in 1660 forced Sweden to return Bornholm and Trøndelag to Denmark-Norway and give up its recent claims to the island of Funen.
Scandinavian alliances
Denmark-Norway, as a historiographical name, refers to the former political union consisting of the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, including the Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.During Danish rule, Norway retained its separate laws, coins and army, as well as some institutions such as the royal chancellor.The ancient royal dynasty of Norway ended with the death of Olav IV in 1387, but the inherited kingdom of Norway became an important factor for the Oldenburg dynasty of Denmark-Norway to win elections for the throne of Denmark.
The Treaty of Kiel (January 14, 1814) formally terminated the Danish-Norwegian alliance and ceded the territory of Norway to the King of Sweden, but Denmark retained Norway's overseas possessions.However, widespread opposition in Norway to the prospect of a union with Sweden prompted the governor of Norway, heir Prince Christian Frederick (later Christian VIII of Denmark), to convene a Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll in April 1814. The Assembly adopted a liberal constitution and Christian Friedrich was elected to the throne of Norway.After the Swedish invasion, under the terms of the peace negotiations of the Convention of Moss (14 August 1814), Christian Frederik left the throne, but Norway retained its independence and its constitution within a close union with Sweden.Christian Frederik officially abdicated his position on 10 August 1814 and returned to Denmark. November 4The Norwegian parliament, the Storting, elected King Charles XIII of Sweden as King of Norway.
Political Scandinaviism
The modern use of the term "Scandinavia" was influenced by Scandinavianism (the political movement of the Scandinavians), which was active in the mid-19th century, during the period between the First Schleswig War (Danish-Prussian War 1848-1850) and the Second Schleswig War (Austro-Prussian-Danish 1864 ).
The Swedish king also proposed uniting Denmark, Norway and Sweden into a single kingdom.The source of this proposal was the turbulent events during the Napoleonic Wars at the beginning of the century.This war resulted in Finland (formerly the eastern third of Sweden) becoming the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809 and Norway (allied with Denmark since 1387, although considered a de facto province) becoming independent in 1814, but soon forced to join into an alliance with Sweden.The dependent territories of Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, historically part of Norway, remained in Denmark under the Treaty of Kiel.Thus, Sweden and Norway were united under the Swedish monarch, but the incorporation of Finland into the Russian Empire excluded the possibility of a political union between Finland and any other Scandinavian country.
The end of the Scandinavian political movement came when Denmark was refused military support promised by Sweden and Norway to annex the (Danish) Duchy of Schleswig, which, together with the German Duchy of Holstein, was allied with Denmark.The Second War of Schleswig followed in 1864, a short but disastrous war between Denmark and Prussia (supported by Austria).Schleswig-Holstein was conquered by Prussia and after Prussia's success in the Franco-Prussian War, the German Empire was created under Prussian leadership and a new balance of power was established among the Baltic Sea countries.
The northern regions of Europe (Scandinavian countries) are somewhat strange, unknown and mysterious places for us, but alluring with their magnificent nature and beauty. They are united by one concept, but each has a certain climate, its own culture and customs. In the material we will tell you where the unifying name of the countries came from, give a short excursion into history, advise when it is better to come and share the most unusual Scandinavians.
Scandinavia is a friendly trio of Northern European countries: Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Often Finland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland are also included in this group due to their location. And also that Iceland was one of the regions of the Norwegians and the Icelandic language belongs to the same language family as Swedish, Norwegian and Danish. And in Finland they partially speak Swedish, just like Finnish is spoken in Norway and Sweden.
Historically, the north of Europe was the political playground of the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Finland was part of the Swedish kingdom, and Iceland belonged to Norway and Denmark. By the way, in addition to general history, politically and economically these 5 countries have followed a similar model known as the Nordic welfare state since the 20th century.
Where did the common name “Scandinavia” come from?
At first, this was the name of the southern region of Sweden (formerly Denmark) Scania. However, the concepts of “Scandinavia” and “Scandinavian language” began to be used directly at the end of the 18th century in connection with the linguistic and cultural Scandinavian development. The popularity of this term was brought by H.K. Andersen when he wrote the poem “I am a Scandinavian” in 1839. And he also wrote to his friend: “I immediately realized that the Swedes, Danes and Norwegians are connected, and with this feeling I wrote a poem after returning from Sweden: “We are one people, we are called Scandinavians!”
So, the main part of the people inhabiting the countries of Scandinavia descended from the North Germanic tribes who lived in the southern part of Scandinavia and communicated in Germanic, which later became Old Scandinavian. Icelanders and Faroese descended (to a greater extent) from Norwegians, so they are also considered Scandinavians. Each country has its own dialect, but it is understandable to residents of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Faroe Islands and Iceland have a slightly different dialect, which is available to other countries to a limited extent. Finnish is the least related to the Scandinavian languages (it is part of the Finno-Uralic family of languages, more closely related to Estonian). German, Yiddish and Romani are recognized minority languages in parts of Scandinavia.
And now a few words about the countries of Scandinavia and countries close to them.
Denmark
The southernmost Scandinavian country. Located on the Jutland Peninsula and more than 400 small islands, some of them are connected to the mainland by bridges. Conditionally, the country also includes the island of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. But they have their own government, so they can be considered independent territories. Almost all of Denmark is flat, although there are many low hills. Traditional windmills and miniature thatched cottages can be seen throughout. The climate in Denmark is temperate and maritime. Winter in the country is not harsh, but it is extended and can be cool for a long time. Summer is not hot, sometimes cold (in July 15-17°C). The capital is Copenhagen.
Norway
Norway is called the "Land of the Vikings" and the "Land of the Midnight Sun". In winter there is almost continuous polar night here. The climate in the country varies from year to year, especially in the northernmost parts. Summers in Norway (in the northern regions) can reach temperatures of up to 26°C, and winters are dark, cold and snowier than in other parts of the country. Coastal areas have a climate with cooler summers. Winters are relatively moderate and rainy, with little snow. In the interior parts (for example, in the capital) the climate is continental with colder winters (up to -25°C), but warm summers. The best weather in Norway is from May to September.
Norway is a country of mountains, glaciers and fjords. That is why it is no wonder that the most popular activities in this Scandinavian country are fishing, hiking and riding on alpine skiing. The economy is largely based on the maritime industry. The capital is Oslo.
Sweden
This is a country of a wide variety of lakes, breathtaking landscapes, gorgeous forests and mysterious rocks. Sweden is also the most big country among the Scandinavian ones in terms of territory size and population. The country is famous for the Volvo and Saab brands, they make up a large part of the Swedish industry.
In the north of the country in winter the temperature during the day is approximately -13 -15°C, in summer it barely reaches 20°C, and at night in some regions frosts can even occur. Summer is most comfortable in the eastern part of Sweden. But on the islands, which are located in the Baltic Sea, there is almost no frost in winter. And in summer the temperature rises above 22°C. The capital is Stockholm.
Iceland
With a surprisingly mild climate, Iceland is the most... western country Europe and the second largest in the North Atlantic. In addition, despite the fact that Iceland is not part of the Scandinavian countries, it is famous for its mysterious and mesmerizing views. In fact, all regions of Iceland are worth visiting. For example, areas with geysers, waterfalls, lava fields and lakes, floating icebergs, impressive cliffs and fjords, etc.
Winters in the country are mild (about 0°C), in summer about 10°C. The mountainous inland areas are much colder at any time of the year. The country also has a strong economy, low unemployment, low inflation, and per capita income is one of the highest in the world. The capital is Reykjavik.
Finland
Another country where the weather is better than many tourists expect. However, in winter, of course, it can be harsh with mountains of snow (down to -20°C), and in summer it can be beautiful, with temperatures rising to 30°C. Finland has one of the lowest immigration rates in the world. The capital is Helsinki.
7 interesting facts about the countries of Scandinavia, the way of life and habits of people.
1. Some of the most expensive countries.
For example, a beer will cost $9, and a metro ticket will cost $6; you don’t even have to worry about taking a taxi. It’s better to buy passes for several days or so, it’s more profitable.
2. People go to the sauna without clothes.
For Russian speakers this will be strange and unusual, but Scandinavians consider it bad manners (and generally unnecessary) to wear a swimsuit to the bathhouse. Moreover, it is their long-standing tradition (even the law) to go to the sauna naked, no matter with whom.
3. The sandwich is eaten with cutlery.
Scandinavians are known to have a passion for pickled herring. But what's weirder is that they use utensils while eating a sandwich. Although their sandwiches have such fillings (cold shrimp, smoked salmon, hard-boiled eggs, meatballs or herring) that it’s apparently difficult to eat them any other way.
4. You can find art in the most unexpected places.
Scandinavians try to place samples in the most diverse and strange places. Oslo, for example, has some excellent sculpture parks, and Stockholm has turned its subway into an underground art gallery. Scandinavian countries offer to admire art where it will be accessible to most people.
5. There are no surnames in Iceland.
People always address each other by their first names and add the prefix “son” (-son) or “daughter” (-dóttir) to the father’s name (the meaning is like our patronymic). For example, if Jons has a son named Ólafur, he would be known as Ólafur Jonsson. But the daughter named Johanna will be called Johanna Jonsdottir.
6. Swedes love fika.
Most Swedes happily admit that they practice fika every day. Fika is a wonderful ritual, a coffee break in work time. At this time, people meet old friends, make new acquaintances and simply enjoy life. So, the main attributes of fika are a good cup of coffee (Scandinavians are experts) and some kind of bun (with cinnamon, cardamom or vanilla).
7. They leave their children on the street.
Walking along the streets of Stockholm, Copenhagen or Reykjavik, you may notice baby strollers parked on the sidewalks. However, this does not mean that strict parents leave their children on the street or punish them in this way. Scandinavians are sure that you need to be in the fresh air as much as possible (especially). This is why they leave their kids on the street when they go to a cafe. Often parents deliberately take their children to parks during quiet times, even in winter.
September 29, 2017Which countries belong to Scandinavia? Where is this region and why is he interesting? You will find answers to these and other questions in our article. As well as a complete list of Scandinavian countries. In addition, we will tell you about the main geographical, historical, cultural and ethnolinguistic features of this region.
List of Scandinavian countries
Scandinavia is a historical and cultural region located in the northern part of Europe. Its “geographical basis” is the peninsula of the same name with an area of 800 thousand square kilometers. In addition, the borders of Scandinavia also include the Jutland Peninsula and a number of nearby islands in the Norwegian, Baltic, North and Barents Seas.
What countries are included in Scandinavia? Traditionally, only three states are included in it: Sweden, Norway and Denmark. However, here many geographers have a logical question: why is Iceland not part of the region? After all, it is more “Scandinavian” than Denmark.
Based on the above, we can highlight a more complete list of Scandinavian countries. And to some extent it correlates with the cultural and political concept of “Northern European countries”. This list includes five states:
- Norway.
- Sweden.
- Finland.
- Iceland.
- Denmark (as well as its two autonomous regions - Greenland and the Faroe Islands).
All this is Scandinavia. We found out which countries are included in it. But why did the region get this name? The word “Scandinavia” itself is borrowed from medieval Latin. The name of this region was first mentioned in the book “Natural History” by Pliny the Elder. It is curious that Europeans for a long time considered the Scandinavian Peninsula to be an island. It was only in the 11th century that Adam of Bremen suggested that there might be a land connection with it.
Climate and geography
The nature of Scandinavia is extremely diverse. There is everything here: mountains, swampy lowlands, lakes, and rocky archipelagos. The famous Scandinavian fjords - narrow and deep sea bays - amaze with their beauty and grandeur.
The climate varies in different parts of Scandinavia. So, on the west coast it is softer and wetter, with more precipitation. As you move north and east, it becomes drier and colder. In general, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, the climate of Scandinavia is warmer than at similar latitudes in other regions of the continent.
The highest air temperature in Scandinavia was recorded in Sweden (+38 degrees), as well as the lowest (-52.5 degrees).
Population and languages
Historically, the southern parts of Scandinavia were more populated than the central and northern parts. This was facilitated primarily by the climatic features of the region. Modern inhabitants of Scandinavia are considered the ancestors of the Germans, who penetrated the peninsula around the 14th century BC. The Scandinavian states have united more than once into various political unions. The most powerful of them was the Kalmar Union, which existed from 1397 to 1523.
Norwegian, Swedish and Danish are generally mutually intelligible. Linguists attribute them to the northern branch of the Germanic group. The Finnish language is significantly different from them; it is closer to Estonian.
It should be noted that all countries included in Scandinavia are very different high level socio-economic development, for which economists even came up with their own specific term - “Scandinavian socialism”. High taxes, a decent standard of living, the absence of sharp contrasts between “rich” and “poor” and high life expectancy are the main features of these states. In the global ranking of the Human Development Index (HDI), Scandinavian countries (except Finland) are in the top twenty.
Sweden
The Kingdom of Sweden is a state entirely located within the Scandinavian Peninsula. The fifth largest country in Europe. Today it is home to about ten million people. The capital of Sweden is the city of Stockholm.
Sweden is a country of innovation, high technology and a skilled workforce. In the second half of the twentieth century, from a fairly poor agrarian state, in just a few decades it managed to turn into one of richest countries peace. The formula for the “Swedish economic miracle” is simple: export of its own natural resources (primarily timber and iron ore) and the parallel development of knowledge-intensive industries.
5 most interesting and unexpected facts about Sweden:
- the country is the world leader in bearing production;
- a Swedish passport gives a person the opportunity to travel without visas almost all over the world;
- the country completely recycles all its garbage;
- 90% of the country's population speaks English fluently;
- In Sweden, any physical violence against children (including harmless spanking on the “soft spot”) is prohibited by law.
Norway
The Kingdom of Norway is a state occupying the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In addition, it owns a number of adjacent islands (including the Spitsbergen archipelago). The capital of Norway is the city of Oslo. The population is 5.3 million people.
Norway is Europe's largest oil and gas producer. At the same time, the country meets its own electricity needs exclusively through hydropower. The state also has a very developed non-ferrous metallurgy, forestry, chemical and fishing industries.
5 most interesting and unexpected facts about Norway:
- “If you don’t like the Norwegian weather, wait 15 minutes” - this saying very accurately describes the country’s changeable climate;
- Norway is one of the most expensive countries Europe;
- Norwegian children are incredibly beautiful;
- the level of population connection to high-speed Internet is 99.9%;
- 80% of Norwegians own either a boat or a motorboat.
Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark is a state located on the Jutland Peninsula and 409 islands. Washed by the waters of the Northern and Baltic seas. Population: 5.7 million people. The capital is the city of Copenhagen.
Denmark is a country with very high salaries, low unemployment, but high taxes. Leading sectors of the economy: mechanical engineering, metalworking, textile industry and highly developed livestock farming. Denmark's main export products are meat, fish, radio electronics, furniture and medicines.
5 most interesting and unexpected facts about Denmark:
- according to recent studies, the Danes are the happiest people on the planet;
- Denmark is famous in Europe for its amazing and delicious baked goods;
- almost all stores in this country close at 5-6 pm;
- the most recognizable Danish brand - LEGO children's construction set;
- Danes love to ride bicycles.
Finally…
Scandinavia is a historical and cultural region in northern Europe. Three states are usually included in it. Full list Scandinavian countries include Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. All these countries are distinguished by high income levels, high-quality medicine and very low corruption.