What Do The Nordic Countries Think of Each Other? Fact of Nordics (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark)

What does the NORDICs think of each other?

Do they like each other?
Or are they a rival?

🇳🇴 @saragrewes
🇸🇪 @sofia_ljungstrom
🇩🇰 @azemiiin
🇫🇮 @finunni

[jan-ovepedersen]

I live in the northern part of Norway, some 90 kilometers from Finland. Many people around here speak Kveni and Sami, both languages are in the Finnish Ugric language group. Because of this most people around here understand enough Finnish to be able to survive in Finland. We love to go shopping in Finland, much cheaper than in Norway 🙂 Great series, keep it coming. Greetings from Finnmark, Norway.

[henri]

The answer of why finnish is so different = not a Scandinavian language, a Uralic language, like estonian in fact

[sampohonkala]

I remember when I was young and living in Finland and Sweden felt like a foreign country where I had never even been. Then at High School I went to the USA to spend a year as a foreign exchange student. There was also a Swedish guy in the same area and when we met, it was like "Have you heard any news from home?" as if we had always been next door neighbors. I realized that despite the differences, at a global scale the Nordics are the same people, and I don't even care if people mix up Finland, Sweden and Norway, which happens.

[linnear]

As a Swede I love all my sibling countries and I would gladly live in any of them, . Finland has such nice people with great humor and also their school system is one of the best. Norway has one of the most beutiful sites and nature in the world and the norweigan folkdräkt is stunning, and they are ANNOYINGLY good at skis! Denmark is very fashionable, very innovative and modern, and alot of pretty beaches.

[Ethilien]

I agree with the Swedish lady (am also Swedish) about Finland and the Finnish; the have the image of being even more cold and standoffish than other Nordics, but they're actually a pretty warm and friendly people, and I've never had a bad encounter with a Finnish person.

[Rea]

As someone who lived in Finland as an International student and went to these other countries, this was a fun video. And like the Swedish lady said never had a bad encounter with a Finnish person there^^

[kitcat]

Penkkarit is a fun finnish graduation thing. Seniors dress up in costumes (I was spiderman), drive around the town and throw candy to the ground so kids (and teens and adults) can pick them up.

We drove around with a tractor and a trailer.

[peabody]

Supposedly:

Norwegians go to Sweden for cheaper alcohol;
Swedes go to Denmark for cheaper alcohol;
but...
Finns go to Estonia for cheaper alcohol.
Danes go to Germany for cheaper alcohol.

From my outsider standpoint (and actually knowing a few Danes and Swedes):
- Danes are very forward and more liberal thinking, even if they can be very serious;
- Swedes are stiffer and orderly, but are much sillier and humourous than they like to portray'
- Norwegians are quieter and emotional, and smarter than people think;
- Finns are quieter and staid, but like Swedes are very hardcore once you get to know them.

[Mintshake_bunny]

I do wish there was an Icelandic person included.
It's funny watching this because I feel they behave quite similarly. I have also personally felt how the cultures are connected. Whenever I'm away from Northern Europe surrounded by people from other countries and meet my fellow Nordics, we just seem to instantly connect and have so much in common.

Also, I was totally racking my brain to figure out which dance cover group Lotta has belonged to before. There must be a reason her face is so familiar~

[stephenrowell]

Really interesting to hear these four ladies discussing their differences in a polite pleasant way, thank you World Friends.

[ivanmacgar]

Funny how when the Swedish girl talks about the Sweden-Finland rivalry it sounds pretty much like the Spain-Portugal rivalry at least from our (Spanish) pov: "We want to beat Portugal whenever we play against them, but if they play against anybody else, we root for them"... to which I would even add "and even if we lose to Portugal, meh it's not a big problem, let our smaller (but older, which may surprise some people but yeah, Portugal predates Spain by around 400 years) sibling have their glory time. We'd rather lose to Portugal than lose to France or England"

[osheridan]

Nordic and Scandinavian countries in general are such a nice vibe 💙 🇫🇮 🇳🇴 🇸🇪 🇩🇰 🇮🇸 I'm originally Bangla-Indian and if South Asians got along like this life would be so much easier

[michabach]

Whenever I've met Swedish people abroad as a Finn, I've always gotten along well with them because of our similar cultural background. The same goes for all the Flemish people I've met and many German speaking people too. However, I don't really know anyone from Denmark or Norway, so I don't really have an opinion on people from those countries.

[ckasity]

Danish here :) - EDIT: WOW that became a whole essay, I just thought the Danish girl didn't say much, and wanted to add my two cents from a Copenhagen perspective. Azemin, are you from Jutland? Because I related to very little of the things you said. Btw the cinnamon thing is definetly not a tradition in Copenhagen, I have heard, it is mostly Jutland, but i could be wrong<3

From my perspective Norway is by far the most expensive country, so when danes go on Ski trips in Norway their bring their own food, to avoid buying anything.

Also in Denmark, we generally don't go to Sweden to buy things, because they have around the same price as us, but one thing we do buy in Sweden is candy (or slik in Danish). Candy in Denmark has a tax called the candy-tax (sukkerafgift), which is quite high (around 3, 5 euros pr. kg. - this is done to prevent obesity and other health issues in the population). So everytime, someone i know, has been to Sweden, they always bring home a mixed-bag of godis (candy).

In Denmark we also go to the German border to buy stuff, everything is cheaper in Germany especially: candy, soda, alcohol, tobacco and other similiar things.

To my understanding a lot of swedes (atleast swedes more south) goes to Denmark to buy alcohol, because it is a bit cheaper and definetly just easier to get. The age you can legally buy alcohol is at 16 and stronger alcohol at 18 (above 16.5%) in Denmark. Which might be why, everytime you take the ferry from Helsingør (Denmark, close to Copenhagen) to Helsingborg (Sweden) you always meet young swedes who are drunk, and on their way to party in Copenhagen.




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Also something not mentioned in the video, but the rivarly between Denmark and Sweden is also quite strong, which stems back from the multiple wars over the ownership of Norway and Skåne (the south of Sweden).

In Denmark, when talking about Sweden, swedes often become the butt of the joke or is generally just "hated" (as a joke) amongst Danes, which also is portrayed in films (like 'Riget' - where the Swedish Helmer is portrayed as a complete moron, who hates everything about Denmark, despite working there - the comedy and irony is strong in the show).

In sports we always want to have beaten Sweden, and somewhat also Norway, but the biggest defeat is to lose to Sweden. Despite this, we root for both Sweden and Norway to come a close second to Denmark, or we root for them when the Danes have no chance of winning. In general Norway is viewed in a very positive light, although we also make fun of them, like when we call them 'fjeldaber'. All jokes aside we all view Norway and Sweden as siblings and appreciate all the close ties we have<3 (I will never not forgive the Danish king around the 1860's for not supporting the proposal of a united scandianavia - long live the Kalmar Union lol).

When is was younger by biggest dream was to move to Sweden and learn the language. Oh how times has changed - no, i love Sweden and think it is such a beautiful country to travel in, and my best friend is Swedish (i spend a week every summer up north of Stockholm). She says the love-hate relationship is mutual, and from sweden's side it is even more just pure "hate". Also i envy how big hockey is in Sweden, as a ice hockey lover is pains me to see such an amazing sport be so unappreciated.

[medeology]

Im swedish. I was thinking, watching this, that I'm so comfortable and familliar with our nordic neighbors that I wouldnt mind a Nordic union, like some kind of federation, pooling our different competencies and resources. It would be a very nice and stylish super power.

[GOAT-rluq]

The Nordics rip on eachother constantly, but they love eachother. That's how siblings are.

[jimikuningas]

If you live in northern Finland you actually go to Sweden to buy alcohol. Estonia is very cheap, but even Sweden is cheap compared to our prices. Haparanda is where we usually go for the cheap beer and snus! ✌🏻

[dimasnugroho]

You all guys are amazing!! I love nordic country, beatiful nature, architecture and people

[SebHaarfagre]

As a Norwegian, there are some traits I feel we have more in common with with Finland than even our closest brothers.

For instance, that stereotypical "reserved, quiet, but polite, and loyal until death". And weathered. But in a different way.
Finns are straightforward but also have the most wonderful (often dark or self deprecating or careless) humour. Extremely hospitable and hard working, mechanically savvy and very modern.

In fact, I'm almost surprised how Finland isn't as known to other Scandinavians for being progressive and technologically advanced. Maybe it doesn't always show so well but there's plenty of details. And of course, that goes for all the Nordic countries but still

I don't feel like the Finns are different at all, except for the language. Obviously there's certain quirks but they made it sound like something I didn't agree with.

[tasbykekerey]

Like Finland from Kazakhstan! 🇫🇮❤️🇰🇿 Finnish folk music/metal is amazing! 🤩