The term “Scandinavia” is confusing and controversial, with no set criteria for inclusion or exclusion of countries like Finland and Iceland. Geographically, it refers to the Scandinavian peninsula, but linguistics and politics also play a role. The Nordic welfare state has further blurred the lines between “Nordic” and “Scandinavian”.
Depending on your geographical location, linguistic structure and point of view, Scandinavia is a very confusing, interchangeable and often controversial term. Non-Europeans seem vaguely unaware of the imprecise nature of the Scandinavian question. Europeans, however, in their vehement support of tradition and obsessive dedication to precision and categorisation, are quick to correct an inappropriate definition of “Scandinavian”. However, they are not so quick to notice that the word Scandinavia is commonly misspelled as Scandanavia.
Geographically, the term Scandinavia refers to the Scandinavian peninsula. This peninsula is the northernmost region of the European continent, with the extreme northern areas of the Scandinavian peninsula extending as far as Antarctica. The nations of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, especially the northern part of Finland, make up the Scandinavian Peninsula; citizens of these nations, therefore, consider themselves true Scandinavians.
The Lapps, those people who inhabit the Arctic region of the Scandinavian peninsula, have traditionally raised reindeer as farm animals. Reindeer are, of course, an integral part of the legend of Santa Claus, thus contributing to the myth that this merry old man lives at the North Pole. However, residents of the Scandinavian peninsula will dispute any foreign claims that Santa Claus is a Scandinavian, as the North Pole is separated from the Scandinavian peninsula by the Arctic Sea.
Historically, language appears to have been a major factor in determining various peoples or nations as Scandinavian. The term Skandinavien is common to the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish languages and is, today, a common delimitation of the nations comprising Scandinavia. Finland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland, however, continue to be included in the Scandinavian language mix, correctly or not, due to their languages’ similarities to those spoken on the Scandinavian peninsula.
The various dictionaries of the world do not do much to clarify matters relating to a definitive distinction of Scandinavia. Most dictionaries agree that Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are true Scandinavian nations, but there the agreement ends. There appear to be no set criteria for including or excluding Finland, Iceland and/or the Faroe Islands, among other smaller territories and possessions, in various dictionary definitions of Scandinavia.
Further muddying the northern waters is the fact that in the early 20th century, the political, social and cultural similarities between Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland encompassed what is known as the ‘Nordic Welfare State’. Therefore, for those outside the Scandinavian peninsula, there is a commonly accepted interchange of the terms “Nordic” and “Scandinavian”. It seems that, depending on the swinging political and cultural correctness of the Nordic welfare state, Finns, Danes and Icelanders consider themselves Scandinavian or Nordic. The term “Nordic”, unfortunately, gained some lasting infamy during Adolf Hitler’s reign in Germany.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
