Why do English people think they're representative of Nordic/Scandinavian peoples?

[victoriaxoxo]

I am baffled by how often I speak to English people (not Scottish etc. but specifically English) and they think England is a cold northern country comparable to Sweden. I am Baltic myself and I find it rather intriguing that someone from England would think of themselves as Northern European as opposed to Western European. England just doesn't have the climate to be northern, the local population is short and skinny and not very northern looking..

[purplepoppy]

You might want to Google Danelaw for an explanation. England was once split in two with the vikings owning land to the north east and the Germans to the south east and the Britons to the south west. Obviously this caused a bit friction and we're still feeling it today with the north/south divide. It also explains weird English accents. It's also fair to say people on the north east coast feel a closer relationship to Scandinavian countries than say France because of modern day ferry routes.

Some towns such as York promote their viking heritage with many believing they are descendants (dna tests suggest otherwise).

[NamerOfStars]

They ARE northern European- take a look at a globe and divide Europe into quadrants; England is very distinctly north. Not compared to say, Svalbard, but still. "Northern" a matter of geography, not climate. Go back to that globe and see where Edmonton is- it's the northernmost city of any real size in Canada; a place where winter weather hitting 40 below zero is not uncommon. Now trace a line eastwards to London; it's only a degree or two south.

The English also have a HUGE amount of Nordic genetic influence; while they're primarily Celtic, and then German, the Norse are a close third (and strictly speaking, they're Germans, too). That's kinda what happens with centuries of conquest and settlement.

I wouldn't call them representatives so much as offshoots, but the have more of a right to call themselves that than the Byzantines did to call themselves Roman.

[victoriaxoxo]

Whilst I can see some Northern influences in British culture for example in things like food, they are lacking the cold snowy climate or other cultural elements such as saunas and certain kinds of folklore. Also, when it comes to appearance and genetic make up, British people tend to be short and often have darker hair and varied eye colours. Yh perhaps Northern Irish and most definitely Scottish people seem to have Northern genes but most English people look no different than the French to me. Like I said I am Baltic and consider myself NE European so hearing a British person call themselves Northern without having experienced -20 degree weather, wolfs & elk and getting absolutely snowed in, is a bit of a slap in the face.

[NamerOfStars]

Funnily enough, the Scottish have the LEAST Nordic influence of any group in the UK and Ireland; any resemblance there is coincidental. You can object to them calling themselves "Nordic" or "Scandinavian", but there are very much Northern. Most of them are further north than Canadians who get colder weather than you do.

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

I'm English and I've never known our lot to compare ourselves to your lot. If anything we're pretty obstinate about the fact we're physically and culturally separate from the rest of Europe.

[Guy13]

Yeah, that seems odd and perhaps geography and historical background have not registered with them.

[TaylorSwiftFan62]

English people who live north are northerners its in the name silly. you make us sound like we are hobbits or something (small). The north of England is on the same lattitude as places like the baltics.

[Dargil]

In the past, they were conquered by Vikings.

[disgustingweebtrash]

Your people colonized my people you sick imperialist just because we are British doesn't mean we aren't northern. Look into the brutality of viking history bigot

[socair]

I hate to tell you but I don't think most brits are naive enough to think like that

[OddBeMe]

Because because…our skin color! We’re the same yah? We’re the Aryans!