Scandinavia

/ˌskændɪˈneɪviə/ noun

Definition

Scandinavia is a region in northern Europe that usually includes Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, and sometimes also Finland and Iceland depending on context.

Etymology

From Latin “Scandinavia,” a Roman name for the northern lands, possibly from a Germanic root related to “Skåne,” a region in southern Sweden. Ancient writers used it for what they saw as the mysterious far north.

Kelly Says

Today we think of Scandinavia as modern, high-tech, and peaceful, but to ancient Romans it was almost like a mythical edge of the world. The same region that produced Viking raiders now ranks high in happiness reports.

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