Over the past six years or so, I have been heavily researching my family's history. Ancestry is something that I have been interested in since I was a little girl & I love learning more about where I came from! Recently, I decided to dig a little further into my husbands ancestry as well. I learned that both of us have Scandinavian roots! So far, I have found that our families have come from Denmark, Norway & Sweden - which happen to all be mainlands of Scandinavia! (Finland, Iceland & Greenland are also Nordic countries that some people consider to be a part of Scandinavia.)
Here are some of my favorite things that come from Scandinavia & things that I would love to see:
Swedish pancakes - My grandpa & mom made these for us growing up & we always loved them! Our family much preferred these to regular pancakes. They are thinner than typical pancakes & they crisp up a little around the edges. My favorite way to eat them is with syrup, powdered sugar & whipped cream. Yum!!
The recipe I used here (& the one my mom shared with me) is as follows:
- 3 eggs
- 1 & 1/4 cups milk
- 3/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Beat eggs until thick & stir in milk. Sift dry ingredients & add to mixture until smooth. Drop batter onto hot, buttered griddle. Turn when the underside is light brown. Finish with your toppings of choice :)
Interior design - It's no secret that Scandinavians have style when it comes to interior decorating. They have the light & airy minimalist look down & I absolutely love it! Also, one of my favorite stores (I'm talkin' about you, Ikea!) originates from Sweden.
The Northern Lights - Scandinavia is one of the best places to see the beautiful Northern Lights! Norway, Iceland, Finland...the possibilities are endless. Even though these can be viewed in certain parts of the U.S. & Canada, I would love to stay at this hotel in Finland! Looking up at the sky in a heated igloo with a glass ceiling? How romantic!
Clothing - I love traditional Scandinavian clothing. The bright colors, prints & embroidery make for absolutely beautiful pieces! I also love that you can find traditionally inspired clothes with a modern update, like this top, this kimono & this skirt!
Photo via Pinterest
Copenhagen - I have to admit that I have never been to Copenhagen, but visiting this capital city of Denmark is definitely on my travel bucket list! Every picture I have seen of Copenhagen makes it seem incredibly beautiful, there is something so captivating about it. A few of the things that I would check out if I were traveling to Copenhagen would be:
- The Little Mermaid statue - Hans Christian Andersen, the author of The Little Mermaid, is from Denmark! The statue was sculpted by Edvard Eriksen to commemorate the fairy tale.
- Frederiksborg Castle - This beautiful castle was built as the home for the royal family. Sadly, most of the original building burned down in the 1850s. The good thing is that it has been rebuilt & is now open to the public as a museum.
- Canals - Called Nyhavn, the district in Copenhagen that has waterfront access & canals, is lined with brightly colored buildings & the waters house gorgeous wooden boats. This is exactly what I picture when I think of Copenhagen.
Photo via Pinterest
Have you ever travelled to a country in Scandinavia or do you have Scandinavian ancestry? What's on your travel bucket list? I'd love to hear! XOXO