It is funny to see how the global media portray the Nordic welfare model. Sometimes described as fairytale states and other times like a socialism nightmare. This is what I experienced growing up and living in the Scandinavian societies.

Have you ever wondered how it would be to live in a Scandinavian society? The Nordic countries are often described as welfare capitalists countries.

Iā€™m born and raised in Denmark and now living in Norway. I have all my life been a part of the Nordic Model that often is facing wonder and resistance.

A product of the Nordic model

While reading this you should keep in mind that I am a product of the system. All systems have their good and bad sides.

As a kid I learned in school about The Nordic Model and how the Nordic countries have succeeded with having free market activity but with government intervention to distribute goods equally in society.

Read more: Scandinavian ā€˜Socialismā€™: The Truth of the Nordic Model

There are differences between the Nordic countries but the system builds on the same principles. The one with the highest salaries contributes the most to society while the ones with a low or no income are able to get more help from the state.

All citizens have the same rights to access free healthcare, free schools, free libraries and so on. All this comes with a price tag. I will return to this later.Ā 

Growing up in Scandinavia

Growing up in Denmark I did not pay much attention to the fact that I was able to enter a good public school for free, visit the doctor and dentist for free.

Even though my parents had a low income they could still manage to raise me and my three siblings so we had the same opportunities as other kids from more wealthy families. They did not need more than one job to make it work.

My mom had almost a year of paid maternity leave with each of her children and when she started working again my parents used the subsided kindergartens to look after us.Ā 

My childhood was safe and careless. My mom did as many other Scandinavians let her babies sleep outside in a baby carriage. You will also see this happen even in public places if you visit one of the Nordic countries. In some towns it is also normal to leave your house without locking the door.

There is a high level of trust in other people, police, legal justice and even the government in the Nordic countries. The crime rates are low and the level of corruption is low.Ā 

Money for studying

I do not think I made any bigger reflections about living in the Nordic welfare state before I was on exchange in Tasmania when I studied to become a journalist. Here I met students from all over the world and with totally different backgrounds than my own.

It was a subject among my fellow students how they managed to pay for education and the time abroad in Australia. It felt a bit weird saying that I did not pay anything for my education. Education is free in Denmark, I explained. You can choose any university and with good grades – any degree.Ā 

It was even a bit embarrassing when I told them that I monthly received a scholarship of around 600 dollars from the Danish state. ā€œWhat!? You receive money for studying?ā€ said they in disbelief.

This even called on a reaction from my Norwegian friends. Norwegians borrow the scholarship and itā€™s not unusual that Norwegians have a study debt when they finish their university degree.

Thanks to the Danish system I could manage to finish my degree in Journalism without borrowing a penny. I did however have jobs on the side because living costs are high in Nordic countries. I feel very grateful that I did not have to stress about money while studying.Ā 

The tax

The free education and healthcare of course comes with a price. While I was living and working in Denmark I paid around 46 percent of my salary in tax. Bye money. 

Denmark has one of the highest tax burdens in the world. The tax differs from each Nordic country and so do the social rights. For example you pay for a doctor consultation in Norway while this is free in Denmark.

The majority of the political parties support the Scandinavian model. Income tax and tax distribution are regularly debated among the political parties but no one is really talking about canceling the model.

When you have a large amount of government, you do not always have the right to decide your own way of life. You will face rules and regulations if you stand too much out from society norms. Sometimes this can be seen as a unification of society as equality and fairness are strong priorities.

Challenges in a welfare state

You get used to the benefits of living in a welfare state and in such a way that you blame the government or the state if something is wrong. Many people have huge expectations of the state offering good service in elder homes, schools, hospitals, etc.

Many Nordic countries face challenges such as a growing elderly population in need of healthcare and trouble with providing the need with a smaller working population.Ā 

You will often see stories in Danish media of weak elderlies not getting good enough care. They miss showers and cleaning. In other countries the families take another individual responsibility of their elder family members. Living three generations under one roof is unusual in Denmark and people expect the state to take care.

As the population balance shifts the other way, benefit reductions are a likely outcome. In Denmark, social reforms have spawned strong reactions and it can be a losing cause for the government. 

Also immigration has been a hot topic for several years. Some newcomers are seeking the Nordic countries to enjoy generous public benefits.

Some of the newcomers often come from countries without a long history of making decisions on behalf of the common good.

Immigration to the Nordic countries has caused division in politics and society across the region. As a result, it is now much harder for foreigners to become residents in Denmark.

A happy ScandinavianĀ 

In spite of high taxation, high government intervention, cold weather and the dark winters Iā€™m happy and grateful to be born in a Nordic country. Despite coming from a family with no longer education, I could still get the education I aimed for.

I feel safe because there is social security if I lose my job, get sick or in any other way gets in trouble. And I like the fact that I contribute to a common good.

The standard of living in a Nordic country is high and most people are able to create a good living for themselves and others.

Read more: Denmark v Norway: Two Scandinavian Countries Compared

Even though I sometimes dream about living in a completely different country with another society structure, Iā€™m getting too comfortable to leave because life is good and comfortable in the north.

The post A Scandinavian Explains Scandinavian Society appeared first on ŗ£½ĒÖ±²„.

Scandinavian history is a long and complex one. For example, Norway was a part of Denmark for hundreds of years.

The separation was the biggest loss of territory in the history of Denmark. Even so, the historical event has a surprisingly small awareness in the mind of a modern Dane.

Denmark's role in the history of Norway

According to the Danish historian Rasmus GlenthĆøj, Denmark plays a major role in the history of Norway. Norwegians with big festivities celebrate Constitution Day on the 17th May marking the end of Norway-Denmark and the birth of Norway as an independent state.

So why is Norway a missing part of Danish history writing? Due to the lack of Danish history writing from the time,

The loss of Norway in 1814 was not the only headache for the Danish kingdom as Denmark lost Schleswig-Holstein in 1864. This national trauma is well processed in Danish history, literature, politics and arts.

The separation with Norway perhaps got less attention both due the lack of professional history writing at that time and because the loss was very embarrassing for the Danish King Frederik VI. As with a bad break up he did his very best to forget all about Norway.

“He introduced censorship, banned Norwegian newspapers and got the officials to publish pamphlets wording the separation was a blessing for Denmark because Norway was an economic burden. But that was a lie,” said Rasmus GlenthĆøj to the Danish science website in 2012.

Norway has perhaps been trivialized in Danish history, but both the union and separation have in many ways shaped the two countries. Here is what happened and what let to the end of Denmark-Norway also known by the name ā€œTwin Kingdomsā€.

Good or bad times for Norway?

The period between 1380 and 1814 is popularly referred to as “the Danish time” in Norway as Denmark was more or less the leading kingdom in the north and eventually also the governing state of Norway.

Some historians describe this period as bad for Norway because of the loss of political governance and national identity.

Other historians emphasize that although Norway lost its own political governing, the population grew and the economy improved under the Danish period.

The Kalmar Union of Scandinavia

In the beginning the union was actually a united Scandinavia. For over 100 years, the countries of Norway, Denmark and Sweden ā€“ which at the time also included much of modern Finland – were united under a single crown known as the Kalmar Union.

The three kingdoms had formal status as independent kingdoms under a common king. Even though the countries in formalities were on equal footing, Norway was becoming a little brother in the union during the 1400. During the middle ages Denmark was the strongest political and economic power in the North.

The Kalmar Union stood from 1397 until 1523. A bloody massacre – known as the Stockholm massacre –  began only four days after King Christian II of Denmark and Norway was crowned as king of Sweden 4th of November 1520.

During two days 100 opponents were executed by the new king and his followers. This was an attempt to silence the new King's opponents and strengthen The Kalmar Union. It didn't go as planned. Actually it ended as a big backlash for Christian II.

The Swedish nobleman Gustav Eriksson (Vasa) led a new uprising and swept the new king Christian II out of Sweden in 1523. Sweden declared its independence and elected Gustav Vasa as its monarch. The end of Kalmar Union.

Norway becomes a province

In 1536, King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and the Danish royalties decided that Norway should be ruled under Denmark's crown and therefore couldn't be called a kingdom of its own.

Norway had since 1380 shared the king with Denmark but had its own governing institution in the shape of a state council. The members of the council were chosen by the king. Not all members were fond of the idea of a total loss of sovereignty to the Danish kingdom.

The chairman of the council and archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson was a strong opponent of Christian III. At this time the archbishop was Norway's most powerful man. He was fighting for Norwegian independence and a Crown under the Catholic church.

King Christian III was influenced by Lutherā€™s idea and already the year after he forced the Reformation by military power when he decided to abolish the Catholic Church.

Olav Engelbrektsson tried to prevent this but didn't succeed and he had to flee Norway. Catholic Church property and the personal property of Catholic priests were confiscated by the Crown during the Reformation. The decline of Norway was indicated by the abolition of the Norwegian state council.

Why did Norway become a part of Denmark?

Many have questioned why Norway gave up its sovereignty with the end of the Kalmar Union. One idea proposed is the impact of the plague. After the plague, there was no longer an elite in the country that could maintain the Norwegian state, according to some historians.

After the epidemic, the population in Norway was approximately 150,000 people and this was probably halvation from before the Black Death arrived.

However, no research suggests that Norway should have been more hit by the plague than other countries. According to some historians the Black Death can therefore not explain why Norway became a province under the Kingdom of Denmark.

Another reason why Norway, in contrast to Sweden, became subordinate to Denmark, may have been the link between the Norwegian council state and Catholicism, others suggest. When the Catholic uprising failed against the Reformation and the Danish Crown it led to the loss of sovereignty.

So itā€™s not really clear why Norway lost its independence. Nevertheless, the time during 1537ā€“1660 did not mean a complete incorporation of Norway under Denmark, but the previously relatively free position in the union was severely limited.

Norway's time under the Danish kingdom

The Danish language had over time became the language of the elite, the church, literature, and the law in Norway. For more than three hundred years the written language was Danish in Norway. People still talked in dialects but wrote Danish.

It was not only the Danish language that influenced Norway. Much art, literature, theater and music came from Denmark or via Denmark.

Higher taxes and the end of Norway-Denmark

Over time, Norway eventually grew in wealth and strength to become a more equal partner in the union with Denmark. The feudal, agrarian economy of Denmark and the ā€˜modernā€™ industrial economy of Norway complemented each other well. Trade within the twin kingdoms was high and each was pulling its own weight.

The Napoleonic Wars tore centuries-old states and alliances apart. Denmark had for several years been plagued by war, internal unrest and foreign policy pressure.

Standing on the losing part in the war eventually the armies turned their attention to Denmark, and it didnā€™t take much persuasion to get King Frederick to hand over Norway to Sweden.

On January 18th, King Frederick VI of Denmark issued a letter to Norwegians releasing them from his rule. In 1814 Denmark-Norway was officially over.

Shaping a new national identity

Before 1814, there was a fluid transition between Norwegian and Danish. It was not unlikely that a Norwegian could see themselves as a Danish citizen. But after the separation many Norwegians had a desire to Denmark was no longer looked on as an ideal but more as a suppressor.

The nationalistic movements in Europe gave rise to this powerful desire for self-determination. One thing was to create a separate Norwegian language. The cultural struggle between Danish and Norwegian is also the reason why Norway today has two official written languages.

As for Denmark, the separation was a step on the way towards democracy and self-perception as a small state.

Today both countries have a close relationship. We have our differences but Danes would say that Norwegians are the people we are the most alike.

The post The Story of the Denmark-Norway Union appeared first on ŗ£½ĒÖ±²„.

People often mix up Norway and Denmark. I understand why. Danes would say that Norwegians are the people we are the most alike.

We share a long history, Norway was a part of Denmark for more than two hundred years, we (mostly) understand each other's languages, the cross flags look alike and our Scandinavian society structures and welfare systems are also quite similar.

But some of the differences between the two countries are big. I have lived in both countries and Iā€™m currently living in Norway. Here are some of the differences I have experienced as a Dane living in Norway.

Alcohol culture 

Denmark has a much more relaxed relationship to alcohol, whereas the approach to alcohol in Norway is way more strict. You can buy hard liquor, beer and wine in any kiosk or grocery shop in Denmark. The freedom to drink is a big part of Danish culture.

During the summer the Danes sit in parks and harbours and enjoy alcohol. Danes are also really fond of beer and they are willing to share this appreciation with others.

At festivals and bigger football matches it is common to experience how Danes suddenly throw beer up in the air as a special form of cheering. And itā€™s not unusual that Danes serve beer and liquor at baptism parties while this would be socially unacceptable in Norway.

Read more: Fun Facts About Denmark

In Norway the state has a monopoly on selling alcohol and selling is limited to shops called Vinmonopolet.

In Norway, drinking alcohol is not allowed in public places and you may end up getting a fine. Also a tap beer costs around $5 in Denmark while you have to pay an overwhelming $14 in Norway, and it's super Danish to point out how expensive it is to purchase a drink in Norway.

Use of nature

Compared to Norway, Denmark is as flat as a pancake. Norway has mountains and big national parks and so many opportunities for hiking and skiing. Norwegians are way better than Danes to use nature all year around. They are more outdoorsy and used to unpredictable weather and wild nature.

It makes me happy to see how Norwegians of all ages and shapes get outside and enjoy great nature experiences. On hikes where Iā€™m out of breath, Iā€™m overtaken by Norwegians with small kids and small dogs heading smoothly up the rocky, steep path to the mountain.

Read more: Friluftsliv: The Norwegian Love of the Outdoors

It is common to see Norwegians hiking with a baby in a backpack. For a Dane thatā€™s mostly familiar with sandy beaches, this is a very rare sight.

Be careful on your bicycle

Danes love bicycling as a means of transportation, whether it is to work, school or getting around in the city. In Denmark we have bicycle lanes everywhere and of course this is easier when you are in a flat country. Itā€™s both safe and easy to get around by bicycle in Denmark.

I thought it would be manageable in Oslo as it is quite flat in the city center, so I tried to bicycle in Oslo and I was terrified. Suddenly the bicycle lanes just stopped and I was zig-zagging to avoid hitting pedestrians, people on scooters or myself being hit by a car.

In Norway you most likely have to share the road with other types of traffic, and those are not always familiar with bicycles in traffic.

Danish and Norwegian traditions

Norwegians do take traditions seriously compared to Denmark! A good example would be the celebration of the Norwegian Constitution Day, the 17th of May. Itā€™s a public holiday where Norwegians dress up in national costumes that cost a fortune.

In Denmark, national costumes are not for anything other than folk dancing. Danes will consider you as silly if you suddenly approach a party in this outfit.

On the special day in Norway, people are celebrating with parades and music and they wave with the Norwegian flag pretty much everywhere – even on mountain peaks. For Norwegians the 17th of May is bigger than Christmas and New Years.

Some years I didn't even notice the constitution day in Denmark. It is not a public holiday, you are not dressing up nor is it a big celebration.You can hear some political speeches here and there and thatā€™s pretty much it.

Quality of food in Denmark and Norway

The quality of food is not that great in Norway – sorry Norway. In Denmark the selection of food is wider and you have a bigger and more affordable selection.

Norwegians like a quick meal and sometimes it seems as if Norwegians are only eating because they have to. I was surprised the first time I went grocery shopping in Norway, the wide selection of pizzas, fast meals and taco seemed enormous.

A good thing in Norway is the selection of fish, however. Even though Denmark is surrounded by the sea, Danes donā€™t eat that much fish, and the variety of fish they eat tends to be on the sad side.

Norwegians enjoy their fish and eat it multiple days a week. In Norway fish is considered more affordable and you can buy fresh fish in many grocery stores.

Avoid chit-chat

Danish people are known for their open, direct style of communication. Danes tend not to lie or make excuses for why they say things. This can cause some problems as some Norwegians are more cautious in what they say and do.

Read more: Things To Do In Copenhagen, Denmark

Norwegians are more reserved and seem to be happy if they can avoid chit-chatting. For example itā€™s not always you get a ā€œhiā€ back if you say hello to a Norwegian in an elevator. Oh, this feels so awkward when you share the elevators for five floors.

I try my best not to be regarded as a rude Dane so sometimes I have to hold my tongue so I don't say anything that leads to misunderstandings or creating some uncomfortable situation.

But when you get that Norweiagen friend – it can take a while – the Danish humor and approach will not be something to consider.

Even though we sometimes misunderstand each other, Norwegian and Denmark are like siblings. We love to compare and measure things up against each other and we like to tease each other with the differences in our languages and culture.

This article is opinion based and I expect that people have other opinions. Because I have only lived in Norway for a short duration, I believe more differences and similarities will show up later on. Without a doubt I can say that both countries are absolutely great to live in!

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