3．人文风情 Culture and Tradition

直到一万多年前北欧才摆脱冰川和大海的限制，成为欧洲最年轻的地区，事实上斯堪的纳维亚半岛本身就是在地球最后一个冰川期形成的，直至今日冰岛与斯堪的纳维亚山脉的面积依然被现代冰川占据了一部分。受北大西洋暖流、挪威暖流及西来气旋的影响，整个斯堪的纳维亚地区夏季温和而短促，冬季寒冷而漫长，属寒温带气候。由于斯堪的纳维亚是欧洲冰盖消退最晚的地区，林区树种相对贫乏，生态环境比较单一，但是森林面积广阔，是世界上重要的木材及木制品生产出口地区。在历史上北欧五国曾被当作一个整体，北欧诸国之间有着非常密切、休戚与共的姻亲关系和相似之处。这不仅仅是因为它们具有共同的自然背景，在更多情况下是由于它们有着共同的宗教信仰、类似的文化传统和相似的政治环境、经济模式等背景因素。

10,000 years ago Northern Europe was just extricated itself from glaciers and oceans. It is the youngest area in Europe. Scandinavia peninsula taken shape in the last period of Ice Age, up to now, still a part of the area in Iceland and Scandinavian Mountains is occupied by glaciers. Effected by the warm current of Norway and North Atlantic, and the cyclone from the west, the whole Scandinavia area has temperate and short summer, but cold and long winter. It belongs to cool temperature zone. In Scandinavia where ice sheets melt very late compared to the whole Europe, so the environment is poor for planting trees. The ecological condition is quite simple, and area of forest is board.It is an important area of timber and woodworks exportation in the world. In history, the five countries in Northern Europe were regarded as a union. They had very close relations and shared jointly in-laws. It is not only because they have similar natural background, but the related culture, tradition and similar political background, economic pattern etc.

北欧是一个高福利、保障制度完善、注重休闲的地区。北欧人的自然、简单、幸福的慢生活态度是现代人所向往的，北欧的居民们回归平实、悠然惬意，被称为地球上最懂得生活的一群人。下午四五点钟，北欧人已经下班开着车到达湖边或山上，开始了他们的休闲度假。北欧国家并没有太多的高楼大厦，人们穿着朴素，开旧车，吃简单健康的食物，没有灯红酒绿的夜生活，也没有奢华的消费刺激人的神经。他们重视生活的品质胜于物质追求，重视与家人的团聚时光。但这并不意味着北欧人对工作的倦怠，为了提高工作效率，北欧人总是绞尽脑汁，思考如何改良技术，改进机器设备。

Northern Europe is an area enjoys high welfare, completed social security system and leisure environment. The residences living in this area are simple and casual. They are regarded are the group who enjoy life most on earth. When four or five clock in the evening, people will drive their cars to the lake or mountain, start their vocation. Northern European countries don't have many tall buildings. People wear plain clothes, driving old cars and eating healthy and natural food, without ritzy and glitzy nightlife and luxurious consumptions to stimulate their nerves. However, they are not bored with work. For enhancing the efficiency of work, Northern Europeans always rack their brains thinking about how to enhancing the technologies and machine equipment.

北欧人具有节俭及适度的消费观念，他们重视实际效用，但并不是降低自身的享受，而是将一些外在的浮华抛弃掉，正因为如此，北欧人比其他先进国家的人活得更舒适也更自由自在。北欧人讲究务实、不浮夸，不迷信名牌，只注重对象本身的价值，因此北欧家具以实用、耐用著称，售后的维修服务也较为完善。北欧人提倡购买经久耐用、兼具多种用途的家具及装饰品，甚至要考虑是否能够回收。

Northern Europeans hold moderate and thrifty consumption attitude. They pay attention to practical function, but not to minimize the enjoyment of life. It is discarding the superficial decorations. Therefore, Northern Europeans are more relaxed and freer than other people in developed countries. They stress on practical and unexaggerated essence, and are not obsessed with brands. They only emphasize on the inner value of the object itself, so Northern European furniture is renowned for it's practical and endurable function, and maintenance service is completed. Northern Europeans advocate purchasing endurable and high functional furniture and adornments and even consider whether they can be reclaimed.