Blondes have a fascinating history, both in human origin, migration, culture and in ancient mythology. In Western culture, blonde hair is typically associated with naiveity, youth and innocence, but culturually has seen a remarkable transition from its roots to where it is today.
Blondes in Mythology
Blondes first began appearing around 11,000 years ago during the last ice age, and have since become major figures in mythology. Two of the Norse goddesses, Sif and Freyja were blondes.
Sif was a wife of the god Thor. She was known for her golden hair and was described as the most beautiful of women. She once had her hair shaved off by Loki, the god of mischief. Her hair symbolised fertility and prosperity in agriculture.
Freyja was characterized as a goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, and was said to be the fairest of all goddesses. The Norse people often prayed to her for help in matters of love and to assist with childbirth.
Freyja was also known to assist in such things as war, battle, and death, magic, prophecy, and wealth. One mythical story tells of her receiving half of the dead lost in a battle in her hall Fólkvangr, while Odin took in the other half at Valhalla.
In European tales, fairies preferred blonde hair in people. Blonde babies were more likely to be taken from their cribs and switched with changelings. And young blonde women were often enticed to join the land of the fairies. And of course many of us know the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears!
Genetic History of Blondes
Natural blonde hair, is caused by a lack of a pigment called eumelanin. This pigment deficiency is what gives blondes their hair color.
The general explanation as to how blondes came into being, is related the need for Vitamin D and lower levels of sunlight in some regions. To compensate for the deficiency in sunlight, people with lighter hair and skin were born.
Blondes: Where are they now?
In Northern Europe, natural blondes are a common sight, especially around the areas around the Baltic Sea. Lighter pigmentation of eyes is also associated with people of this region. Some sources, such as Eupedia, claim that in central parts of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland, 80% of the population is blonde, with natural fair-haired people in other Baltic Countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and other parts of Scandinavia) making up 50-79% of the population.
Migration of blondes today can be seen across the globe as far as America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (largely due to colonialism of the last 400-500 years).
The stories of blondes throughout history is fascinating and just a piece of all the amazing things in our past to explore and discover! The Nordics host a rich spectrum of mythology, cultural heritage, migration and history waiting to be discovered.
Now that you’ve expanded your knowledge about the Nordic cultures, surely you would consider visiting one of the most astonishing landscapes destinations in the world!
Check out our holiday packages and choose what best suits your curiosity and budget! Whether it is a weekend break in Iceland, a trip to Finland, a break in Norway or a Northern Lights weekend break, your Nowegian holiday starts here.
