hetalia | Question about the Nordic 5

Well, I like the Nordic 5 partly because I'm Dane and love the Denmark in hetalia <3 but for reasons to like Nordic 5... Okay, I think I got some:

1) The characters are very deep and well made; the way the characters have several "layers" in their personality makes them very likeable
2) They're GORGEOUS!
3) Their history; how they were a family, then kind of broke up and then became friends again.

Are you Dane? :D That's good. I bet, you are proud of this character. I am Hungarian and really proud of Hungary in Hetalia! She acts like a boy (tomboy), and yaoi-fan. I think most of women in Hungary love the yaoi xD

Good for you! Sadly isn't there a lot of yaoi lovers in Denmark. Main reason is probably that THERE IS NO HETALIA IN DENMARK! I am VERY grateful for the internet.

I really, really love them.

I'm interested in them for a few different reasons. Here are some of them:

* Their character designs are very pretty :D

* The history of the region is fascinating to me. I didn't learn anything about that part of the world in school, so researching the history of these countries for fic makes me learn things that are (to me) completely new and exciting.

* The history gives the lives of the characters a narrative that is appealing. By that I mean - centuries and centuries of conflict leading to, eventually, an existence that is not only peaceful, but also friendly! They've gone from fighting each other to making silly jokes about each other instead. It's like a happy ending (except of course not really an ending, because there is no end--!)

* I like the family relationship dynamic. With Norway and Iceland, there is the whole "clingy older brother" thing, as well as potential for Norway being both a brotherly figure and a parental figure. With Denmark and Norway, well - the way they act toward each other in the strips reminds me very much of myself and my brother, and I find that hilarious. With the Scandinavia Trio (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), family ties make the centuries of conflict followed by peace even more bitter and sweet, I think.

* Geographically, these characters lend themselves to a setting that is appealing to me in fanwork. I'm not from northern Europe (though I have traveled there), but I am from northern Canada, and in many ways the landscape is similar - and also the long, cold, dark winters. So the characters lend me a setting that I feel comfortable working with. There's something familiar and pleasant about it.

* They're hilarious. I just -- I find them really funny.

So, essentially, I'm mostly interested in the Nordics because I am interested in the history/culture/geography of the actual countries, but things like the family relationship they have and the silly ways they interact with one another in the comics reinforce that interest.

Let's see…

1) For me, here's a historical/cultural connection. (I'm an American, but I have ancestors from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. ^^)

2) As others have already said, I really, really like their character designs a lot. (I also like how Himaruya-san made Norway kind of "whimsical" with a floating curl and the ability to see magical creatures. :3 I feel it's kind of been implied that Iceland can see fairy creatures, too, and I hope that will be completely canon some day. ^u^)

3) I like the brotherly relationships and poking fun at each other, most especially between Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. I'm also interested in the contrast and comparison aspect of their personalities and experiences/histories (again, especially between Norway, Denmark and Sweden).

I feel the same way as you do!

I just want to add a personal opinion about the Nordics before appropriately answering your questions, but I believe it's Hetalia that started this worldwide interest with Northern Europe. Everywhere now you see a lot of people being really into Nordic culture and history, we even have experts in the subjects for that region who are not even from Northern Europe. Sometimes I find myself looking at Nordic related topics and think, "How come their region is loved by many?" Well I have seen many posts since that glorify a lot of facts with the Nordic countries. Have you noticed that?

So about your questions. My personal answer is:

It's technically an entire sub-region of Europe being covered in Hetalia. There are still potholes with other sub-regions in Europe where most Hetalia characters are based in. Adding Portugal to the cast would complete the Romance nations (Italy brothers, France, Spain, and Romania), adding Czechia and Slovakia would complete the Central Slavic nations, Luxembourg completing the Benelux family, which are even confirmed to be related as siblings, and are nations of the Low Lands; examples to name. Originally, the Nordics started with Finland and Sweden debuting together in the earlier chapters, then Denmark was shown to make a cameo. Finally when Norway and Iceland were added, it was assumed they are one big family as all of them are related in so many ways. This goes as well with the East Asians (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, (Macau not often added due to vague background, Vietnam often added due to relations with China despite being a mainland Southeast Asian nation, Thailand even joining just to accompany Vietnam)).

In short (TL; DR), we like it when national groups are complete, and thankfully the Nordics are a complete group, perhaps a notable one. The fandom likes to treat every nation as family, and with a closely-knitted region like Northern Europe, it was natural the fans would love the Nordics. We could see nations coming soon to fill the potholes and perhaps more regions will get the same appreciation as the Nordics are! Himaruya promised completing the ASEAN nations years ago, and I think a combo with Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Philippines, as the main nations of maritime Southeast Asia, would call for a fan boom. Heheh wishful thinking.

I apologize for this long post! So I posted spontaneously selected this image to post here.

I think part of it is the simple fact that Hima likes to platonic-pair up characters who are sort of clashing in some aspects. These combinations usually include one lighthearted and one serious character (Italy and Germany, Romano and Spain, Sweden and Finland, Norway and Denmark...).
This is a good comedic setting, but can also be used in a heartwarming way.
Now, with the nordics, not only do we get two of these strategically very clever platonic-pairs, but a larger group with the same function. It's basically the same as with the Allies, but with less open provocation and more dorkiness and misunderstandings (due to Sweden being scary and Denmark being kind of oblivious).

I could write a book on this LOL.

boils down to I have always had a thing for Norse culture, and mythos and I think Sweden is too cute for words.

Oh, and Denmark reminds me of my brothers more than a little.

If I had to give a short answer I'd say first, that they're all such interesting characters with so many layers to explore, and second, that they're such a close knit group, it makes the dynamics of the relationships interesting.

Because I'm from Australia and it's summer B( ~~jfc that's actually enough reason to like the nordic 5~~

I've always been attracted to the cold, I suppose.

I don't think I have any other good reason for liking them... But oh, I lovr how Denmark and Sweden's personality conflicts with each other, and even moreso with Gustavus Adolphus, who is such an important figure in Swedish history, but comes off closer in personality to Denmark. idk I really like that. And then there's his chancellor, Axel Oxenstierna, who /is/ Sve! Sort of. Right, I'll stop right around here. xD

I agree with the others here, that the character design is really amazing and the dynamic they have as a family and friends that show them both all together and when they have had hard times with one another. I also like learning about the history of the Nordics, especially since Nordic countries were not talked about as much as other countries in the education system. What I like most about them is definitely their personalities and how they compare and compliment one another.

-I'm going to echo

yuuago's point about not having learned anything about this region of the world in school, and feel now that I'm starting to learn more about Northern Europe because of Hetalia that this was a real shame, because the more I learn about Nordic countries, the more I realize how quirkily awesome they are.

-Their character designs are gorgeous

-I love characters who are actually very different on the inside from the impression that they give to the casual outside viewer. Sweden especially embodies this trait, and to a smaller degree Finland and Norway.

-I love the dynamic between them. Their personalities are all so different, so it makes it very interesting to watch them interact.

Hey, your question is interesting and here is my answer because I love the Nordics 5 the most in Hetalia.

1/ I'd been always drawn into Northern Europe even without knowing it was Northern Europe. Sorry this doesn't make sense xD I mean, since I was a child, I always loved things from Northern Europe like the Norsemyth and Scandinavian and some pop groups but I didn't know about those countries until Hetalia. So I think, I was destinied to love the Nordics 5 no matter what

2/ I love it when Himaruya always presents them as a group, a family. And they're always together. If you look into the map, you can see that they're on the top of Europe and it looks like they're the most noble countries and they separate themselves from the rest of Europe (well, they don't but I like to think like that). And I like both of their dynamic in Hetalia and in histories/cultures. It's really hilarious when you read a joke or a tale of a country about the other and due to their long histories and how they hate or feel about the others, those are just so interesting and when you apply them into Hetalia, they're just so true. You think of the countries in Hetalia designs with whose jokes and that even makes everything better.

3/ The rest is mentioned by other people here, idk, honestly I could write you essays about what I love of the Nordics 5 (and other Europe countries too) but I can't just put all in order. Basically, I love the Nordics first, then I discover more things about Northern Europe and I just love them more.

I'm an Asian girl btw, because I've seen here people mostly are from the West xD

Apart from them ~~subjectively~~ being the cutest, most dynamic family in the show? What's not to love!

For me it's the type of relationship they all have with each other, except maybe with a twist of a more somber and deep connection than the comics show. When you consider their history, their must be a lot more to their attitudes towards each other than simply everyone hating on Den or Sve just being the really scary guy and such. I can imagine there's been more of enough betrayal and antagonism that makes them a really interesting bunch to read and write. Especially now that they're friendly, and I imagine, more like actual brothers. Their culture has a lot to do with it too. I can go on forever, but it'd pretty much be everything Yuuago wrote.

I just love them so much.

I love each of their personalities ^^b they're so interesting!
ah and I like Iceland too much~
And they are like a family <3

Edited 2013-10-12 20:11 (UTC)

I love Denmark and Norway from hetalia because I read about history of the real Countries and I found beautiful things about them.
And these characters feel different feelings: love of brothers, love of lovers, hate of enemies.... it's a complicated relationship, and I like it.

Peace and love from Italy (I'm Italian :3 )!

I really like the point of view "we like it when national groups are complete" Nodics is the only national groups that has been completed in my thought, I like their relationship, they always appear together, I remember Denmark ranked the first of the happiest country, Norway ranked the second, and Sweden Finland Iceland also got into the top ten, they almost appear in the list every year! They have similar culture but also have their own characters, I don't know how to say, that gives me a feeling that they are ture family. there are many other reasons in real world like the geography and history, Norway had been together with Denmark for more than 400 years until he was taken by Sweden, although there're qurrals between Danmak and Sweden, but I insist they still admit they are friends in their mind.
I deadly ship the couple Denmark and Norway, I like denmark's enthusiasm and norway's coldness, that's a big contrast, but they can both act very stupidly~they are sooooo cute!
I am an asain who do not have any culture or geography connections with the Nordics, but still I love them so much, I started to have interest in their culture and history after reading Hetalia~I once felt confused about why nordics are extramly welcomed as well（you know we even had a Nordics only comics exhibiton this summer in China）, but after I saw your entry and the answers, I think I kinda understand~ feeling deadly happy that so many people around the world are also in love with the Nordics~

Reasons why i like the Nordic 5
1. They're attractive. No further explanations needed.
2. In some ways, they are similar to the Allies. And I am quite fond of the Allies. The only apparent difference is that they are quite civilized with each other unlike the Allies.
3. I like their dynamics as a group.
4. i like how their friendship is portrayed. And I've heard that in real life, the Nordic countries have this relationship.
5. I like their history.
5. I like DenNor. I really like their dynamics as a couple.
6. I really like Denmark, Norway and Iceland individually. Because I like their personalities. Not that I hate Sweden or Finland. I like them too but not as much as these three.

Question about the Nordic 5

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