6 Things We Can See Only in Scandinavia and Nowhere Else
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3. In Finland, you also get a sword when you obtain a PhD.
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In Finland, recipients of PhD degrees undergo a procedure in which they are given genuine swords and have hats placed on their heads. This is a sign that the new PhD is prepared to defend the good, the truth, and knowledge. They literally don't work for free; they have to pay for the hats and swords themselves and bring them to the event.
4. Huge statues of people
Scandinavian nations have excellent aesthetics, even with the most boring things. 2008 saw the proposal of architects in Iceland to transform common electrical pylons into enormous human figures. The concept behind these "human" pylons, according to the architects, is that they are contemporary caryatids that work for the people.