Scandanavian Folklore and Traditions in Disney's Frozen

Disney’s Frozen draws inspiration from the diverse geography, mythology, and cultural traditions of Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, each with its own unique languages, customs, and histories.

The extremes of day and night experienced by Scandanavian people for millennia have naturally inspired rich outdoor and indoor traditions. One of the latter is encapsulated by the Danish word hygge (also used in Norway), which is loosely translated as “cozy” and applied to any indoor activities that bring warmth and happiness, often shared with family and friends.

Song and dance also form an important part of Scandanavian folk traditions. The songs of the Saami people, who today live across the far northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and even Russia—well above the Arctic Circle—are rooted in a unique vocal style called joiking, which is featured in Frozen.

One of the most striking elements of the Scandanavian countries is geography. The towering mountains and picturesque fjords of Norway, in particular, inspired the setting of Frozen’s Arendelle, a fictional seaside kingdom. Key to our story is the far northern latitude, which causes nearly endless sunshine in the summer and almost total darkness in the winter, during which the famed Northern Lights dance in the sky.

The balance of summer and winter is essential to survival; without summer there will be nothing to harvest to sustain life during the harsh, cold, dark winter. Among the animals that can survive the temperature extremes are reindeer, which have been used by Scandanavian people for work, food, and clothing.

The CTC Original Production of Disney’s Frozen The Broadway Musical is on stage April 15-June 15, 2025. Learn more and get tickets today!