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I'd say the UK and Ireland have more in common with both Scandinavia and the US/Canada than they do with countries like France, Portugal, Germany, Italy, etc. The only western countries in Europe I'd say are pretty similar are Belgium and the Netherlands. The UK and Ireland have strong linguistic and ancestral ties to the United States and their cultures were also both strongly influenced by the Norse. The temperament of people in those countries is similar to Scandinavia, reservedness and political correctness is widespread though particularly in England. In many parts of the British Isles Norse and Celtic culture thoroughly fused together and the Anglo-Saxons were very similar culturally to Scandinavians.
Then again France did have a big influence on the British Isles, as well as the Low Countries and (through Roman and Renaissance influence) Italy.
Architecture and lifestyle wise: probably continental Western Europe. Northern France, the Netherlands and Belgium in particular. Of course, they don't share too many similarities with southern Spain or southern Italy. Just like Germany and Italy or Spain don't have too much in common.
But yeah, you could always argue differently. Language is a big factor, so the US/Canada would be another choice.
Don't really get the similarities with Scandinavia, though.
1) North America because USA and Canada are former British colonies.
2) Continental western Europe - they are close geographically and there was strong French influence during Norman conquest.
3) Scandinavia - they aren't close geographically and, apart from both being Germanic peoples, they have not that much in common. Yes, there was Scandinavian conquest on Anglo-Saxon England, but Scandinavians didn't bring much in culture.
I'd say the UK and Ireland have more in common with both Scandinavia and the US/Canada than they do with countries like France, Portugal, Germany, Italy, etc. The only western countries in Europe I'd say are pretty similar are Belgium and the Netherlands. The UK and Ireland have strong linguistic and ancestral ties to the United States and their cultures were also both strongly influenced by the Norse. The temperament of people in those countries is similar to Scandinavia, reservedness and political correctness is widespread though particularly in England. In many parts of the British Isles Norse and Celtic culture thoroughly fused together and the Anglo-Saxons were very similar culturally to Scandinavians.
Then again France did have a big influence on the British Isles, as well as the Low Countries and (through Roman and Renaissance influence) Italy.
In agreement to what you've already pointed that the strong linguistic, ancestral, cultural ties are stronger between the United Kingdom and Ireland and the US/Canada even more so with Australia/New Zealand. The love of freedom, independence ties the United Kingdom and Ireland with Scandinavia. Now civilization connects the United Kingdom, Ireland to Western European countries (France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Northern Italy).
Genetically you be the judge. Compare the deeper ancestry (beyond Celtic, Germanic, Latin lineages) for example England (Great Britain), France (Western & Central Europe), Denmark (Scandinavia).
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