I have two nationalities: Finnish and English. I have lived in Finland for almost two decades, which is most of my life, yet I still feel like my sense of Finnishness has somehow been warped. What makes me feel Finnish? Is it the language, my understanding of the culture? Or is it simply the luck of being born half Finnish from the get-go? What is Finnishness?
Finnishness is a feeling you can’t fully translate, you have to experience it. It’s the quiet of endless forests, the warmth of a summer sauna, the deep stillness of winter nights and the stubborn resilience we call sisu. It’s a culture built on calm, structure and small everyday rituals that make life feel steady. In this blog post, I’ll share what Finnishness means to me: the nature, the seasons, the silence and the strength that shape our identity.
Finland is not a loud country. It does not try to impress you. But the longer you spend here, the more it gets under your skin in the best possible way. Two things have stayed with me the most: the sauna and the silence. Both have taught me something I did not expect to learn.
What else you I can wish for?
I step out of the sauna. I take my towel and a bottle of beer. Walking down the stairs, I feel how the soft wind sweeps my face. I look at the darkening sky and hear some lonely blackbird whispering. Time stands still and I know I’m safe here. For me, finnishness is somehow a mix of a nature, peace and presence.
I truly don't believe that there is a clear indication of Finnishness in any particular lifestyle, as it can differ from person to person. I think anyone can define their own Finnishness themselves. There are some values though, that can probably be associated closely with Finns.
For me Finnishness and Finland is all about peace. The peaceful nature and safe society have created an excellent environment for me to grow as a person and explore my purposes in life.
The kindness and purity felt all around Finland inspires your inner peace to grow and your well-being to thrive!
My experiences of Finnishness
