When I think about Finnishness, I see values and habits that are completely different from my own. Finland gave me calmness for a while, but at the same time, I felt like I was living in a world that didn’t belong to me.
What does it mean to be Finnish? For me, Finnishness is a unique mix of silence, nature, sauna, honesty, and perseverance. These small but powerful aspects shape how we live, think, and interact with the world.
This blog tells how I, a Finnish person, sees Finnishness and how it shapes the Finnish culture and people.
SISU. Such a strong and weird word to be honest and also hard to explain to anyone outside Finland. Writing about Finland and Finnishness does not come easy for me. As a kid and teenager I felt very mixed towards Finland, always dreaming of life elsewhere and feeling like I’m not fitting in. Salmiakki was probably the only thing I liked about Finland back then. But during the years my love and proudness of Finland has increased. I have really learned to love things like sauna, winter, birch trees, Moomins, and cinnamon buns. But that is not everything about Finnishness for me. The most important thing has been to find out what SISU means for me.
Finnishness is a unique blend of simplicity, resilience, and a profound connection to nature. Living in Finland has offered me a glimpse into a culture that values silence as much as it values honesty, and where even the smallest traditions carry deep meaning. Join me as I reflect on my experiences and observations about what makes Finnishness so remarkable.
Finnish culture is often described through its simplicity, resilience, and deep connection with nature. When I came to experience it myself 3 years ago, I created my own understanding of what it means to be Finnish, with sauna, silence, and the Finnish concept of sisu on the forefront.
Finnishness is a sum of many great and unique elements that sets us apart from other nations and their people. In my blog post I will open a few of the elements which I believe are cornerstones of Finnishness.
To many people Finns might first seem grumpy and pessimistic. But honestly, I think us Finns are more like hobbits from the Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. We value our food, friends and family, we like a good party, and most of us prefer a more simplistic lifestyle. But what makes our Finnish way of life unique?
Finnishness is a multifaceted experience, quality and frankly way of life that every person has their own opinion about. These are some elements of Finnishness that I've come across as a Finn who has lived her whole life in Finland... Surprising right?
