Skip to content
My Experiences of Finnishness

Tag: sisu

Sisu and sauna

You might have an understanding about the Finnish culture, or not.

Finnishness: Everything I Am Not

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.

Finnishness

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.

Use SISU for good

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. 

My Experiences of Finnishness

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.

Getting to know Finn-land

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.

What is Finnishness made of?

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.

The Finnish way of life – it is what it is, no use of crying about it

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?

The Some Elements of Finnishness

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?

Finnishness

For me, Finnishness refers to "sisu," a unique Finnish concept. It's this inner strength that enables them to confront challenges with unwavering resolve.

Finnishness

What is finnishness? It's everything that has something to do with Finland, basically.

Finnishness

People of few words, land of thousands of lakes and million saunas

We Finns - Mikko Louhimaa

In this blog post I ponder Finnishness from the perspective of its social dynamics and the contrast between its modesty and appeal. I address the question of why Finns keep coming back to Finland from travelling or living abroad.

My Experience of Finnishness

Finland is the country of a thousand lakes and saunas. This blog discusses Finnishness such as what is it like to live in Finland, sisu and my experiences of Finnishness.