To me the word Finnishness means my origin, the first culture and environment I have learnt to know. In this twenty-something years I have lived in this country the following things have become my top three favorites:
The Finnish sauna
Sauna has always belonged into my life in a regular basis since childhood. Even when growing older and moving on my own I have always made sure there is sauna somewhere around. Sauna is the place to go for relaxation and forgetting all stress in life. In the sauna time just stops and all you have to do is to throw some water on the sauna stove. I hope sauna will get more popular abroad as I believe it could help anyone to relax and take a break from the hectic life!
White nights
I love the Finnish summer at the moments when it’s warm and the nights are endless. One of my favorite things to do is to go out on a summer night and just walk around and adore the midnight sun. I love the nights when the dark moment is a blink of an eye and it feels like you never have to go to sleep. There is something magical in those nights, and I think the reason that makes it so unique and interesting is that it lasts such a short time. Just like Finnish summer in general.
First snow
I don’t like winter but I like the first snow. It makes me so cheerful and I just want to go out to make snow angels. Usually the first snow is not enough for that but makes me happy anyway. The weather is frosty and fresh and the snow brightens up the whole scene. It brings some hope in the pitch black rainy autumn and gives some relief to the everlasting darkness. Just the counter side of this is that the traffic gets immediately messed up after the first snow. It’s funny how it always comes as a big surprise and people suddenly lose their driving skills and trains freeze on their railways. Besides of that, first snow rocks!
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