FINNISHNESS

FINNISHNESS

Finland is an amazing country. I have traveled a lot through my whole life, spent 6 months as an exchange student in USA and backpacked two months in Asia (Thailand and Vietnam). Those experiences have taught me a lot and made me appreciate my home country. I love travelling and getting to know other cultures and people but it feels always good to come back to Finland! Anyway, now is a time for another adventure and this time I’m heading to Slovenia for 4 months!

As I have dug up all the information about Slovenia and their culture it is now (before the take-off) important to think about everything about Finland and Finnish people. Finland is a small country in northern Europe between Sweden and Russia. Even though it is small, it surely isn’t a bad thing. 2017 Finland has been 100 years independent and nowadays Finland is often among the top countries next to other Nordic countries.

Here are some examples where Finland has succeed:

Finland is the most stable country in the world.
The Fund for Peace, Fragile States Index 2016

Finland is the safest country in the world.
World Economic Forum, Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015: Finland

Finland has the best governance in the world.
Legatum Institute, the Legatum Prosperity Index 2016: Finland

Finland has the least organized crime in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017: Organized crime

Finland’s judicial system is the most independent in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017: Judicial independence

Finland has the best press freedom in the world.
Reporters Without Borders, 2016 World Press Freedom Index

Next to Denmark, Finland is the best country in protecting fundamental human rights in the world.
The World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index 2016

Finns’ trust in other people is the second highest in Europe.
Eurostat, Average rating of trust

Finland is the second most gender equal country in the world.
World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Index 2016

Finland has the most human capital in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Human Capital Report: Human Capital Index 2016

Finland is the most literate country in the world
1.W. Miller and M. C. McKenna, World’s Most Literate Nations: Rank Breakdown

Finland is the second best country to be a girl in the world.
Save the Children, Every last girl: Girl’s opportunity index

Mothers’ and children’s well-being in Finland is the second best in the world.
Save the Children, State of the World´s Mothers 2015, 16th annual report

Finns drink most coffee per person in the world.
International Coffee Organization, Coffee Trade Statistics

Finnish adults’ English skills are the fifth best in a comparison of 72 countries.
Education First (EF), The world’s largest ranking of countries by English skills

Finland is the third best travel destination in the world in 2017.
Lonely Planet, Best in Travel 2017: Top Countries

Well enough of those statics now, I’ll now tell more about Finnish people and their habits. Finnish people are known for 3 S-letters. Sisu, sauna and Sibelius.
SISU

To the Finnish people, sisu has a mystical, almost magical meaning. It is a Finnish word which loosely means stoic determination, grit, bravery, resilience, and hardiness and is held by Finns themselves to express their national character. Sisu is the quality that lets Finns to pick themselves up, move on, and learn something from previous failures.

SAUNA

Sauna plays a big part in Finnish culture. It is estimated that there are two million saunas in Finland, for a population of 5.3 million. It is little room heated to almost 100 Cº, where you will sit, naked, with others for a while and sweat. Almost every household has a sauna and there is also many public ones. When you go to sauna in winter time it is common to go outside and jump (still naked) through a small hole in the ice on a lake, the sea or whatever and refresh yourselves in the freezing water – or roll in the snow instead.

Here is a video about Avanto= Hole in the ice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQJ4LGOMAVs

JEAN SIBELIUS

Sibelius is a Finnish composer (Finland’s pride and joy, for good reason) who was born in Hämeenlinna in the 8 of December in 1865 and died the 20 of September in 1957 in Järvenpää. He is the most known and appreciated Finnish composer of all time. His music has had a great impact in Finnish culture. He did 7 symphonies, 150 piano compositions, 60 orchestral work, an opera, over 130 songs and a lot more! His most famous compositions are Finlandia and Karelia suite.

Here you can listen the song called Finlandia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5zg_af9b8c