Finnishness is something that I’m proud of. Finns are often seen as a silent and even rude people but underneath there is a loving and polite nation. I like learning about the other cultures and travelling to see the breathtakingly beautiful places around the world but what I really love is coming home.
It is hard to tell people abroad what is Finnishness. You have to travel to Finland to see and feel it yourself. But there is something I can tell you about us and Finland.
Nature and climate
When I think Finland, the first thing that pop up to my mind is nature. Obviously. Nature here is just so beautiful. Finns like to go out and enjoy the nature. In summer we swim in thousands of our lakes and pick berries and in winter time we ski to ice fishing.
Finland is a country that should be seen around a year. Seasons stand out here in an extraordinary way. The temperature varies from the summer + 35 degrees celsius to winter – 40 degrees. Myself I love Finnish summer but unfortunately it’s quite short if you compare it to the cold and dark winter. So if you travel to Finland, make sure you have enough clothes with you but pack also pair of shorts in case of warm days. And don’t forget to take an umbrella, there is about 200 rainy days per a year!
Food
What comes to food, Finns are extremely practical. On weekdays we like to cook a huge amount of food and eat it fast after work. If you want to cook for a Finn for example a macaroni casserole is often a good idea. Except if your dinner date is a vegetarian which is quite common nowadays in Finland also.
But of course we can enjoy too. If you want to taste some Finnish goodies, I would recommend to try chocolate and especially Fazer Milk Chocolate. Another very traditional delicious dessert is a blueberry pie. What could be more Finnish than dress up a wind suit, go to a forest pick some berries and bake a pie (and of course go to sauna after eating).
Holidays
Finnish loves holidays. Particularly Christmas and Midsummer have a special place in our hearts. In every year we want to eat a Christmas ham and see the white snow covering the ground. Unfortunately, we often get just the first one and the snow comes in January. In Midsummer you can see how the cities settle down while people pack their goods and travel to their summer cottages to celebrate the midnight sun. Traditionally people gather to watch a Midsummer bonfire.
Sauna
At the end, you can’t tell about Finland without telling about sauna. Okay to be honest, not even all Finns like to have a sauna but still that is one of the most tradtional thing in Finland. I advise even to try it. If possible, the best sauna experience is in a wood-headed sauna by the lake. But if that is not at hand, an electric sauna in an apartment building is also a good option. Just make sure that you share that experience with a Finn and have a good time!
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