I have noticed one particular thing that people from other cultures may find interesting or even odd about Finnish culture: silence. In Finnish culture, there is no need to fill the gaps in conversation with small talk, and we usually only speak when we have something to say. Personally, I love it because I think it adds value to the things we choose to share with other people. This appreciation of silence can also be seen in our surroundings; there is no constant chatter, even when there are large crowds of people. Finnish culture may seem introverted or even dull from the outside, but in my opinion, it is simply a peaceful way of living.
One of the most important parts of Finnish culture to me is our holidays, especially Christmas. Although the commercialism of the holiday has also reached Finland, our own traditions still remain: beautiful Finnish Christmas songs that often sound almost melancholic, such as Varpunen jouluaamuna and Tonttu; the Declaration of Christmas Peace on TV; Karelian pasties; and visiting cemeteries to light candles for our loved ones. These traditions differ from family to family, but they create a feeling that, in my opinion, you could not experience in quite the same way in any other culture.
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