I am originally from a small town in Southern Savonia, with a population of about 6000 permanent residents. But I wasn’t always from there, growing up I would move around Finland from area to another until we settled in my hometown when I was starting 1st grade. I ended up not really picking up traditions from a certain area, especially since my hometown was historically at the edge of three different regions. This caused the town to not have specific traits to a certain region.
So, in the end I don’t have specific traits or dialects linked to a certain area or at least I don’t think I have any. However, there are other major traits and habits that reveal me as Finnish. Major ones being food, holidays and the Finnish quietness and stubbornness. I could talk about all the areas, but food is something I will always love.
Finnish food will always be something that will bring me comfort and remind me of home. Just like my grandma and mom, I often make more home-y and comforting foods i.e. Karelian stew, creamy salmon soup and cabbage casserole. I learned to make all of these foods just by watching my mom cook them, sometimes getting to help with the cooking. I have also observed that there is a one specific regional trait that has stuck on to me; eating spinach crepes with apple jam and having saunaillansalaatti on the side. Most regions and people eat them with cranberry jam but where my family comes from it is eating with apple jam.
Finnish homecooked meals will always something I yearn for and that I will make just the way my grandma and mom used to cook them. So, when I think of how my Finnishness is shown through my actions, habits and traits, cooking comforting, homecooked Finnish foods for myself and for others is the answer. (Also the excessive use of commas also probably reveals me as a Finn)
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