Finnish people value peace and their privacy. Finns don´t necessarily know closely their neighbours or other people that they meet in their everyday life. Finns value nature, and in the nature, we find the peace and quiet we appreciate.
There is a special place where Finnish people might be surprisingly social – even with people they’ve just met. That place is the sauna! Maybe the warmth of the sauna during cold and dark winter months is the key to get Finns to open up and share their thoughts and feelings. There are also times when we just want to enjoy the warm löyly and listen to the crackling fire in the kiuas.
Perfect combination with sauna is a swim in the open water. Some people love it so much that they continue to do so all year round. Of course, in winter they first have to cut a hole in the frozen lake to be able to have their rejuvenating swim. In Finland sauna is considered as a necessity not a luxury. It is said that there are more saunas than cars in Finland – about 3 million in total. That is quite a lot in a country that has only 5,6 million inhabitants.
My own Finnishness includes a close relationship with nature. For me it means enjoying and respecting the nature. It is important to me to leave no marks behind when I hike or run in the forest or enjoy a sunny day by the lake. I appreciate the harvest like berries and mushrooms that the forest offers and the peace that prevails there. Nature creates the best harmony! I also love the sauna, but I leave the ice bath hobby to my mum.
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