Winter – Birth place of Sisu
Winter is long… Very long. In the northern parts the sun doesn’t rise in weeks, and in the south daylight lasts only some brief moments. Darkness is not just a metaphor but a physical experience that settles into the body and the mind.
Winter has taught Finns how to be resilient. The Finnish concept of “sisu” was not born out of competition or heroic tales. It emerged from everyday life, where the cold was a real and ever-present opponent. Sisu is not about aggression but about determination: doing what must be done, even if the conditions are far from favourable.
Ice swimming is an excellent example of sisu. A hot sauna, nearly one hundred degrees Celsius. Then a plunge into a hole cut into an icy lake. To an outsider, the combination seems insane. Why would anyone do that voluntarily?
The answer is revealing: Extremes are rewarding. The alternation of heat and cold releases powerful sensations of pleasure in the body and the mind. Discomfort transforms into euphoria. This reflects the Finnish winter mentality – through the struggle toward clarity and a peace of mind. It reflects the work ethic, and the way we face the struggles of life. Winter does not promise comfort, it teaches that the endurance is the only way forward.
At the same time, the cold has shaped society. In the North, one cannot survive without shelter. Society has therefore been built on the principle that everyone must have at least warmth and safety. Winter allows no room for indifference. It forces us to care.
Spring – The manic return of hope
Then the light returns. The days grow longer, the snow melts, and like a flood the light occupies the body and the mind. At times, one can feel almost manic in its intensity.
Spring brings a profound sense of relief. The mind that has focused inward, opens. Conversations grow more frequent, the step feels lighter, terraces fill up, and people sit in the outdoors their faces turned to the sun.
Spring teaches a Finn that darkness is not a permanent state. It builds a kind of optimism that is not based on constant growth, but on understanding of life’s cyclical nature.
Summer – Seize the moment
Summer changes everything. The nightless night blurs the concept of time. The sun shines through the night. People stay up longer, and live outdoors.
Yet the Finnish summer is not just an uncontrollable burst of energy. At its heart lies peace. A summer cottage by a lake, a sauna, quiet moments on the dock. Nature is not just a backdrop but an integral part of the experience. The calm lake mirrors the sky, mosquitoes hum softly, and the forest breathes.
The summer teaches a Finn how to enjoy the moment. Nature is the place that balances the mind.
Autumn – Time of acceptance
Autumn arrives in a blaze of color. The autumn leaves paint the forests in shades of red and gold. It is a beauty that already carries within it the knowledge of impermanence.
Autumn is a time of preparation. Berry picking and mushroom foraging are not merely hobbies, but a continuation of a past when gathering nature’s gifts was a condition for survival. Blueberries, lingonberries, and mushrooms are stored in the freezer — a concrete reminder that winter is coming.
Autumn teaches acceptance of change. It does not rebel against the coming darkness, but prepares for it. This is reflected in the Finnish mindset as a trait often described as realism. Life is not constant growth, but variation. Preparedness is not pessimism, but wisdom.
Cyclical mind
The Finnish mindset is shaped by the cycle of the seasons. Winter builds sisu, spring awakens hope, summer offers a sense of fullness, and autumn teaches acceptance.
Within this cycle there is something that to an outsider may appear almost manic-depressive: extreme darkness is followed by overflowing light. But to a Finn, this is normal. It is a balance born out of opposites.
Perhaps this is why Finns do not seek a permanent peak. They understand that light and darkness alternate. There are times when life is lived on a low flame, and times when the world is bathed in brightness. Both belong to life
The seasons do not merely explain the weather. They explain the Finnish mind: quiet, resilient, close to nature, and deeply attuned to its own rhythm.
Copyright © 2026 Joonas Nisula. All photographs are taken by the author. All individuals appearing in the images have given their consent for publication.
Comments