For me two things stand out: our sauna culture and the concept of sisu. Both things that are deeply ingrained in Finnish culture throughout our history and which reveal quite a lot about who we are as a people.
When talking about Finnish culture with a Finn the chances are sauna will be mentioned as one of the things we Finns cherish the most. For those uninitiated a sauna might seem like a room you just go to sweat in. But throughout the history sauna has not only been used for relaxation but also for treating the sick, birthing babies, even for getting rid of bad spirits. It has been considered a sacred place, a place for relaxation, contemplation, and a place where there is no rush or hurry. Sauna is also a place where hierarchy does not exist. Everyone is equal in the sauna. Whether you are a CEO or a student, when you step into the sauna, you are just another person who is there to enjoy the relaxing warmth and a break from life.
The sauna also greatly highlights the connection between us Finns and the nature. We tend to build our saunas by bodies of water, allowing us to have refreshing dips in the cold waters after a hot sauna session. Or have a roll in the snow during winter times if a dip in a hole in the ice does not sound appealing. These traditions emphasize the Finnish desire to live in harmony with the nature, appreciating the beauty and power of it. Sauna and nature help us to remember the small, simple pleasures in life and both the physical and mental wellbeing.
The other thing making Finnish culture unique is the concept of sisu. It is one of those Finnish words that don’t translate well into other languages but that which is a true testament of our Finnish identity. Sisu is a mixture of steadfast determination, grit, a dash of courage, and a bunch of resilience. It is all about pushing forward, about not giving up under any circumstance, no matter the odds. It is about keeping that silly little promise of skiing 40 km against the wind during mid-June when you lose that bet with a friend.
Sisu keeps us going when the times get rough. It gets us through everyday life or unforeseen circumstances. It is quiet strength that keeps us moving forward, no matter what gets thrown at us. This spirit of sisu also translates into a minimalist and straightforward approach to life. We Finns tend to appreciate simplicity and functionality in our daily lives as well as in our design and homelives, valuing essentials and discarding the unnecessary. We focus on finding joy and happiness from simpler things, like sharing a meal with loved ones, taking quiet walks in the nature, or enjoying a fresh cup of coffee. We also value highly our personal space and privacy, leading easily to most foreigners thinking us as reserved, grumpy, and pessimistic. There is no point of sugar-coating things according to most of us and instead we tend to just embrace the life as it is, good things and bad things. And perhaps that is the most Finnish thing of all, at least to me.
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