When I think about Finnishness, I reflect on the things I value and cherish about Finland as a country and us Finns as a nation. I’ve lived my whole life in Finland in the peaceful countryside and I’ve grown up as part of Finnish culture, which has made me who I am today.
I adore Finland’s beautiful nature and its diversity. I have had the privilege to see and experience all of the four seasons in Finland and that is something I strongly associate with Finnishness. The ability to walk in nature and breathe fresh air in the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.
All of the four seasons in Finland offer diverse things to see and do. In spring, you can see how the nature becomes alive again and how the light gradually returns. This is a contrast to the long, dark winter. Winter offers stunning starry nights and endless possibilities for activities in the snow. Summer brings long, sunlit days and all the lovely evenings spent in the cottage beside the lake. Autumn creates the most colorful landscapes and crispy weather. All these things make Finland and Finnishness unique and magical.
These experiences have shaped my sense of Finnish identity. They shape how I view the world and what Finnishness means to me. Finnishness is nature and nature is Finnishness. The connection to nature and the appreciation of each season are things I value and cherish as a Finn.
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