Finns love saunas
Finns spend a considerable amount of their life going to a sauna.
In homes, in factories, in diplomatic buildings, and even fastened to the back of cars to tow everywhere, Finns consider sauna bathing an extremely beneficial habit. So they build them everywhere, even the hardest places. There are more than 3 million saunas across the country, and considering Finland’s population is only about 5.5 million, this is a very significant number.
More than just an activity, a sauna is a ritual that is thousands of years old and deeply ingrained in Finnish culture. Couples go to the sauna before the wedding day to purify their souls, and women go to the sauna to give birth (when the country’s medical system is still incomplete). Today, it is estimated that about 90% of Finns go to a sauna at least once a week. It is definitely a habit that has become part of everyday life.
Mothers receive “gifts” from the government before giving birth
Inside the maternity box 2019.
Finland’s social security system provides expectant mothers with a so-called maternity box. This is a 64 item kit with everything moms and babies need, like baby clothes, bedding, diapers, bandages, parenting manuals, care products babysitting and even a sleeping space for the first few months.
To receive this kit, which has been traditionally provided for more than 50 years, parents must register for a physical examination before the fifth month of pregnancy. They can also choose to receive cash, although most opt for the gift box.
Finns have their own fairy tale characters
Like many other Nordic countries, Finland also has its own character in fairy tales. Belgians have Tintin, Danes have Mermaids, and Finns have Moomins. Written and drawn by a Finn, these mythical creatures live in a wooded place known as the Moominvalley.
Their main character is Moomintroll, a fluffy white creature that resembles a hippopotamus. In Finnish homes, it is not uncommon to see the entrance guarded by a snow Moomin, or to find on the table a steaming cup of coffee decorated with its friendly appearance.
In Finland, personal space is sacred
Cars full of people in another country (left) and full of people in Finland (right)
Even if it rains or snows, you will never see people crammed under the hood of a bus stop. Instead, you will see a long neat line where each person stands 3 meters away from the other. Even when they have boarded the bus, they will prefer to sit alone or wait for another bus than to share a seat with others.
And there are other aspects in which Finns show their preference for distance. In general, they don’t greet each other with a kiss when meeting someone, if it’s a formal situation then both men and women shake hands, and if the encounter is informal, just a nod is enough.
Unlike other cultures which tend to strike up a conversation with strangers in any public space, for Finns this is not an option. They also don’t like to greet a stranger they pass at the entrance of a building or make eye contact with them. In addition, Finns value solitude.
The best place in the world to watch the Northern Lights
Auroras are luminescence that can be seen at night, usually in the polar regions. You won’t often witness this miracle, unless in Finland. There, the aurora can be seen about… 200 nights a year, or every night in some areas like Lapland. What are the requirements for aurora tracking? A dark, clear night… and a bit of luck.
Finns love to drink milk
Finland consumes the highest amount of milk per capita in the world. They drink it not only for breakfast or snack, but also for lunch and dinner, and even mix it up in the most unbelievable ways. In fact, there is a traditional dish made with black pudding and blueberry jam, and it is served with milk.
And this dairy habit has extended to dairy products in general, which have been part of the country’s culture since ancient times. Yogurt, curd, fermented milk, homemade cheese, bread cheese… are commonplace that can be found in any home in Finland and you can see children consuming it on a regular basis. enjoyable way from an early age.
They have a rubber boot throwing contest
Every summer, there are many eccentric body contests held in Finland. The World Rubber Shoe Throwing Championship is one of them, along with other equally crazy ones like the ant-sitting contest, wearing handcuffs, phone throwing and the mosquito-killing championship.
The event was also held in Russia, Sweden and Estonia. However, the first “Shoe Throwing World Cup” took place in Finland in 1992. Initially, the rule was only to throw rubber boots made in Finland, but later Italian boots were chosen as the main throw type. awake. The contest is open to both men and women, and of course the winner is the one who throws the boot the farthest.
Finns are great inventors
Many of the products and services we use today were invented by the Finns. We are talking about things that are really popular and absolutely necessary for today’s society, like SMS, the first internet browser, Nokia phones, the dish tray or the famous Fiskars scissors.
Fiskars has sold over 1 billion scissors, and they are now in the collection at the Museum of Modern Art. The color orange is so associated with the company’s image that Fiskars even won a lawsuit to own its orange copyright – becoming one of the very few companies in the world to successfully register it. brand one color.
See more stories about Fiskars drag here.
Finns only eat salty food for breakfast
In Finland, it is unusual to include something as common as jam or other sweet foods, like cakes or cereals with sugar, at breakfast. Instead, you’re more likely to find butter, cheese, cold cuts, and vegetables on a sandwich made with rye bread. And of course, a must, and aside from a glass of milk, are vegetables.
They don’t like perfume
Unlike other Europeans, Finns don’t like perfume. While the rest of the domestic cosmetics market is growing in this country, famous perfume brands like Dior, Chanel and Boss know they have lost the battle here. Finns don’t seem to have a budget for perfume. They prefer natural fragrances or unscented products.
Finns have an amazing ability to recycle
Finnish hotels have recycling bins in all rooms.
Finns are very aware of the importance of recycling as a way of showing concern for the environment and promoting a circular economy. In most households and even in hotels, waste is sorted before it is sent to a container.
Paper and cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, mixed waste, hazardous waste, electrical equipment and batteries are all classified separately. This way, everything can be reused to create new products.
In elementary school, children are not judged by their grades
Finnish teachers and parents do not expect their children or students to come to school to compete for the best grades. Furthermore, they argue that each child learns at a very different rate during their early years and that grading helps mask those natural differences. This is why kids won’t get grades before fifth grade.
The Finnish method of education differs from traditional education in a number of ways. They don’t make children get up early, the schedule starts at 9am, there’s no school uniform, and students address their teachers by their first names. The whole atmosphere feels more comfortable and home-like, far from the usual formality and stuffiness of traditional schools.
Forest food is free
Three-quarters of Finland is covered with forests. You can step into the woods just by walking for 5 to 10 minutes almost anywhere. And there is a very special point in the forest, that everyone can choose to eat the food they find there while walking. Berries, mushrooms, herbs. Everything is for everyone.
This concerns Finnish natural rights. In the same sense, you can also camp and park your car or boat overnight, even if the land belongs to someone else.
Hats and swords for those with a Ph.D
In Finland, anyone who earns a doctorate will receive a sword and a hat during the award ceremony. The gift symbolizes the freedom to study and fight for what is good, fair and true. This ceremony is of such great importance that even if someone has earned a doctorate and a certificate, they will still not be considered a real doctor until they have received their hat and sword.
There are 24/7 pizza vending machines in Finland
Drive slowly in Finland, if you’re rich
In this country, most traffic violations will be fined based on how much the violator can spend in a day, or simply on their income. The more serious the violation, the more fines the violator has to pay. This means that the amount a millionaire is fined for speeding can be more than $100,000.
Refer Brightside