The people of Finland are open, sincere, and enthusiastic, although they may tell you the opposite.
Finns are known for their taciturn, thoughtful, and calm behavior. They are quiet, good at thinking, brave, hardworking, cynical, and to some people, they seem stubborn and indifferent. They are not interested in speaking unless they have important things to say. There is a saying that when Finns (the people of Finland) say something, they mean it.
Finland, for the fourth time, is known for being the happiest country globally, the best education system, and the cleanest air in the world. Finland is famous for its sauna, reindeer, Santa Claus Village, and Nokia.
There are two national languages of Finland, Finnish and Swedish, and they are officially bilingual. Nearly nine-tenths of the population speak Finnish; it is an essential nationalist feature, despite its strong regional dialects. The Swedish-speaking population is mainly distributed in the coastal areas of the west, southwest, and south and the Aland Islands (Swedish is the only official language).
A small number of Finns also speak Russian and Estonian, and a minimal number of people in the northernmost part of Finland also speak Sami. Of the 11 Sami languages, three languages are used in Finland: Northern Sami (widely spoken), Inari Sami (only used in Finland), and Skolt Sami.
Finland (the happiest country) is not part of Scandinavia but part of the larger Nordic culture. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark share a common Scandinavian root language and a common Viking history based on Nordic and the North Sea traditions related to Britain and Germany. In contrast, Finland shares its linguistic roots with Hungarians and Estonians. When Scandinavians emerged from Northern Europe, Finns (the people of Finland) emigrated from the East.
Finns and neighboring Scandinavian countries now have more cultural characteristics than their eastern neighbors despite their unique roots. For example, Finns have an unshakable faith in the social welfare system.
The rugged terrain and climate and its historical struggle with its domineering eastern and western neighbors helped shape the unique Finnish culture. It is characterized by a strong belief in the ideals of flexible, intelligent, and creative people, able to work under challenging situations. This concept is called sisu, and it refers to strength, durability, and pursuance.
The Finnish sauna plays a vital role in both business and social interaction and has its agreement. Being invited to the sauna should be regarded as an honor and enjoyment. Refusal is considered impolite unless there is a good reason (i.e., a health prohibition).
This experience is expected to be peaceful and, in most cases, quiet. Although most Finns go naked in the sauna, they fully understand those who like to wear towels or swimsuits. Most saunas (except inside the home) are separated by gender. If there is only one sauna and the people are not covered, usually women go in first, and after waiting, men enter the sauna.
The sauna experience may also include swimming in the lake or rolling in the snow. Once everyone has left the sauna, drinks are usually provided to help everyone rehydrate, with a choice of beer or non-alcoholic beverages.
It is a culture that makes a place unique. When we are talking about Finland, Finnish society, and Finns, what are the Finns like?
Without a specific order and varying degrees of usefulness, I summarized my observations into a list of 8 cultural facts of Finnish society.
Since culture is the root of Finnish society, you must greet them often. If you are looking for a suitable platform to learn basic expressions such as "Hello" in Finnish and "Thank you" in Finnish, please install the Ling App or SimplyLearn by Simya Solutions now.
If you have any questions about learning Finnish or any other language, you can read our blog "Frequently Asked Questions" with just one click. So, join us and speak the Finnish language like a native. good day (in Finnish: Hyvää päivää)!
