14 facts about life in Finland that will completely change the way you see this country

The number of inhabitants, the land area, the neighboring countries, the government system and some other geographic characteristics are data that we usually learn about a country when we study it in school or do a quick survey. However, behind these figures and somewhat rigid data hides what really makes any country fascinating: its culture, habits, customs and inhabitants… surprise when reading their stories from thousands of miles away and in front of a screen.

At the awesome.club We believe that really knowing a place is learning about its culture. So today we decided to bring you 14 facts about Finland that you will hardly find in a geography book or a travel guide. In the end, two bonuses await you with a few more surprises. Check out!

In homes, businesses, diplomatic buildings and even strapped to a car, the Finns see the sauna as an extremely beneficial habit, so they build them even in the most unusual places. There are over 3 million saunas across the country; considering that the population of Finland is only about 5.5 million people, this is a very significant number.

More than an activity, the sauna is a ritual for thousands of years completely rooted in Finnish culture. Couples used it before marriage to purify their souls and women used it to give birth. Today it is estimated that around 90% of Finns go to the sauna at least once a week. It is, without a doubt, a habit completely incorporated into everyday life.

The Finnish social security service offers expectant mothers a maternity allowance. It is a kit with 64 items with everything necessary for the mother and the newborn, such as children’s clothing, bedding, diapers, gauze, a guide for parents, childcare products and even a carrycot for the baby. baby sleep for the first few months.

To receive this kit, which has been offered in the country for over 50 years, mothers must register for a health checkup before the fifth month of pregnancy. They can also choose to receive the amount in cash, although most opt ​​for the cashier.

Like many other Nordic countries, Finland also has its fairy tale character. Belgians have Tintin, Danes have Little Mermaid and Finns have Moomins. With their story written and drawn by a Finn, these mythical creatures inhabit a wooded place known as Moominvalley.

Its main character is Moomintroll, a white, furry creature much like a hippo. In Finnish homes it is not uncommon to see the entrance guarded by a snow Moomin, or to find a steaming cup of coffee adorned with its cute figure on the table.

Whether it rains or snows, you’ll never see people huddled under the roof of a bus stop. Instead, you’ll notice a clear line, in which each person is ten feet away from each other. Even when they get on the bus, Finns prefer to sit alone or wait for someone else than to share a seat with someone else.

Finns show their fondness for distance in other respects as well. In general, they don’t greet each other with a kiss on the cheek when they meet someone; if it’s a formal situation, men and women shake hands, if it’s an informal meeting, a nod of the head is enough.

Unlike other cultures inclined to strike up a banal conversation with strangers in any public space, for Finns this is not an option, as is greeting a stranger you pass at the entrance of a building or making eye contact. Also, Finnish people value solitude. The individual benches in the square are a very clear example of this.

It is a luminescent phenomenon that can be perceived at night, usually in the polar regions. Is it common to witness this wonder? Of course not, unless we are in Finland. There, the aurora borealis is visible approximately 200 nights a year or every other night if you are in Lapland. requirements? A dark night, with clear skies… And a little luck.

Finland consumes the largest amount of milk per capita in the world. They drink it not just for breakfast or snack, but also for lunch and dinner, and even in the most unlikely of ways. By the way, there is a traditional dish prepared with chorizo ​​and blueberry jam. Yup. This dish is also served with milk.

This taste for milk extends to dairy products in general, which have been part of the country’s culture since ancient times. Sour milk, curdled milk, fermented milk, homemade cheese and cheese bread… it is common to find them in any Finnish home and to see children consuming them from an early age.

Every summer, Finland seems to win the award for the most eccentric sports competitions. The Rubber Boot Throwing World Championship is one of them, as well as other no less crazy ones, such as the contest to sit on anthills, carry wives, toss cell phones and the mosquito-killing contest.

This event is also celebrated in Russia, Sweden and Estonia. However, the first Boot Throwing World Cup took place in Finland in 1992. In the beginning, the rule was only to launch Finnish-made rubber boots, but later Italian boots were chosen as the official footwear to be launched into the air. Who wins in this contest, with both men and women participating? Whoever throws the boot the furthest, of course.

Many of the products and services used today that make our lives easier were invented by Finns. We are referring to very widespread, massive and extremely necessary things for today’s society, such as SMS, the first Internet browser, the Nokia cell phone, the dish drainer and the famous Fiskars scissors.

The dish drainer really managed to simplify the washing process. Dishwashers used to be very expensive and bulky, but in the drying rack, the dishes dry themselves, saving you time, money and space. The same happened with the famous Fiskars scissors, whose plastic handle, almost always orange, replaced the heavy iron that was used until the moment this model was launched on the market.

It is uncommon in Finland to have jam or other sweet foods, such as cakes or sugary cereals, for breakfast. Instead, you’re likely to find butter, cheese, cold cuts, and vegetables on top of an open-faced sandwich made with rye bread. Something mandatory, besides the glass of milk: the vegetables.

Unlike other Europeans, Finns do not like perfumes, whose consumption has hardly increased since the 1990s. While other national cosmetics brands are growing in the country’s market, famous brands such as Dior, Chanel and Boss know that they have lost the battle. in that territory. That’s because the Finns’ budget doesn’t seem to be devoted to fragrances. They prefer natural scents or unscented products.

In Finland, the population is very aware of the importance of recycling as a means of caring for the environment and promoting the circular economy. In most homes, and even hotels, waste is sorted before being placed in the bins.

Paper and cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, mixed waste, hazardous waste, hazardous waste, electrical equipment and batteries are classified separately. In this way, everything can be reused for the manufacture of new products.

Finnish teachers and parents do not expect their children or students to attend school to compete for the best grades. Furthermore, they claim that each child learns at a very different speed in their early years and that, therefore, giving a grade would cover up these natural differences. Therefore, children do not receive grades for their tests until fifth grade.

Finland’s educational approach differs from traditional education in several ways. They don’t wake up early, classes start at 9 am, there is no school uniform and students address teachers by their first name. The whole atmosphere is more relaxed and familiar, far from the solemnities and rigidity so typical of traditional schools.

Three quarters of the country is covered by forests. From almost anywhere it is possible to reach one of them by walking in 5 to 10 minutes. There is a very special feature in these places: everyone can pick up food they find while walking. Berries, mushrooms, herbs. Everything is for everyone.

This has to do with the Finnish right to use nature, regardless of who owns the area. In the same sense, it is also permissible to camp, park a vehicle or a boat overnight, even if the land belongs to someone else.

In Finland, the doctoral student receives a sword and a top hat during an award ceremony. The present symbolizes freedom of research and the fight for what is good, fair and true. Such is the importance given to this ceremony that there, even if someone has obtained his doctorate and has his certificate, he is not considered a real doctor until he receives his hat and his sword.

Most fines for infractions are based on what the offender could spend in a day, based on their income. The more serious the infraction, the higher the fine, which can result in a millionaire receiving speeding fines of more than $100,000. ©Colosso95 / Reddit

Do you think the way you act in your country is very different from Finland? Which things are similar and which are totally different?