Learning about a different country with a completely different history, language, and culture can seem a little daunting, but luckily for us, the internet can help bridge the gap with the best tool there is – humor. Below, we’re posting a few of our favorite memes, which show the unique quirks of the Finns and in a weird way, also bring us all together.
Days and nights
Utsjoki during the summer sounds like the perfect place for people who are afraid of the dark. They are the northernmost municipality in Finland, and therefore the sun stays above the horizon for a long, long time.
During the summer, it’s possible to enjoy sunlight for up to 19 hours a day! On the other hand, during the winter, there are periods of time in which the sun is continuously below the horizon for more than one day – so it’s not surprising only 1,213 people live there.
When ‘social distancing’ is a way of life
2020 taught us all about the importance of social distancing, and yet, some people still struggle with the concept of always staying at least 6 feet away from other folks. But not the Finnish. No siree, the Finns are nailing the social distancing thing.
In Finland, social distancing is more than a guideline to limit the spread of a dangerous virus; it is a way of life. If anything, they were actually puzzled because 6 feet is not enough distancing for them.
Why the dots matter
You know how in English we make a point of explaining that commas are important because “let’s eat grandma” and “let’s eat, grandma” are two completely different things? Well, here we’re seeing an example of why, in Finnish, the dots of top of the vowels matter.
With the dots, you’re asking “Did I see wrong?” Without them, you’re asking “Should I marry grandpa?” That’s because although they look similar, the letters with/without the vowels are listed separately on their alphabet. They are pronounced differently, and they are definitely not interchangeable.
The world’s most effective surveillance system
Other nations invest a lot of money in security cameras and even expensive and controversial technologies such as facial recognition, but no one can compete with the best surveillance system in the world – small-city Finnish grandmas.
They’re silent, they’re discreet, they consume very little energy, and they’re always alert. They have a few unique features too, that regular surveillance systems don’t have, including video analysis, judgment, and the ability to share their collected information incredibly quickly.
When personal space is sacred even to cats
They are known for their appreciation of personal space – it is even said that if you go to Finland and don’t see a bus stop where people are standing 10 feet away from each other, you can’t say you really experienced the country.
The meme above shows that personal space is sacred even to cats. In any other country, those kitties would all be bundled up on the bench that’s getting a bit of sun. But this is Finland, and that’s how they roll.
Good luck, buddy
Dating a person who comes from another country sounds romantic and all, but not sharing the same mother tongue can lead to problems and misunderstandings. An American dating a Finnish person might offer to learn their language… And then almost instantly regret their decision.
Finnish has no connection to Latin or Germanic language groups, and therefore it is considered very challenging for English speakers. You might want to make sure that relationship is going the distance before promising your SO you’re gonna learn their language.
Winter is coming
Finns have a reputation for being reserved and serious-minded people, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy laughing when the situation is appropriate. Take the amazing Finnish weather forecast below.
Nothing against the professionals from the other countries, but Finnish forecaster Pekka Pouta did an amazing job letting viewers know that the cold weather was arriving, and we feel like weather forecasts would be a lot more entertaining if they were invested like this one.
Bye, sun!
We can’t imagine what it must feel like to live through extremely short days and long nights. How do you even explain to a child why is it that they only have daylight for six hours, or not at all, depending on where you are located?
Do parents tell their children that someone stole the sun, and then show them the sequence of photos above? We bet some kids would want to figure out who’s this mean burglar, and then try to bring the sun back.
The introverted country
When governments started imposing national lockdowns to try and contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, introverted people everywhere were given the responsibility of putting down their books and checking on their extroverted friends, because they were not ok.
Well, apparently in Finland, everyone was fine. While people from other countries suffered at each lockdown announcement, Finns were happy for this boost on their quality of life.
English versus Finnish
Now, we keep hearing people saying how difficult it is for an English speaker to learn Finnish, but maybe it’s just the grammar, because the vocabulary seems to be simple enough. If you memorize “MAA,” look at how many words you add to your portfolio!
Although, this seems to be true with a lot of languages. In Brazilian Portuguese, for example, the word “ponto” can mean a game score, a period punctuation mark, a bus stop, and a spot – but their grammar is a nightmare to learn.
They’re happy on the inside
If we’re allowed to make a comparison here, Finland is like the Kirsten Stewart of countries. Their facial expressions might not give it away, but that doesn’t mean they’re not incredibly happy on the inside.
In 2020, the World Happiness Report, which ranks more than a hundred nations by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be, put Finland at the top for the third time in a row. Good thing they do their survey with questions, and not with a Smile-o-meter, heh?
Don’t you dare complain about the hot weather
Sometimes, the only way we can really appreciate the value of something is to be deprived of it for a long period of time. For example, during the rain season, we might complain about going outside and getting our feet all wet, but a drought will have us praying for rain again.
In Finland, the same applies to the hot weather. When temperatures start getting really high during the summer, one might feel the urge to complain about how hot it is – until they’re reminded that they had eight months of winter.
Just checking in
When countries started to enforce lockdowns to try and contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of governments had to deal with the fact that some people, for one reason or another, didn’t respect those guidelines.
People from all over the world would break out of quarantine, and governments had to start fining them… but not the Finns. Nope, the Finns were so comfortable in their isolation, animals went to check in if everything was ok.
You have no power here
It’s amazing to think about all the issues that technology has solved for us, and how much easier our lives are now than, say, 20 years ago. Communication, for example, has been made more viable thanks to online translation tools.
However, those tools still have limitations, and while they do an amazing job translating Spanish to Portuguese, translating Finnish to English is a whole nother story. It’s like Finnish looks at the translation tool’s face and says, “you have no power here” #LordOfTheRings.
Happy New Year!
Every country has their own traditions when it comes to celebrating the arrival of a new year. Some of them are all about the fireworks; others are about people partying with their closest friends; others are about sharing a special meal with the family.
What all those traditions have in common is that people are usually ecstatic about the holiday. Finns are ecstatic too, you know, but in a “blink and you miss it” kind of way.
It’s all about the attitude
You know how they say, “it’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters”? Sure, the phrase is probably referring to life events, and not the weather, however, we’re gonna ignore that piece of information.
What the meme is showing is that you shouldn’t let the weather decide how you’re gonna dress for spring. Sure, 41°F on Finnish spring is as cold as 41°F on Finnish fall, but you’re the master of your own life, right?
Finnish April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ Day is a time for practical jokes and hoaxes, and in recent years, we’ve seen people and even companies doing pranks that are creative and elaborate.
In Finland, however, you don’t need much to get into the spirit of the day. Saying something like “I just spoke to my neighbor” is absurd enough to get people to laugh out loud, or do the Finnish version of lol, which is to discreetly smile with the corners of the mouth.
101
When you travel to a country that doesn’t have English as their main language, it’s always advisable to learn a few key words and sentences to help you get around.
Important things to know are usually stuff like “good morning,” “please,” “thank you,” “how to get to this place?” and “how much is it?”. But for them, we’re gonna go ahead and learn “look, the canopy disappeared” just because it’s so easy to memorize – “katos katos katos.”
How to read their facial expressions
When you’re learning about a different culture, it’s always important to adjust your expectations. You might think you know what it means to be a reserved person, for example, but “reserved” in the United States won’t necessarily feel the same in Finland.
The helpful chart above explains the facial expressions of a population that’s “Finnish reserved.” As you can see, they’re all pretty neutral, except for when their country wins the Ice Hockey World Championship.
Spring
Their typical temperament might be mild, but their weather apparently is quite extreme. It seems like the transition from winter to spring is not as smooth as we are used to seeing over here.
According to the meme above, spring might take a little while to arrive, but when it does, it’s like “BAM!” It goes from gray, cold, and covered in snow to green, warm, and covered in flowers. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
How to scare your friends
Some people are afraid of snakes; some are afraid of the dark; some are afraid that their lives are nothing but a meaningless void. People have all types of fears, but the Finnish, as a group, seem to fear a lot of the same stuff.
Someone made a list of 4-word horror stories, and among them are “knock-knock, anyone there?”, “Can I sit here?”, and “Give me a hug.” Hmm. We know a few people who might actually be secret Finns!
Laughs
Learning a new language can be a lot of fun, provided that you keep your expectations in check. This is especially true if this is the first time you try to learn something other than English, and this is certainly the case if you are looking to master Finnish.
So don’t take it personally if you say that you’re planning on becoming fluent in Finnish in six months, and a Finn laughs in your face. They’re not mean, they’re just being realistic.
Request a ride
Ride-hailing companies such as Uber have made it so much easier to get around the city when you don’t have a car or just choose not to drive for whatever reason. With the app, you can get a ride in a matter of minutes, and the payment is made easier, too.
This meme shows their “Uber,” and while this is obviously a joke, we would love to request a ride from one of those. We’re not sure how we would pay the driver, though… in grass?
Don’t mess with Finland
The people in Finland might be nice and polite and reserved, but the country itself, apparently, is not to be messed with. This is what their roads look like during winter! We drifted a little on the couch just by looking at this photo.
As the meme states, it’s almost as it the road is trying to kill you, and we certainly wouldn’t want to drive on that. Oh well, guess it’s another excuse to stay home, and not have to interact with anyone outside.
American dream home versus Finnish dream home
People in different countries have different references of what it means to be successful, or to “make it.” In America, you might feel like the dream is to live in a huge mansion with dozens of bedrooms and bathrooms and a gigantic pool.
In Finland, however, the dream looks a lot more modest – all people want is to have a cottage in the woods, preferably next to a lake, and definitely far away from other cottages so you don’t have to interact with anyone.
A problem
Sure, everything in this list is a Finnish problem – all the memes come from the “Very Finnish Problems” page, after all. However, this right here is apparently one of the most Finnish posts they’ve ever made.
A sign saying “Don’t go alone to the hole in the ice” is very representative of what life in Finland is like. Also, behind every sing there’s a story, and apparently getting in trouble for going to the hole in the ice is a thing other there.
It’s not for the weak
Of course, we don’t mean to generalize, but what we have learned from these memes is that Finns share a lot of the same interests. They love social distancing; cottages in the woods; coffee; and saunas.
Their non-Finnish friends, however, might have a hard time with that last item. If you are not used to going to saunas, being in one for the first time can be quite overwhelming, but don’t worry – no non-Finns were harmed in the making of this meme.
Back in the day
Throughout this list, we’re learning about a lot of aspects that are very unique to life in Finland, but we can also see that some things are universal. For example, the stories our grandparents and parents tell us about.
The picture they paint about how it was for them to go to school back in the day is worthy of a movie, and if anything, the image above is not dangerous enough – how about some animals chasing those guys?
Ready for summer
When we think about getting ready for summer, we usually mean transitioning into lighter clothes, or stocking up on sunscreen, or even working out to look sharp at the beach. Getting ready for summer in Finland, however, seems to have one specific purpose.
It’s all about fighting those dang mosquitoes. This person looks really committed – they even duct taped the pants around the ankles! We’re not sure about the big stick, though. Is it for the mosquitoes, or for people who don’t respect their personal space?
Bedtime at 3:27pm
We can only imagine that this type of stuff happens often when you live in a country that has such short days and long nights during the winter. They must have clocks all over the house so they don’t get confused about what time it is.
But then again, it actually sounds like a good strategy for tired parents who need a break – imagine being able to convince your kid that it’s bedtime when it’s only 3:27pm?
Sitting, waiting, wishing
In America, it’s all about the summer. Kids can’t wait until June, when summer break starts and they get at least two full months of fun under the sun. Meanwhile, in Finland…
People can’t wait for spring, so they can finally say goodbye to the cold, dark months. Actually, they can wait. But they have to wait a long, long, long, long, long, long time. When the wait is finally over, it feels amazing, it’s just a shame that it is over so soon.
The evolution of Finnish Santa
The funny thing about traditions is that we tend to think “that’s the way it’s always been done,” but traditions evolve, too, and they change through the years – sometimes a lot.
Today’s Christmas tradition in Finland involves the figure of the modern Santa Claus, but back in the day, they had a scary character call Nuuttipukki. In this tradition, young men dressed as goats visited houses and demanded food. We don’t mean to judge, but we kinda prefer the idea of Santa Claus.
Bye-bye mosquitoes
The fun thing about this list is to a) relate to the content because you are Finnish or are closely related to one; b) learn about a whole different country with a very specific culture.
The meme above is a bit different from the rest, though, as it shows something we all share – a strong dislike for mosquitoes. The best thing about winter in any country is the fact that there are no more mosquitoes.
Finland’s Black Friday
In the United Stated, Black Friday is a highly anticipated event that happens the Friday after Thanksgiving, with stores offering heavy discounts and special shopping deals. In Finland, there’s a “black Friday” too, but it’s not just one day of the year, and it has nothing to do with shopping.
Over there, black Fridays happen every week from October to March, thanks to their weird, super long winter. They also have black Saturday, black Sunday, black Monday, black Tuesday, black Wednesday, and black Thursday.
American versus Finnish singing dinosaurs
In this episode of “It’s The Same, But It’s Different,” we have two groups of dinosaur characters created to entertain children, but one is done the American way, and the other, the Finnish way.
Forget America’s favorite purple dinosaur, Barney. What we’re looking at above is Hevisaurus, a Finnish heavy metal band with an interesting “origin story” – according to it, when mass extinction happened 66 million years ago, five dinosaur eggs made from metal remained intact and were hatched in 2009 through the power of witches’ chants.
Finnish archaeology
The history of Finland begins during the end of the last glacial period, around 9,000 BC, so we’re sure real archaeologists have plenty to dig over there. But the type of archaeology we’re looking at here is a bit different.
People are digging for something that’s much more recent – their cars, which were completely buried during a snowstorm. See, they’re not so different from us, in the end. We’re sure that a lot of people from America will relate to the feeling of having to dig out their cars from under the snow.
The Finnish flag in its natural environment
We’ve grown used to seeing certain big animals at the zoo, but nothing compares to watching them in their natural environment. The meme below refers to that same feeling by showing the Finnish flag in its “natural environment.”
Of course, it involves nature, water, ice, and a weather that looks too cold for us. We know that’s only a joke and there’s no such thing as a flag’s natural environment, but the situation above is actually pretty representative of the country, like any national flag should be.
Goodness gracious, Finland!
We’re not sure when the newscast below happened, but we’re gonna take a wild guess and say 2020 – the year the planet seemed to be showing it didn’t want us anymore.
As you can see above, Finns were dealing with warning of icy roads, forest fires, grass fires, and high winds, all on the same day. And somehow, those guys still manage to consistently rank first in the World Happiness Report. Maybe it really is just about the attitude.
The Finnish seasons
It took us a little while to understand what was going on with the meme below, because the first three panels look exactly the same, but there actually are a few differences between them.
The first one is flowery cold and stormy, so it’s spring. The second one is mosquito-y cold and stormy, so it’s summer. The third one is classic cold and stormy, so it’s fall. The last one is Santa outfit cold and stormy, so it’s winter. And we know for sure this is in Finland, not only because of the flag, but because the person has the same facial expression in all four panels.
English breakfast versus Finnish breakfast
Food is our favorite thing in life, and breakfast is our favorite part of the day. We love eating it, and we also love to learn about how people from other countries eat in the morning.
Here we have two extremes. First is the English breakfast, with eggs, black pudding, bacon, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, sausages, baked beans, ham, and eggs – and then there’s the Finnish breakfast, with buttered rye bread, some cucumber slices, fresh tomatoes, and yogurt topped with fruit. Which one would you rather have today?
Coming soon
We wonder if the founders of House Stark, from Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire, had some Finnish in them, because their motto “Winter is Coming” sounds very Finnish.
By the amount of winter and snow-related memes we’re seeing here, it’s pretty obvious that Finns spend a lot of their time either living in the cold or thinking about its imminence. The snowy photos look beautiful, but we’re gonna have to say… Thank you, but no, thank you.
Koko Kokko
And here we were thinking that Finnish would be impossible to learn, but we’ve have zero lessons and already know a whole dialogue by heart. Not a phrase – a whole dialogue!
Apparently, the conversation above, which to an English speaker sounds more like gibberish, means the following: “- Get the whole bonfire together – The whole bonfire? – The whole bonfire.” We’ll pack the hot dogs, you pack the marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers; let’s go camping in Finland.
Say what now?
In case you didn’t know, coffee plays an important part in Finnish culture, and Finns consume more coffee per capita than people of any other nation. It’s normal for people to drink up to eight cups a day, and they do so even in the evening.
Some people believe it’s because the coffee helps people stay awake in Finland’s long, dark days, but in any case, coffee is so essential, it’s considered rude if a cup is not offered when you visit someone’s home.
The Reindeer Police
You shouldn’t trust everything you seen on the internet, because a lot of times, the information is either incorrect, or is simply a joke. That’s what we thought when we first saw the image below – “no way, they’ve got to be kidding.”
But apparently, this is actually a thing in Finland, and we are loving it! We need this to be turned into a cop show ASAP – wouldn’t you love to watch that reindeer fighting crime?
What’s wrong with you, Finland?
From what we’ve seen so far, Finland is a pretty chill country, with pretty chill people. They love the simple things in life, like social distancing, coffee, and saunas, and their facial expressions don’t change a lot, except when they win the Ice Hockey World Championship.
However, their metaphors tell a different story. In English, we say that something “fits like a glove,” but in Finnish, they say that it “fits like a fist in the eye.” We’re taking a step back right now.
‘There’s gotta be a better way!’
Americans are all about things that are convenient to use, and when it comes to milk, there’s nothing better than a gallon with an easy to remove lid.
In Finland, however, cartons are the popular type of packaging available, and the image above is what happens when a foreigner tries to open them. It made us think of that Milk Master 2000 commercial Joey Tribbiani, from Friends, was in. “- There’s gotta be a better way! – And there is, Kevin!”
We wouldn’t leave the house
Everywhere in the world, rain is a phenomenon where water falls from the sky, but if we understood anything from the cartoon below, Finnish rain is something different.
In Finland, the water apparently comes at you from different dimensions, because it hits you from every possible direction. Honestly, we’re beginning to understand why Finns apparently like to stay at home so much. With weather like that, we wouldn’t want to leave the house, either.
The rules of personal space
Personal space is very important in Finland, which is why the social distancing rules that so many countries have been struggling with went down so easy over there. They had been doing it all along – it was called “normal life.”
However, there are a few exceptions to the rule. In a few key moments of a Finn’s life, they’ll completely forget about personal space, and one of those moments is when their country’s hockey team wins gold.
You’re gonna need a bigger knife
We’re learning so much with these memes about Finland, and we think it’s wonderful to be able to gain knowledge while also having fun. But then again, sometimes we’re not sure when to take things seriously, and when we should just laugh and dismiss it as a joke.
We know that bread is a staple food of Finland that’s served with almost every meal, but… Is it really that tough, compared to other countries’ bread? Our teeth hurt just by looking at that picture.
I’ll be back
“I’ll be back” is one of the most iconic phrases in movie history. Who can forget the moment Arnold Schwarzenegger first said it in the 1984 film The Terminator?
Here we have the Finn version of “I’ll be back,” and we gotta say, that’s even scarier than the original Schwarzenegger line. Maybe it’s because we know the movie is a work of fiction, but the Finnish winter is not. In a few months, it shall be winter again.
A Finnish elevator
When we saw the image below for the first time, we thought we were looking at eyeshadow palettes, but no, lol. Those circles represent people, and how they choose to stand in an elevator in the USA, in most of Europe, and in Finland.
It looks legit, but according to what we’ve learned so far, it would be even more accurate if the image showed only one person in the elevator, and the rest standing in line, 10 feet away from each other.
Which one to choose?
Did you know that the word “sauna” is of Finnish origin? And that sauna culture is an integral part of the lives of the majority of the Finnish population? Take a look below, and see for yourself.
In fact, the Finnish sauna culture is so important, in 2020, it was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Now the question is – do they social distance in their saunas, too?
Finnish spring
When it comes to Finnish seasons, the general vibe we’re getting from these memes is that “Winter is Coming,” and “Spring Might Get Here Eventually, But I Wouldn’t Count On It.”
Apparently, spring is reeeally slow over there, and the melting of the winter snow happens inch by inch, as the warm sunlight advances in its own special pace. With weather like that, it must be difficult to decide what to wear in the morning, huh?
Spot the Finnish Guy
The meme below wants us to play “Spot the Finnish Guy,” but we wish they had at least given us a challenge – this is too easy, y’all!
The real challenge here is understanding why the Finnish guy looks like that. Is it because Finns are naturally reserved people who prefer to remain neutral in public, or is it because he’s unhappy that other people are sitting too close to him and disrespecting his personal space in the rollercoaster cart?
A truly Finnish welcome
As you’ve probably already realized from this article, the Finns aren’t exactly the most social people. Unlike American culture, the Finnish one is more shaped by introvert qualities. So no wonder this is Finland’s best selling doormat.
You stopped by my house, and came close enough to read my doormat? Perfect, that’s close enough for one day – now leave me alone. It must be pretty easy to stay in touch with Finnish friends, since no one gets mad if you never want to meet up.
Talk about unlucky
More than one Finnish person has complained, and joked, about this fact. Because ironically enough, the spring of 2020 was uncharacteristically warm for the country. Which is a shame, since it was the first spring since probably the second world war, when the citizens couldn’t freely enjoy the nice weather.
On the other hand, Finns are quick to complain when it’s too hot outside too – so perhaps it was for the best they had the Covid lockdown as an excuse to stay in even more.
Coffee all day every day
Since Instagram is constantly filled with pictures of people holding their Starbucks cups, it’s easy to get the impression Americans drink the most coffee. But if you think you love Starbucks, that’s apparently nothing compared to how much Finns love…whatever cafe chain is popular over there.
Also, they drink plenty of high quality coffee at home. None of that gross instant stuff. Nothing but delicious French press or filter coffee is good enough for a Finnish home.
An alien language
We’ve already given a few examples of how fascinating, but also weird, the Finnish language is. It doesn’t read or sound like any other, and seems to follow some kind of alien logic.
If you’ve never heard Finnish, this meme might not make much sense. But trust us, it’s the perfect depiction of a Finnish teacher trying to do her job. If you don’t believe us, just go watch a few videos in Finnish and see for yourself…
Candy that’s not for the faint of heart
No matter how different food cultures are around the world, candy is always tasty no matter where you go, right? Wrong. Not if you go to Finland it’s not.
We’re really not messing with you here, that black stuff is actual candy. And not just any candy – it’s some of the most popular kind in all of Scandinavia. It’s salty licorice. That’s right, as if licorice wasn’t nasty enough. If you ever find yourself in Finland, definitely try salty licorice for the experience. But don’t expect to like it.
Finnish seasons are tricky
People who are not very familiar with Finnish and Scandinavian climate, tend to just think it’s cold and dark all the time. That is somewhat true. But the seasons are a little more nuanced than that. Because before real spring and summer arrive, you’ll be fooled many times over.
You see, Finnish winter is fickle, and likes to play tricks on you. It teases everyone with a few days of sun, but just when people start hoping it’s the real spring arriving – it turns into second winter, or third…
Yup, that’s pretty much how it goes
We honestly feel sorry for people who have to learn Finnish past the age of 12 (that’s the magic number folks, before 12 languages are easy peasy to learn). Whether you’ve moved to Finland for a job, or have married a Finn – prepare for a long, hard battle to master the native language.
As this chart accurately describes, and as exemplified by previous memes in this article, Finnish is more like an alien language than anything you’ve ever encountered before. Best of luck!
Some unusual Christmas traditions
Christmas, the coziest, happiest of Holidays. Filled with light, Christmas songs, love, and precious family time. Well, if you ever celebrate Christmas in Finland, prepare for a culture surprise. The Finns take a slightly…darker approach to the Holidays.
We’re not sure why that is, perhaps because they’re a very serious, pragmatic people. But if these interpretations of the themes of some classic Finnish Christmas songs are any indication, it’s a very dark holiday over there.
Just a regular Wednesday
Countries with plenty of snow and harsh climate, obviously have a more creative and varied vocabulary when it comes to describing different types of bad weather. And when that first big winter storm and snowfall arrive, there is usually a term for it.
Such as the Swedish “snow cannon”, the German “Beast from the East”, or the Dutch “Siberian bear”. But the Finns? Nope, they just casually call it a regular day of the week – that’s how used they are to crazy snow storms.
That’s not what they meant
The Finns know very well how to poke fun at themselves and their culture. After all, most of these memes have been made by Finns! Another thing about the Finns, is that they do have a soft spot for the stronger adult beverages in the world.
There is just something about those dark, cold months that make people want to relax with a glass of wine to keep spirits high. And in the summer, well then everyone says you have to drink more, right?
Location matters
Let’s translate this one first. 25°C is 77°F, and 80°C is 176°F. Now that we all know this, let’s continue to enjoy the meme. Many Finns are very sensitive to hot weather, which is probably a good thing. After all, it’s more or less freezing most of the year.
But, a weird contradiction with the Finns is that despite not liking hot weather, they love their sauna! And in there, too hot is a term that doesn’t even exist.
A surprisingly rich language
As complicated and hard to learn as the Finnish language is, it’s at the same time stunningly beautiful. There are words for things and concepts you need and entire English sentence to translate. Such as “loska”.
Ok, it’s not a pretty word and also doesn’t describe something pretty. But it’s hard to deny it’s extremely poetic, and very specific. And it definitely fits the quiet Finns, to in one short word be able to communicate both a weather fact and existential dread.
Humble dreams
We already showed you an American dream house versus a Finnish, but we think another one is fitting just to further drive the point home. The Finnish dream is one of simplicity, of valuing nature and solitude. To do that, you don’t need a big, flashy house (or a British castle).
This blue little cabin looks tiny, but we still see the appeal. Just look at how gorgeous the surrounding forest is! We feel more serene just looking at the picture.
That’s a little morbid…
Finnish humor is nothing if not dark to the core! That actually goes for all of Scandinavia (something about the lack of sunlight must bring it out of them). But this takes the cake.
If you don’t know what Moomin is, it’s an adorable children’s book series and comic book created by Finnish author Tove Jansson. The central characters are the sweet fantasy creatures Moomin, and yes they do kind of look like mozzarella…But to call it Moomin meat? We’ll never be able to eat this cheese again without feeling terrible.
That skyline though!
There are many cool places to visit in the world, but some make it onto people’s bucket lists a little more often than others. London, Dubai, Tokyo – these are the type of intense, bustling mega cities people are drawn to.
Perhaps it’s all the blinding lights, all the parties, all the shopping. But not all that glimmers is gold. We recommend giving the quiet, seemingly less bucket list worthy Helsinki a shot. You might be surprised what you find.
Slow and steady
Finland is know for many things, among which are its beautiful scenery, its excellent education system, and its many saunas. One thing Finns are not known for, however, is for having a golden tan in the summer.
As the meme above shows, some people do wish they could get tan when the sun finally comes to Finland, but more often than not, that’s only wishful thinking. But slow and steady – by the end of the season, they might be slightly off-white, instead of paper-white.
