Lakes, forests and the northern lights, reindeer and Santa Claus's residence in Lapland.
FinlandFinland
Our region
Oh, my native land, my holy land,
You are the song of the soul, you are the living light.
Your quiet call, your silent gaze
They lead us forever.
You are in the rustle of tender birches,
In the azure waves, in the blue.
You are in the boundless morning dawn,
In the native land, in its destiny.
Let the storms rage,
Let the clouds cover the sky -
You stand as before, unyielding,
Keeping your spirit, your ancient dream.
Oh Finland, oh homeland,
You are the heart, you are the breath of days.
May your strength be forever,
And your light will not go out in her.
01.01 New Year
January 06.01, Epiphany
May 01.05, Labor Day
June 23.06, Midsummer Day
July 06.12, Independence Day
December 25.12, Christmas
December 26.12, Second Day of Christmas
112, single emergency number
10022, non-emergency police
116 117, emergency medical care
– Jean Sibelius, composer
– Alvar Aalto, architect
– Tove Jansson, writer (The Moomins)
– Kimi Raikkonen, racing driver
- use of Nazi symbols
– export of archaeological finds without a license
– overnight stay in city parks
– It is customary to shake hands firmly when meeting.
– Punctuality is extremely important, being late is considered disrespectful
– It is customary to give up your seat to the elderly on public transport.
First (in the world)
– The world's first government-run free school meals program (1943)
– The first country in the world to grant women full political rights (1906)
– The world's first national park established in the boreal zone (Pallas-Yllästunturi)
– The world's first national experiment with basic income (2017–2018)
– The world's first museum dedicated to design as a social function (Design Museum, Helsinki)
Records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest share of forests per capita among EU countries
– The highest proportion of the population trusting the police and the judicial system
– The highest density of saunas per capita
– The highest share of paper and pulp exports per capita
– The highest PISA score for school education quality among European countries (in some years)
Records (one of the most) in the world
– One of the most sustainable ecotourism markets
– One of the most popular routes for observing the northern lights
– One of the most stable levels of democracy and transparency
– One of the highest levels of digitalization of public services
– One of the most famous brands of Nordic design and architecture (Alvar Aalto)
– One of the most active participants in international climate initiatives
– One of the highest levels of English proficiency among non-English speaking countries
Anti-records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest proportion of the population suffering from seasonal depression (due to the polar night)
– The highest price for alcohol among EU countries (in some years)
– The highest share of fruit and vegetable imports per capita
Anti-records ("one of the most" in the world)
– One of the lowest levels of sunlight in Europe
– One of the highest levels of dependence on natural resource exports
– One of the highest levels of seasonal unemployment in tourist regions
– One of the highest levels of vulnerability to climate change in the Arctic zone
– One of the highest housing prices in the capital (Helsinki)
– One of the highest levels of coffee consumption per capita
– greeting / Hei / hei
– gratitude / Kiitos / kiitos
– please / Ole hyvä / ole hyva
– sorry / Anteeksi / anteeksi
– Where is the bus…? / Missä on bussi…? / missa on bussi
– how much does a ticket cost? / Kuinka paljon lippu maksaa? / kuinka paljon lippu maksaa
– pharmacy / Apteekki / apteekki
– I need a doctor / Tarvitsen lääkärin / tarvitsen laakarin
– I need help / Tarvitsen apua / tarvitsen apua
– call the police / Soittakaa poliisi / soittakaa poliisi
– call an ambulance / Soittakaa ambulanssi / soittakaa ambulanssi
– very tasty! / Todella maukasta! / todella maukasta
– bill, please / Lasku, kiitos / lasku kiitos
– toast / Kippis! (To your health!)
– joke / In Finland, there are more saunas than cars!
First (in the world)
– The world's first government-run free school meals program (1943)
– The first country in the world to grant women full political rights (1906)
– The world's first national park established in the boreal zone (Pallas-Yllästunturi)
– The world's first national experiment with basic income (2017–2018)
– The world's first museum dedicated to design as a social function (Design Museum, Helsinki)
Records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest share of forests per capita among EU countries
– The highest proportion of the population trusting the police and the judicial system
– The highest density of saunas per capita
– The highest share of paper and pulp exports per capita
– The highest PISA score for school education quality among European countries (in some years)
Records (one of the most) in the world
– One of the most sustainable ecotourism markets
– One of the most popular routes for observing the northern lights
– One of the most stable levels of democracy and transparency
– One of the highest levels of digitalization of public services
– One of the most famous brands of Nordic design and architecture (Alvar Aalto)
– One of the most active participants in international climate initiatives
– One of the highest levels of English proficiency among non-English speaking countries
Anti-records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest proportion of the population suffering from seasonal depression (due to the polar night)
– The highest price for alcohol among EU countries (in some years)
– The highest share of fruit and vegetable imports per capita
Anti-records ("one of the most" in the world)
– One of the lowest levels of sunlight in Europe
– One of the highest levels of dependence on natural resource exports
– One of the highest levels of seasonal unemployment in tourist regions
– One of the highest levels of vulnerability to climate change in the Arctic zone
– One of the highest housing prices in the capital (Helsinki)
– One of the highest levels of coffee consumption per capita
It is customary to discuss:
– National cuisine (fish, venison)
– Nature and northern landscapes
– Sports (hockey, skiing)
It is not accepted to discuss:
– Politics and taxes
– Immigration
– hike in the woods
– take a steam bath in a sauna
- ski
– observe the northern lights
– visit Santa Claus
Lakes, forests and the northern lights, reindeer and Santa Claus's residence in Lapland.
/
World
/
World
Our region
Oh, my native land, my holy land,
You are the song of the soul, you are the living light.
Your quiet call, your silent gaze
They lead us forever.
You are in the rustle of tender birches,
In the azure waves, in the blue.
You are in the boundless morning dawn,
In the native land, in its destiny.
Let the storms rage,
Let the clouds cover the sky -
You stand as before, unyielding,
Keeping your spirit, your ancient dream.
Oh Finland, oh homeland,
You are the heart, you are the breath of days.
May your strength be forever,
And your light will not go out in her.
01.01 New Year
January 06.01, Epiphany
May 01.05, Labor Day
June 23.06, Midsummer Day
July 06.12, Independence Day
December 25.12, Christmas
December 26.12, Second Day of Christmas
112, single emergency number
10022, non-emergency police
116 117, emergency medical care
– Jean Sibelius, composer
– Alvar Aalto, architect
– Tove Jansson, writer (The Moomins)
– Kimi Raikkonen, racing driver
- use of Nazi symbols
– export of archaeological finds without a license
– overnight stay in city parks
– It is customary to shake hands firmly when meeting.
– Punctuality is extremely important, being late is considered disrespectful
– It is customary to give up your seat to the elderly on public transport.
– greeting / Hei / hei
– gratitude / Kiitos / kiitos
– please / Ole hyvä / ole hyva
– sorry / Anteeksi / anteeksi
– Where is the bus…? / Missä on bussi…? / missa on bussi
– how much does a ticket cost? / Kuinka paljon lippu maksaa? / kuinka paljon lippu maksaa
– pharmacy / Apteekki / apteekki
– I need a doctor / Tarvitsen lääkärin / tarvitsen laakarin
– I need help / Tarvitsen apua / tarvitsen apua
– call the police / Soittakaa poliisi / soittakaa poliisi
– call an ambulance / Soittakaa ambulanssi / soittakaa ambulanssi
– very tasty! / Todella maukasta! / todella maukasta
– bill, please / Lasku, kiitos / lasku kiitos
– toast / Kippis! (To your health!)
– joke / In Finland, there are more saunas than cars!
First (in the world)
– The world's first government-run free school meals program (1943)
– The first country in the world to grant women full political rights (1906)
– The world's first national park established in the boreal zone (Pallas-Yllästunturi)
– The world's first national experiment with basic income (2017–2018)
– The world's first museum dedicated to design as a social function (Design Museum, Helsinki)
Records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest share of forests per capita among EU countries
– The highest proportion of the population trusting the police and the judicial system
– The highest density of saunas per capita
– The highest share of paper and pulp exports per capita
– The highest PISA score for school education quality among European countries (in some years)
Records (one of the most) in the world
– One of the most sustainable ecotourism markets
– One of the most popular routes for observing the northern lights
– One of the most stable levels of democracy and transparency
– One of the highest levels of digitalization of public services
– One of the most famous brands of Nordic design and architecture (Alvar Aalto)
– One of the most active participants in international climate initiatives
– One of the highest levels of English proficiency among non-English speaking countries
Anti-records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest proportion of the population suffering from seasonal depression (due to the polar night)
– The highest price for alcohol among EU countries (in some years)
– The highest share of fruit and vegetable imports per capita
Anti-records ("one of the most" in the world)
– One of the lowest levels of sunlight in Europe
– One of the highest levels of dependence on natural resource exports
– One of the highest levels of seasonal unemployment in tourist regions
– One of the highest levels of vulnerability to climate change in the Arctic zone
– One of the highest housing prices in the capital (Helsinki)
– One of the highest levels of coffee consumption per capita
It is customary to discuss:
– National cuisine (fish, venison)
– Nature and northern landscapes
– Sports (hockey, skiing)
It is not accepted to discuss:
– Politics and taxes
– Immigration
– hike in the woods
– take a steam bath in a sauna
- ski
– observe the northern lights
– visit Santa Claus