Happy belated Independence Day Finland! Our dear country turned 100 years old on Wednesday. The whole year has been full of different kinds of celebrations, and the day before yesterday it all peaked at the Independence Day reception at the presiden’t castle and many firework- & choir shows around the country. Me and my friends celebrated it traditionally by watching the reception live from TV, and by toasting with a bit of champagne and eating blue & white (purple and white really, but we tried!) desserts. That’s why I’m late even on my country’s “birthday”. But they have called this the “festive year”, so I hope we can still celebrate it until the end of the year. Countries around the world were celebrating Finland as well by illuminating their buildings in our colours, blue and white, and just like about 5 million other people living here in the cold North – I’ve never felt more proud to be a Finn.
Too often I forget to be grateful for what we have here, and take my home country for granted. That’s probably why the Independence day has become such an important day for me – it’s a great chance to actually remind myself of the greatness of our country. It’s been fought for, it’s been basically built from nothing, and it has always fought it’s way to get people’s attention despite being so tiny. And nowadays it’s officially one of the best countries to live at. We have the kind of safety, nature, equality and many other things that most other countries can only dream of. We Finns are quite a strange people – we seem grumpy and mean, but once you get to know us we’re often the kindest and most honest people you’ll ever meet. And while most of us won’t show it, we’re often really patriotic. We still remember the one time we won the Eurovision contest, we surely remember the times Finland won the world championships of Ice Hockey, and we sure will be ready to mention that “a Finn was second on the British X-factor”. We’re so proud of the silly things that it’s funny. But that’s how we are. The blonde and blue eyed (I’m totally generalizing if you didn’t catch that yet) people who voluntarely live in the cold, far North where in the winter you can’t see the sun for a few months, speaking one of the most difficult languages in the world. And we love it here. No matter where in the world I go, this place will alwas be my home – of which I am really grateful. So to show my respect to our wonderful country here you have 100 reasons to love Finland – in the form of text and photos. Visit us one day, I promise you you won’t regret it. It’s a strange experience for sure, and aren’t those just the best ones?
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3. Salmiakki
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6. Sauna
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8. Finns are great at winter sports
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11. We’ve got a bunch of great music festivals every summer
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14. On Easter, the kids dress up, decorate willow branches and go door to door exchanging those decorations for candy
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17. It’s a tradition to celebrate Christmas in advance at “pikkujoulut” drinking, eating ginger bread and other treats
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19. When we graduate from High School, we dress up in funny costumes, get into trucks int he cities and throw candy around
20. In the Universities and the Colleges the students wear matching jumpsuits, the colour of which tells you where and what do they study
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22. On the second year of high school, the students practice over a month for a traditional ball
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24. At mid summer in Northern Finland, the sun literally doesn’t set at all
25. You can skate on frozen lakes
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28. Our old towns are beautiful, calm and picturesques
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32. The Finnish ice cream is the best in the world – right after gelato
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34. It’s never too hot
35. When you become a doctorate, you get to buy yourself a funny, black hat and a special sword
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37. Everyone (in the age to be able to do so) in Finland can read
38. School lunch is free until 13th grade
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43. When you graduate from high school, you get to wear this sailor-like white cap
44. May Day is a special celebration when everyone gets on the streets, gets drunk, eats a bunch of munkki, and has fun together
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46. It’s okay even for really young kids to play by them selves outside after dark, because it’s so safe here
47. Marimekko (a lovely Finnish brand)
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49. There are almost 200 000 lakes in Finland
50. Every Finn has to study at least three languages; Finnish, Swedish (both the official languages of Finland) and English
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52. You can trust on the health insurance
53. If you don’t get a job, the government will support you to survive
54. It’s allowed to walk almost anywhere (not too close to private buildings or in farms) to pick berries or mushrooms
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56. Advent calenders are traditional even for adults
57. You can see the Aurora Borealis; the Nortehrn Lights
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59. Finland is in the top countries on the PISA- researches
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64. When ever something amazing happens, like a victory in a sports event or a music competition, the Finns go to the market place to celebrate together, hence the saying “torille” (= to the market place!) when ever Finland is mentioned somewhere
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66. We celebrate a tradition called Mid Summer on the lightest day of the year by lighting up a bonfire, by doing mid summer magic and eating well together with friends and family
67. It’s normal to have two houses – one to live at, and the other to relax at (usually located by a lake, we call them “mökki” = summer cottage)
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71. We have snow every winter – and usually lots of it
72. Our stores have great sales several times a year
73. The minimum salary is higher than the average salary in some countries
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75. Finnish chocolate is ridiculously good
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77. Carelian pies
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79. Finns are honest, reliable and trustworthy
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81. Rye bread is our most eaten bread
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83. We are very ironic, and also use a lot of self – irony
84. We barely ever say ” I love you” , but when we do we really mean it
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86. Finnish gum is actually good for your teeth, and recommended by the dentists
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89. We drink water straight out of the tap, because it tastes even better than bottles water
90. Sibelius
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92. Our air is unpolluted and clean – so clean that some travel to Finland just for the fresh air
93. Muumit
94. Freedom of speech
95. Gender equality
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97. We take care of our children – plus give motherly and fatherly leave for quite a long time
98. What is promised to happen, happens
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100. It’s the best possible place to call home, and it’s my home <3
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