things you should and shouldn’t know

For Finnish university students, May Day is the greatest time of year – here’s why

Life & societyFinnishness

For Finnish university students, May Day is the greatest time of year – here’s why

May Day in Finland is more than a celebration of spring. It’s a jubilant spectacle in which university students embrace creativity, tradition and community.

With art, motion and emotion, Finnish researchers explore new language-learning paths

Life & societyLanguage

With art, motion and emotion, Finnish researchers explore new language-learning paths

Learning a new language can be daunting and is often associated with hours of memorising vocabulary and repeating textbook phrases. But what if it could be more active, creative, fun and emotionally engaging?

How livestreaming helped me learn Finnish – and what you can take from my experience

Life & societyLanguage

How livestreaming helped me learn Finnish – and what you can take from my experience

For the past two years, I have subjected myself – and, more importantly, a live audience – to the great and noble quest of learning Finnish. Here’s what I found out.

Finland’s election day coffee tradition unites all kinds of voters

Life & societyPolitics

Finland’s election day coffee tradition unites all kinds of voters

Many people in Finland make voting into an outing by stopping for coffee and cake afterwards. We catch up with voters at their chosen cafés to get to the heart of the long-established Finnish custom of election day coffee.

Finland emojis

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Helsinki-Uusimaa is the most innovative region in the EU

Source: Regional Innovation Scoreboard

Helsinki South Harbour and surroundings by webcam

Facts, stats and infoWebcam

Helsinki South Harbour and surroundings by webcam

Check out what’s happening on and around Market Square and at Allas Sea Pool. Watch the ferries arrive and depart. See what the weather is like in the Finnish capital, and maybe spot some seagulls at cruising altitude.

Election time: Finland’s foreign residents cast their votes in county and municipal elections

Life & societyPolitics

Election time: Finland’s foreign residents cast their votes in county and municipal elections

Nationwide elections of some kind – presidential, parliamentary or others – happen in Finland at least every two years, and sometimes in consecutive years. Foreign residents can vote and run for office in the combined county and municipal elections. We talk with some of them.

Finnish American designer Ervin Latimer creates inclusive fashion

Life & societyFashion

Finnish American designer Ervin Latimer creates inclusive fashion

Finnish American designer Ervin Latimer believes that fashion needs to change, not people. He designs for a variety of bodies and genders. Latimer’s uncompromising design philosophy has made waves at renowned events such as Copenhagen Fashion Week and Pitti Uomo.

University of Helsinki research: Prehistoric people may have “heard” rock paintings talking

Business & innovationWebpick

University of Helsinki research: Prehistoric people may have “heard” rock paintings talking

A number of prehistoric (5000–1500 BCE) rock paintings exist in Finland, mostly in the southeastern part of the country. Surprisingly, the acoustics of some sites may have made them important to the hunter-gatherers of the time.

Eight years in a row: Finland remains in first place in World Happiness Report – other Nordics in top 7

Life & societyFinnishness

Eight years in a row: Finland remains in first place in World Happiness Report – other Nordics in top 7

We’re happy to note that Finland has been the happiest country on the planet since 2018, according to the World Happiness Report. How does Finland’s “infrastructure of happiness” help happiness happen?

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in the Sustainable Development Index

Source: Sustainable Development Report