Erja Raiskila, Author at thisisFINLAND

Finnish arts education inspires action all over the Arctic

Inspiring children to be aware of climate change and its perils is a key aim of Green Actions, a Finnish project that involves schools and universities across the countries that make up the Arctic region.

Life & society Environment

Picture this: All 40 Finnish national parks

Slideshow: From the Baltic islands to the Arctic highlands, photojournalist Tea Karvinen’s inspiring book compiles beautiful images and personal impressions of all of Finland’s 40 national parks. [Editor’s update: As of June 1, 2022, there are now 41 national parks. The newest is Salla, in northeastern Finland.]

Life & society Cuisine

Crunch or cringe? Finnish companies cultivate insect cuisine

How would you feel if you found yourself facing a plate of food made from bugs? At an insect cuisine tasting event, the crowd seems anxious but eager. Insect eating looks set for a breakthrough in Finland, especially as regulations are changing. And we’ve got recipes!

Arts & culture Literature

Aleksis Kivi paves the way for Finnish lit

Every year on October 10, the Finnish flag is raised in honour of author Aleksis Kivi (Oct 10, 1834–Dec 31, 1872), who wrote the first novel in Finnish. The anniversary of his birth is also celebrated as Finnish Literature Day.

Arts & culture Film

How to speak Finnish, according to the new Blade Runner

Finland is, um, honoured that the Finnish language appears in “Blade Runner 2049.”

Life & society Politics

Real bridge-builder became Finland’s first female government minister

Miina Sillanpää rose from poverty to become one of the first women in the Finnish Parliament and an influential social advocate who helped the cause of women, the elderly and the disadvantaged. Finnish flags fly on October 1 in memory of her contributions.

Arts & culture Dance

Household Dance Protocol choreographs chores in Finland

Sandrina Lindgren combines housework and dance in her Household Dance Protocol project in Turku. You may be amazed at what you discover if you include playfulness and movement in your daily chores.

Arts & culture Webpick

Sebastian Fagerlund – portrait of a composer from Europe in 2017

Composer Sebastian Fagerlund’s new opera Höstsonaten (Autumn Sonata) got its premiere at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.

Finland emojis