Life & society

5 Reasons to Love Potatoes like a Finn

In Finland, spuds and taters have no haters. There are countless reasons to love the humble potato – here are five.

A secret kingdom of spring: Finnish stick forts come to life

Wherever you go in Finland, you’re never far from a forest or a park. Our photographer takes a walk in the woods and finds imaginative hideouts children have made from branches, sticks and leaves.

Life & society Sauna

5 Finnish saunas that show there’s a sauna for every taste

There are over three million saunas in Finland – in theory, enough for everyone in Finland to have a sauna at the exact same time! While most of them are privately owned, public sauna culture is also thriving, with a staggering variety of options available. Here are a few outstanding picks if you’re looking to experience the real deal.

in the Sustainable Development Index

Source: Sustainable Development Report

Life & society Finnishness

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.

Life & society Language

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?

The happiest country in the world since 2018

Source: The World Happiness Report

Life & society Language

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.

Life & society Politics

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.

Life & society Politics

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.

99%

Amount of bottles and cans recycled in Finland

Source: Palpa