Life & society

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?

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.

in the Sustainable Development Index

Source: Sustainable Development Report

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.

First place in European Happiness Equality Index

Source: The Happiness Research Institute

Life & society Fashion

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.

Life & society Finnishness

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?

Life & society Equality

Finnish comic artist Kaisa Leka breaks preconceptions about disabilities and being outdoors

Award-winning artist and adventurer Kaisa Leka wants to ensure that nature is accessible for everyone. Her prosthetic legs have taken her across the United States and all the way to the Arctic Sea, but her hidden gems are on the countless islands of the Finnish archipelago.

90%

Amount of bottles and cans recycled in Finland

Source: Palpa