thisisFINLAND

Let there be light in wintery Helsinki

Our photographers take to the streets for Lux Helsinki’s light installations, which illuminate the city every January.

The inside track on skiing in Finland

Our Californian reporter has a helpful, humorous list of advice and wisdom to encourage you to try cross-country skiing.

Life & society Cuisine

Finnish superfood oats growing healthily

See why oats are called a superfood and how Finnish oat products offer new ways to utilise their nutritional qualities.

Life & society History

Main outlines of Finnish history

Swedish, Russian and independent eras in a nutshell.

Business & innovation Arctic

Finnish icebreakers clear a polar path

As international interest in the Arctic increases, demand for Finnish icebreakers and ice-strengthened cargo ships rises.

Christmas Christmas traditions

The original Finnish Christmas ornament

The Finns’ age-old holiday decoration himmeli is more “in” than ever. We take a closer look and talk to a himmeli maker.

Christmas Modern Christmas

The Finns dream of a green Christmas

Finnish environmental organisations offer tips if you’d like to consume less during Christmas without missing the fun.

Life & society Society

Taking a stand with style

Tackling social taboos and running a successful business seldom go hand in hand. Satu Viskari proves that they can as CEO of Mentalwear, purveyor of in-your-face T-shirts.

Arts & culture Design

Organic forms rule in Finnish jewellery

Craftsmanship, organic forms and incomparable wow factor are helping Finnish jewellery make waves all over the world.

Christmas Christmas traditions

A busy season for giving

We visit two highly esteemed charities during their most eventful time of year.

Life & society Education

’Twas the night before PISA in Finland

Finnish kids don’t like homework any more than anyone else. But their education has something most countries’ schools lack.

Christmas Modern Christmas

Finnish company adds the sparkle to Christmas

Finland is home not only to Santa Claus, but also to the Nordic countries’ only manufacturer of Christmas decorations.

Christmas Modern Christmas

Home in time for Christmas in Finland

Remembering her childhood holidays after years abroad, a Finnish journalist concludes that Christmas spirit itself originates in Finland.

Christmas Cuisine

Classic Christmas merges with modern flavours

In a seaside setting outside Helsinki, chef Jarkko Nieminen of the restaurant Kulosaaren Casino emphasises new options and strong traditions for the holiday season (includes vegetarian recipes).

Christmas Cuisine

Free-range duck and tangy ice cream

Restaurant Nokka fuses organic Finnish ingredients into distinctive Christmas gourmet, with chef Marko Palovaara at the helm (includes two recipes).

Christmas Cuisine

Challenging ham with herring

Challenging ham with herring: Antti Ahokas, the chef at Juuri in downtown Helsinki, has his own approach to Christmas cuisine (includes two recipes).

Business & innovation Education

Finnish education apps: More than a game

Finnish expertise in tech and gaming unites with the country’s excellence in education to form a winning combination.

Let there be light in wintery Helsinki

The inside track on skiing in Finland

Finnish superfood oats growing healthily

Main outlines of Finnish history

Finnish icebreakers clear a polar path

The original Finnish Christmas ornament

The Finns dream of a green Christmas

Taking a stand with style

Organic forms rule in Finnish jewellery

A busy season for giving

’Twas the night before PISA in Finland

Finnish company adds the sparkle to Christmas

Home in time for Christmas in Finland

Classic Christmas merges with modern flavours

Free-range duck and tangy ice cream

Challenging ham with herring

Finnish education apps: More than a game

Hei! Looking for...