thisisFINLAND

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 Education

In Finland, the world’s largest parent-teacher meeting and other education ideas

The HundrED project discovers inspiring educational innovations in Finland and all around the globe, and shares them.

Life & society Society

Finnish punctuality: hot or not?

We asked five people who live in Finland whether being on time is hot – or not.

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.

Business & innovation Webpick

From slope videos to a million-euro business

The story of Flatlight Creative House began with skateboarding in the early 2000s, as the company founder Miikka Niemi rolled behind his friends with a VHS camera on his shoulder.

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