thisisFINLAND

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 Health

The medicine world needs great data, and Finland’s got it

We plunge into Finland’s extensive network of biobanks and research centres.

Arts & culture Webpick

Calling all fans of the Finnish language

Hooray for Finnish, with all its grammatical glory and its endless supply of double vowels! April 9 is Finnish Language Day, and also commemorates Mikael Agricola, who is credited with creating the first written Finnish literature.

things you should and shouldn’t know