Culture - Page 2 of 10 - thisisFINLAND

Rising stars: These young fiddlers carry on Finland’s pelimanni folk music tradition

In the small town of Kaustinen, a hotspot for Finnish folk music, two young musicians are making waves. Erkki Virkkala and Iikka Huntus are part of a new generation keeping the pelimanni (folk music) tradition vibrant, blending skill, creativity and a love of playing together.

Life & society Travel

Discover the charm of Tankar Lighthouse Island, off the Finnish coast

Tankar Lighthouse Island, off the western seaboard of Finland, blends centuries of maritime history with pristine nature, welcoming visitors to explore trails, wildlife and seafaring heritage.

Life & society Sports

Wolves, owls and lions: Why Finland names its national teams after animals

Wolves howl, owls swoop, lions roar – and so do Finnish national sports teams. In Finland, naming your team after a wild animal is part of the game.

Life & society Sports

Finland’s quirky sand skiing world championship also carries a climate warning

Our video shows you a beach on the west coast of Finland where a group of skiers embraces sand instead of snow – not just for sport, but to draw attention to a warming world.

Arts & culture Performing arts

Make air, not war: The joyfully absurd World Championships in Oulu

Ever dreamed of witnessing something wildly fun and just a little bit bonkers? Picture people of all ages rocking out on stage with instruments only they can see. Dancing like nobody’s watching, fully immersed in the moment. This is air guitar at its most serious. And most glorious.

Arts & culture Music

Quirky ’90s band Ultra Bra stages a stylish comeback at 30

Ultra Bra, one of the most beloved Finnish bands of the 1990s, has released new songs after more than two decades and reunited for shows at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium and summer festivals.

Arts & culture Moomin

Why Finland’s Moomin books still matter in today’s world

The Moomins and the Great Flood, by the Finnish writer and artist Tove Jansson, was published in 1945. The first Moomin book introduces the central characters and themes like love, respect and belonging, for which Jansson and the extended family of Moomins became internationally renowned.

Arts & culture Literature

The whimsical humanity of Finnish Moomin author and artist Tove Jansson

The creator of the Moomins was much more than just a cartoonist. Her body of work could fill several lifetimes. She lived a long life shaped by love, freedom, sea and adventure – all of which can be read and felt in her works.