How Finland’s free school lunches became part of the national identity
Free school lunches have shaped Finnish childhood for generations, and the dishes served at school offer a glimpse into the country’s changing values and tastes.
How a Finnish music fest creates a singular sense of community
Globally renowned performers rub elbows with their audience in shops, cafés and even saunas during the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, held in a tiny town in eastern Finland.
Unusual speed dating in Finland offers a new way to meet people
Speed-dating events are drawing crowds in Helsinki, but not for the reasons you might think. We visit with Tatskatytöt (“tattoo girls”) to see what attracts people and keeps them coming back.
Nordic noir is a crime fiction genre that thrives on unease: society is broken, and the winter never quite ends. Finnish author Satu Rämö’s bestselling Hildur series, now headed for television, continues the grim tradition while revealing a glimpse of humanity within the darkness.
Finnish dads are taking more parental leave than ever – let’s take a look
We visit a Helsinki family to glimpse the daily life of a father on parental leave. His months at home with his toddler are full of the kind of ordinary moments that matter most.
9 years and counting: Finland is first in the World Happiness Report
The World Happiness Report singles out Finland as the happiest country in the world in 2026, for the ninth year running. To celebrate, we seek out people named Onni (Happiness) to ask what makes them happy (see video).
Happiness doesn’t just happen. In Finland, it’s the result of strong social systems and a culture of wellbeing that has been carefully built over the past 100 years.
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