Finnishness Archives

Turning Finnish nature into ink: A peek inside Seed Art Studio

Seed Art Studio founder Rushan Nasretdin turns acorn caps, alder cones and aronia berries into ink. Her workshops offer a new way to connect with Finnish nature through curiosity and experimentation.

Life & society Sauna

Sauna for everyone: the essence of Helsinki’s sauna culture

A cooling dip in the sea followed by a steaming sauna is the perfect start to a weekend for Finnish Canadian writer and journalist Katja Pantzar. Her book Helsinki by Sauna explores the city’s public saunas and the culture of wellbeing, equality and connection they represent.

Life & society Language

Aino, Lumi and Pyry: Let’s look at Finland’s naming traditions

Finnish first names can feel opaque to outsiders – full of vowels, folklore and unfamiliar sound – but when you take a closer look, Finland’s naming traditions tell a fascinating story.

Life & society Food

5 reasons to love Finnish oats

Today, oats are more popular in Finland than ever before. Behind the boom is a perfect combination of innovative new products, Finns’ deep-rooted love affair with pure, high-quality traditional ingredients, and unshakeable belief in the perfect breakfast.

Life & society Nature

Finnish natural and cultural heritage in abundance

Whether in town or out in the country, Finnish people live side by side with nature. Even the largest cities have natural areas accessible by public transport, and the countryside is never far away, including a great diversity of national parks and World Heritage Sites.

Life & society Sauna

Finnish sauna bathing lowers stress and lifts your mood, studies say

Research suggests that Finnish sauna bathing on a regular basis can benefit everything from heart health to sleep quality.

Life & society Summer

Sauna, sunlight, swimming and slowing down: How Finns spend summer

Every summer, much of Finland deliberately downshifts as schools close, workplaces empty out and people head towards lakes, forests and cottages.

Arts & culture Music

Can Finland win Eurovision again? Meet the musicians everyone is watching

Finnish violin virtuoso Linda Lampenius and popstar Pete Parkkonen are among the early favourites to win the Eurovision Song Contest, with “Liekinheitin” (Flamethrower). We meet them ahead of this year’s event, taking place in Vienna, Austria.

Finnishness