History - Page 5 of 6 - thisisFINLAND

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.

Arts & culture Literature

Runeberg: a patriotic 19th-century rapper

The work of Finland’s national poet, J.L. Runeberg, is often compared to that of the great European romantic poets. Nonetheless, many also know him because of a cake invented by his wife and later named after him.

Arts & culture Visual arts

An artist’s mark on the story of Finland

From political paintings to modern-day tattoos: We explore artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s great influence on Finnish society.

Arts & culture Visual arts

Three iconic Finns remain relevant at 150

Sibelius, Gallen-Kallela and Halonen, all born in 1865, helped form the Finnish identity. Now two of them post on Facebook.

Life & society History

Treasure trove: Finnish Unesco sites

We check out the unique Finnish cultural sites and natural features included on the famous Unesco World Heritage list.

Life & society History

Main outlines of Finnish history

Swedish, Russian and independent eras in a nutshell.

Life & society Travel

Picture-perfect Porvoo beckons in southern Finland

It’s worth seeing what lies beyond Helsinki. Porvoo, the second-oldest town in Finland, charms visitors with its historical treasures, design shops, fashion and fine dining.

Life & society History

Finnish views of the Winter War: Portraying trauma mixed with heroism

March 13, 2025 marks the 85th anniversary of the end of the Winter War, the name Finland gives to the phase of the Second World War that lasted from November 30, 1939 to March 13, 1940. We talk to Finnish historian Antero Holmila about how that time is seen from a modern perspective.