Disbelief floats away as a real Finnish mermaid called Riia enchants audiences with appearances at spas and swimming pools across the country. She even runs classes for aspiring young mermaids.
For many Finns, winter is the time for swimming in freezing water, in holes cut in the ice. There’s even a national championship. What on earth makes people want to do this?
The municipality of Säkylä is making a name for itself with kicksleds – a fleet of 100 of them in 2017, to match Finland’s celebration of 100 years of independence. What’s a kicksled? It’s traditional Finnish snow-how in action.
