Culture is part of the citizenship test, but it is also simply part of living well in Finland. Here are the essentials.
Languages and peoples
Finnish and Swedish are the national languages; about five per cent of Finns speak Swedish as their mother tongue. The Sámi are the only indigenous people in the EU, and they have cultural self-government in their homeland in northern Finland. Finnish Sign Language and the languages of the Roma and other minorities are also protected.
Holidays through the year
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 5 February | Runeberg Day – the national poet J. L. Runeberg |
| 28 February | Kalevala Day, the day of Finnish culture |
| 1 May | Vappu – students' and workers' spring celebration |
| Late June | Juhannus (Midsummer) – bonfires and cottages |
| 6 December | Independence Day – candles in windows, the President's reception |
Sauna and nature
Finland has millions of saunas, and Finnish sauna culture is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Nature is close to everyone thanks to everyman's right: you may walk, ski and pick berries and mushrooms in forests, even on private land, as long as you do not cause harm or disturb people.
Values
- Equality. Women and men have equal rights, and discrimination is prohibited by law.
- Trust. Finns tend to trust each other, the police and public institutions – and expect honesty in return.
- Sisu. Perseverance in difficult situations is a quality Finns value highly.
- Punctuality and directness. Being on time matters, and people say what they mean.
Names worth knowing
Composer Jean Sibelius, architect Alvar Aalto, writer and artist Tove Jansson (the Moomins), runner Paavo Nurmi, and designers such as Armi Ratia of Marimekko. Test yourself with our history and culture questions.