Rituals and customs of the Finns description. Interesting traditions of Finland

Finland is a country with specific traditions. The Finns sacredly honor and observe their customs, passing them on from generation to generation. This is why Finnish customs seem old ritual and conservative, this is their originality.

The slowness and reserve of the Finns is legendary. The explanation for this way of behavior of this people is not only in the peculiarities of temperament, it is following ancient custom. In the old days, qualities such as silence, restraint, and equanimity were considered signs of good manners. Loud speech and defiant behavior were allowed only among common people. Time has not affected the ancient evaluation criterion; Finns are still wary of unrestrained and excessively active people.

The Finns do not go to visit people for trivial reasons or just like that, even to relatives and friends. Visit to loved ones - an important event, for which both hosts and guests prepare. The meeting is thought through to the smallest detail, because everything must be at the highest level - the gift, the treats, and the program for the evening of the meeting. Finns prefer their gifts only to things made in their own country - they are great patriots.

For these people, accuracy is the key to well-being. A long-awaited companion who is late for a meeting is unlikely to subsequently treat him with due respect.

Their most traditional hobbies are skiing, fishing and sauna. For a Finn, visiting a sauna is a ritual. It is not only diverse water treatments, but also gaining peace of mind, restoration of strength. Usually, for the construction of bathhouses, quiet, calm places are chosen on the shores of bodies of water, which in Finland great amount. There are several tens of thousands of lakes here.

The locals are equally passionate about fishing; fortunately, there are plenty of places for this activity. Finns are passionate about nature. They will never allow themselves to catch more fish than they need, no matter how good the bite. It is unacceptable for them to use a modern fishing arsenal; when fishing they use only ordinary fishing gear. Fishing requires a license, which can be obtained anywhere.

Finns adore dogs, because they are descendants of hunters. The dog is theirs best friend and assistant. Almost every Finnish family has a dog, well-mannered and phlegmatic, just like its owners. There are no stray animals here; kennel clubs are active. The country's Animal Welfare Society carefully monitors the condition of dogs, their health and nutrition.

Finns have a love for sports instilled in them since childhood. 70% of all funds are allocated from the country’s budget for the development of sports. Health and sports activities are exceptionally well developed here. There are more than one hundred and forty ski centers in the country, where ski slopes are designed for people of all ages.

Every Finn cherishes and honors the traditions of his people. It is a basic custom in this northern country to be true to one's cultural precepts.

For convenient transportation and storage of various goods in warehouses, convenient plastic boxes are used, which can be ordered from the Agropak company on their website agropak.net.

In Finnish culture National motives and traditions are strong, but at the same time it cannot be called conservative. Finland has always been strongly influenced by Sweden; Swedish is the second official language here. Russian culture hardly left its mark, and secession from Russia in 1917 intensified the Finns' search for national identity and heightened their sense of patriotism. Finnish patriotism is manifested in everything: from love for ethnic holidays to loyalty to domestic producers of goods.

The Finns never tire of being proud of their epic “Kalevala,” the plots of which inspired painters and film directors throughout the 20th century. The texts of ancient runes can be heard in songs modern rock band Amorphis. February 28 is the day when the first copies of the Kalevala, carefully collected by Elias Lönnrot, were published in 1835. For more than a century, on this day in Finland, official themed holidays and the “Kalevala Carnival” - a colorful spectacle on the streets of big cities.

Interestingly, another Finnish literary achievement, which has gained worldwide fame, is also based on fairy tales and myths. It's about about children's books by Tove Jannson, a Finnish artist and writer. The heroes of her stories, the Moomins, are fairy-tale creatures born Scandinavian mythology and the imagination of Tove. Their funny adventures, always filled with humor and a philosophical attitude to life, are loved by readers from all over the world. Thousands of people join fan clubs of these children's characters. Not far from the Finnish city of Turku there is a Moomin Park, where you and your children can immerse themselves in the world good fairy tale. The park is open at summer season, because in winter the Moomins hibernate.

It should be noted that the mythology of Finnish forests also inspired the world famous J.R.R. Tolkien.

Modern Finns are very fond of everything related to Scandinavian myths and the Middle Ages. If you are thinking about how to diversify summer rest In Finland, without a doubt, go to one of the many medieval festivals. One of the most popular is the Annual Turku Medieval Festival. It attracts hundreds of tourists and involves all citizens and guests in its action. On Old Square unfold trading shops with refreshments, master classes on traditional crafts. Here and there on the old streets of the city you can see scenes from the life of medieval Turku. Knight tournaments and evenings theatrical performances– vibrant spectacles that will help you feel the magic of time.

The best proof is that in Finnish culture Tradition and modernity coexist perfectly - this is the world fame of Finnish design. Since the 1930s, love for national roots and mythology has not stopped Finnish furniture designers from creating items that fit perfectly into the modern world of globalism. The Paimio chair, made in 1933 by designer Alvar Aalto, using new plywood processing technologies, is still popular in Nordic-style interiors. In the 1960s, the plastic ball chair by designer Ero Aarnio captivated the world, after which he also created the bubble chair and the flatbread chair. Modern Finnish interior and furniture design is the embodiment of the Finnish character. It combines restraint and comfort, love for natural materials and modern technologies.

Furniture designers are not far behind Finnish fashion designers. Many Finnish brands are popular in Europe and the USA. Designers such as Mai Niemi, Paola Suhonen, Minna Parikka create original things, turning to traditional Karelian ornaments and experimenting with shape and color. By updating your wardrobe in the boutiques of Finnish fashion designers, you can be sure that you are keeping up with global trends.

As you already understood, to penetrate Finnish culture you can easily and naturally, walking around medieval fairs, amusement parks and shopping centers. But, of course, also for fans artistic impressions The “Land of a Thousand Lakes” is fraught with thousands of possibilities. In the capital of Finland, Helsinki, you can visit Finnish national theater and Finnish national opera. In total, the capital of Finland has 20 theaters that present classical and modern dramaturgy. Almost every big city have your own Symphony Orchestra, the performing arts here are top notch.

IN art museums presents the achievements of Finnish painting, which began to develop as an independent national school With mid-19th century. It is interesting that among the successful painters of the 19th century there were also women, which is very rare for European countries that time.

Museums contemporary art in Finland often occupy buildings of former industrial sites. Thus, the Cable Factory in Helsinki and former printing houses in Espoo and Tampere were given to curators and artists. One of the most popular contemporary art museums in Helsinki, Kiasma, is housed in an ultra-modern building. Here they combine harmoniously traditional works and modern installations, and in a small concert hall There are performances by avant-garde musicians.

To music in Finland special treatment . In the summer, many cities host music festivals in open areas. The range of preferences is wide: rock (festivals in Turku, Helsinki, Jämsä), jazz, tango (“Pori-Jazz” and “Tango Fair” in Seinajoki), classical music(Savonlinna Opera Festival), electronics (indie rock festival and electronic music in Helsinki). Music Festival in Finland– a great way to have a good time outdoors, get to know interesting people and enjoy high-quality, sometimes unexpected music. Finns love musical experiments. One of them - metal on cellos from the group Apocalyptica - has gained worldwide fame.

Public holidays in Finland (weekends)

January 1 is New Year's celebration (shops are closed, and December 31 and January 2 are working days).
January 6 – Epiphany or Epiphany.
April 5, 20915 – Easter, lasts 4 days (dates on next years: 2016 – March 27, 2017 – April 16, 2018 – April 1, 2019 – April 21, 2020 – April 12). The first two days of Easter, stores are closed.
May 1 – Spring Festival “Vapunpäivä” (shops are closed).
May 28 (the date changes every year, on Thursdays) – Ascension.
May-June - Pentecost (Helluntai).
June 20 – Midsummer Day (always celebrated on Saturday).
November 1-2 – All Saints Day and Remembrance Day.
December 6 – Finnish Independence Day (all shops are closed).
December 24-26 – Christmas Day: on Christmas Eve, the 24th, stores close at noon; 25 – everything is closed; on the second day of Christmas, the 26th, shops are open from 12 to 16, grocery stores - until 18:00; The 27th is a working day, the beginning of Christmas sales.

Finnish national holidays (working days)

In addition to the main large-scale holidays, other holidays are celebrated in Finland. memorable dates, however, unlike state celebrations, these days are not considered days off.
February 5 is the Day of the Finnish national poet Runeberg, authored by him National anthem Finland.
On February 14, instead of the usual Valentine's Day, Finland celebrates Friends' Day.
Finns celebrate February 21st "Fat Tuesday"(Laskiainen).
February 28 – Day folk epic"Kalevala".
On March 8, Finland traditionally celebrates International Women's Day.
March 19 marks two holidays: Equality Day and Minna Kant Day.
April 9 is Mikael Agricola Day, or Finnish Language Day.
April 27 is National Veterans Day.
May 12 – Finnish Culture Day.
May 13 – Mother's Day.
May 16 is the Day of Remembrance of the Victims.
June 4 – Day Finnish flag and Finnish Defense Forces Day.
July 6 – Day Eino Leino.
October 10 is Finnish Literature Day, also known as Alexis Kivi Day.
October 24 is International United Nations Day.
November 6 is Swedish Culture Day in Finland.
11th of November - Father's Day.
December 8 – Day Finnish music, or Jean Sibelius Day.
December 13th is Lucia Day.

Traditions in Finland are such that to many they seem like a relic of past centuries. However, the Finns themselves carefully preserve and honor their own national customs and culture. Specific traditions in Finland are passed on from generation to generation. They have firmly entered into the everyday life and way of life of every indigenous resident of this country.

All over the world there are legends and anecdotes about such a trait of the Finnish character as slowness. The conservatism and certain phlegmatic nature of the Finnish people are completely incomprehensible to many foreigners. But for the Finns themselves, these are centuries-old traditions in Finland, which have become an integral part national character. For a long time, restraint and slowness were considered in this country signs of well-mannered, intelligent people. That is why loudly and violently expressing one’s emotions is not accepted here.

Traditions in Finland that deserve special attention include punctuality, the widespread use of “you” and equality between the sexes. The Finns, of course, are inferior to the Germans in punctuality, however, even here it is not customary to be late. You can say “you” to your interlocutor, regardless of age and chain of command. Equality and partnership underlie such a tradition in Finland as the relationship between a man and a woman. Women favorably accept signs of attention from men, but it is absolutely important for them that a man appreciates and respects their right to independence and their own opinion.

Ancient and modern customs of Finland

Some national customs of Finland are known far beyond the borders of this country and have even become fortunate cultural life other states. These are, for example, traditional Finnish hobbies: fishing, sauna and skiing. Finnish customs require careful attitude to nature. Finns love to fish, but they never use ultra-modern fishing methods for this purpose. There are several tens of thousands of lakes on the territory of the country, so there is a real expanse for fishing here. However, Finnish fishermen never catch more fish than they need, and when fishing they use the simplest gear.

The ancient customs of Finland are directly reflected in the proverb: “First build a sauna, then build a house.” The native Finns have done this for a long time. And to this day, bath culture is an integral part of the life of the Finnish people. Traditionally, people relaxed and washed in the sauna. Today there are more than a million small and large saunas in the country that do not stand idle. And the bathing customs of Finland themselves spread throughout the world.

The locals simply love skiing. The state allocates for the development of winter sports huge sums. There are more than 140 ski centers in the country, where both young and old can practice. Physical education is a mandatory daily activity for many Finns. It is customary for the whole family to go on ski holidays to Lapland.

These are the customs of Finland. Here it is customary to take care of your health and the health of others. Smoking is not allowed here in public places and talk loudly on the phone, disturbing other people. But it is quite appropriate to look directly into the eyes, demonstrating full attention and concentration on the words of the interlocutor. Forget about empty chatter, because in Finland any words you say will be taken seriously. And remember: interrupting a Finn means being extremely impolite.

Festival traditions in Finland

Over time, customs and traditions in Finland undergo changes. The country keeps pace with the times, which means that new trends of the modern era will not escape this snowy corner of the world. Cell phones laid the foundation for a special culture. In Finland, it is prohibited to use mobile phones on airplanes, hospitals and other public places.

In this country you will never hear negative reviews O own culture and customs. It is customary to respect and cherish traditions in Finland, including completely new ones. Suomi do not have much historical monuments and monuments. However, this country has its own treasure - all kinds of festivals that are held throughout the year. Festival traditions in Finland have become firmly entrenched in the lives of Finns. Numerous festivals of literature, ballet, music, arts, fishing, etc. attract thousands of tourists to the country. Just look at the holiday weeks in Helsinki, which are a recognized event international scale. This cultural event is one of a kind for Scandinavian countries. Festivals in the small and large towns of Suomi decorate the quiet life of Finns, and provide foreigners with an amazing opportunity to relax and get to know the traditions in Finland better.

People unfamiliar with the culture of Finland consider the inhabitants of this country to be too conservative, almost retrograde. Well, tell me, how can you carry on through centuries the tradition of slowing down a conversation, because the essence of what was said does not change?! Finns, however, are less likely than Estonians to subject their speech to such a smooth flow, and for them this is just a very tribute ancient tradition. Aristocratism is inherent in most of the representatives of this people. True, in a slightly different manner than we are used to. Aristocratism is not only the skill of leading small talk, the ability to hold your back and the talent to understand wines.

For Finnish citizens, not least, this concept contains the ability to remain silent where words would clearly be superfluous. The Finnish aristocrat is a sedate man, silent by nature, and he speaks slowly because he is in no hurry. Life takes its course and exactly what is supposed to happen will happen. These, if you like, are Finnish traditions that have developed over many centuries. A catchy laugh, a very loud speech and a thousand words per minute reveal a commoner in a person. In earlier times, only this category of people could afford this. Finns are very attentive listeners; they will never interrupt their interlocutor mid-sentence or raise their voice.

This kind of behavior, which has unfortunately become the norm in modern society, in Suomi is condemned even among young people. If you are lucky enough to meet such an interlocutor, then try not to take your eyes off during the conversation, because you may be mistaken for a crafty and insincere person. Despite the apparent hospitality of the Finns, people here rarely visit each other. In Suomi, they don’t yet consider it the norm to drop by a friend’s house for tea or drop by a friend’s house for a glass of beer just like that, just because you happened to be nearby. They carefully prepare for the arrival of guests. This is also a kind of tradition, and the invitation is made several weeks in advance.

Photo: Andreas Hünnebeck / Wikimedia Commons

After all, both the hosts and the guest need to prepare for the visit: think through the menu and entertainment, buy gifts. Regarding the latter, in 99 out of 100 cases it will be an item made in Finland. Once upon a time, the Finns decided for themselves that everything they did was the best. Since then, no one has been able to dissuade them of this. If there are two similar gifts, the one with the inscription “Made in Finland” on its packaging will cause greater delight. The table will also be traditional: fish, meat, alcohol, sweets or chocolate only domestic. Finns are not late for visits, as well as for a business meeting or a date.

By doing this they show respect for the people who are waiting for them. Therefore, in order not to seem frivolous, try to comply with long-established customs and local traditions. Finland became one of the first countries in Europe to declare equality between women and men. Women value the same qualities in men as French, Russian or German women. However, the final characterization of a partner will be based on how he views the independence of a potential companion. Therefore, if two people come to a restaurant, then in most cases everyone will pay for themselves, and this is considered in the order of things. However, an offer to pay your companion's bill will be received positively.

Like all girls, Finnish women really like gallant gentlemen. True, it will not be easy to meet such a person here. Due to natural restraint, men hide the manifestation of courtesy and excessive politeness. As for restaurants, tips are quite appropriate in Finnish ones and no mathematical complexities are required to calculate them. It doesn’t matter how much you leave, because no one is specifically expecting it from you. Simply, a tribute to tradition, like, for example, a bartender or a taxi driver. It’s even simpler here - the amount payable is rounded off in their favor. Tipping is not allowed in hairdressers and beauty salons, and they are also not accepted in hotels.

Bath, sauna and fishing

Now let's talk about what Russians understand as real Finland: sauna, bathhouse, etc. In general, it must be said that there is no house here without a sauna, and these days, a sauna is not uncommon even in an apartment. Traditionally, this original Finnish invention is built from special types of wood. For Finns, a sauna is not only a place where you can wash, it is one of the traditions of Finland. Here they relax after work, and before they even slept and, for example, smoked sausage.

The Finns successfully export their bath culture to other countries. Another passion is fishing. Locals love to be close to nature. Therefore, fishing is an opportunity to enjoy fresh air and the melody of water, and the Finn will never bring home more fish than necessary. Only those who treat nature with disdain catch for future use, but there are very few such people. That is why many residents say, not without pride, that there are more and more fish every year. As for the cost of fishing equipment, it is not cheap here. But the fishing process itself turns into a real sport and recreation. But there are certain fishing rules that must be followed.

Features of the Finnish greeting

A fairly common greeting is a handshake. In this we are not much different. Is it just that in Russia it is not customary to say hello between women, with the exception of rare cases. But our manifestation of joy is not limited to just a handshake. This may be followed by a pat on the shoulder, arm, or a hug. Finnish citizens are more reserved in this regard. In Suomi there is no concept of “You”. Here they “poke” even those older in age and rank. A subordinate will call the coolest boss nothing other than “you” and only by name. In the traditions of Finland, it is not customary to add a patronymic or any existing title to a name, and even with close acquaintance, they do not flaunt titles.

It should be noted that friendship with a Suomi resident is not so easy to earn, but it will be forever. It is no exaggeration to say that Finland is a very sporty country. The government allocates a huge amount of money for the development of mass sports, so an old man jogging in the park or a kid on the ski slope is not a rare occurrence. The best prevention diseases and the key to longevity, these are regular physical exercise, despite the vagaries of the weather. In February, sparsely populated Lapland is filled with tourists and people come here to have fun.

If you are planning to travel in the near future, we would recommend that you familiarize yourself with. As you can see, there is nothing special about Finnish traditions. Here they eat generally accepted food, adhere to universal moral standards and love what people like all over the planet. A trip to Finland does not have any exotic surprises in store for you, except perhaps a trip to the homeland of Santa Claus. However, a tour to this country will make you spiritually richer. We tried to give you a little guidance on how to behave in a country that sacredly honors its customs. To be offered the chance to feel at home, it is necessary to show that you have not forgotten your role as a guest. Finnish traditions are a help for tourists who want to leave behind pleasant memory. In our next article we will tell you where you will learn about popular authors and their works.

IN modern world a lot of different countries and nationalities. Each nation and state has its own history, culture, customs and much more interesting things. If you get together and travel to all countries of the world, it will take a lot of time, but the trip will be very interesting.

One of the most beautiful historical countries is the country close to us, Finland. Residents of Finland are one of the happiest people on the planet, because last years The country confidently leads the list of the happiest countries. All conditions for a good life for people have been created here!

Population and mentality

Finland is not a large country and neither is its population compared to Russia. The current population is five and a half million.

Like any people, the Finns have their own characteristics and customs. For any Russian person, a sauna immediately comes to mind when thinking about Finland. But there are many interesting moments, which many have not heard of.

Here are some of them:

1. Finns love to read newspapers. The country occupies a leading position in terms of total press circulation relative to population. In addition, Finns are the complete opposite of talkative Italians; they like to remain silent.
2. Residents of this state love coffee very much and, according to statistics, drink a liter per month. Perhaps the reason for this is the climate; in this country there is very short daylight hours from autumn to spring, and besides most of cold year - coffee will warm you up and give you vigor.
3. Finns are a reserved and modest people; they do not accept familiarity or familiarity.
4. Almost all of the Finnish people love to sing in unison! This national trait of this people since the 12th century. The choirs here are a variety of male and female, mixed, children's, student, church, military, professional and amateur.
5. A trait that is inherent in Finns is that they can easily tolerate frost and cold. If there is a slight thaw, the population rushes to undress immediately, without fear of catching a cold.
6. An exceptionally national Finnish delicacy is licorice lozenges. They are black in color and made from licorice root.

One can also add to the characteristics of the Finnish mentality that the inhabitants of this northern country do not like to rush - the well-known Finnish slowness!

An extra point in favor of this nation for its meticulous punctuality. It is in the blood of this people that it is bad manners if you are late for something.

The people of Finland are very responsible and reliable. And it's very valuable quality For business relations in business.

Name of the inhabitants of Finland

What is the correct way to write “resident of Finland”: Finn or Finn? The inhabitants of Finland are correctly called Finns, and men and women are called Finns and Finns. This is what it says in Wikipedia.

Previously, the inhabitants of the country were called by the name of the country - Finns and Finnish and Finnish.

The Finns call their country Suomi. Suomma - there are several versions of the translation of this word: swamp or fish scales, or another name small people living in Lapland and northern Norway.

The inhabitants of Suomi are nomadic tribes of reindeer herders with their own language and customs. From the translation of Swedish finnland– beautiful land.

Language composition

It will be very surprising to learn that until the beginning of the 19th century, only Swedish was spoken in the state. For almost seven hundred years Finland was under Swedish rule. And after joining in 1809 Russian Empire, Russian language has been added. After the publication of the imperial decree in 1863. before the revolution of 1917 in the Principality of Finland there were three official languages:

• Swedish;
• Russian;
• Finnish.

After the state gained independence in 1922. and to this day there are two official languages: Finnish and Swedish.

Nowadays, almost all of Finland, the main part of the country - about 92% speaks Finnish. Just over 5% are native Swedish speakers, and 1% each speak Russian and Estonian.

Culture and art

Finland is a country where traditions and national customs are loved and respected. The culture, however, is influenced by Sweden, and there is very little Russian culture.

After secession from Russia, national patriotism intensified in Finland. Finns love everything domestic: from manufacturers to ethnic folk holidays.

Popular and interesting in culture:

1. Many have gained worldwide fame literary works. The most popular of them is about fairy-tale creatures Moomins, the wonderful writer and artist Tove Janson. There are mummy troll fan clubs all over the world, and in the country there is even a park with same name.
2. The pride of the country is the famous epic “Kalevala”, based on which film directors and artists throughout last century are inspired for their creativity. And the country is hosting everyone’s favorite Kalevala carnival, with an ethnic theme.
3. Finns of the 21st century love everything related to the Middle Ages, Scandinavian myths. And of course, that’s why there are many medieval themed festivals here.
4. The pride of the Finns is the founder of the Scandinavian style - designer Alvar Aalto, who created the famous Paimio chair in 1933. It is still relevant today. Ero Aarnio - another one famous designer in the 60s of the last century, he conquered the world with his ball chair. And now Finnish furniture and design are popular and respected in the world.
5. Fashion designers are also popular in Europe and the USA. Original items with traditional thematic patterns are always in demand!
6. The culture of Finland is well developed; in the capital of Helsinki alone it is possible to visit twenty theaters with classical and modern repertoire, as well as opera. As a rule, any large city must have a symphony orchestra.
7. Paintings are exhibited in Finnish museums domestic artists, and painting in the country began to develop only in the middle of the 19th century.
8. Finns are very musical people. Annual festivals of classical, rock, jazz, and pop music are held. Gained fame among Finnish contemporary musicians Apocalyptica group, who performs metal on cellos!

Education. Religion

In Finland, education is very high level. According to OECD research in 2013, the Finnish population is older school age, ranks second in terms of knowledge after Japan and Sweden. But, unfortunately, fourth grade students began to read significantly less (possibly due to gadgets), which corresponds to 45th place among countries, and these are the bottom lines of the ranking.

Training in secondary school lasts nine years academic year from August to May inclusive.

Interesting! In Finland there is a law that states that when a child (up to 6th grade) has to travel more than two kilometers to school. He must be transported there and back by taxi at the expense of the municipality.

Religion is not very widespread in the country. The bulk of believers are Lutherans - more than 75%, Orthodox - no more than 1%, and the same percentage for other religions.

It should be noted that among Lutherans a large percentage are Laestadians (conservative trend). Due to the large migration of Muslims, the construction of mosques is now planned.

Population composition

Currently, the population in the state is approximately equal to both men and women.

Average duration The Finnish life span is quite large, it amounts to:

• in women under 83 years of age;
• in men up to 77 years of age.

In recent years, the number of centenarians over 100 years of age has increased.

A large number of Up to 70% of Finns live in cities and surrounding areas. This area represents 5% of the entire Finland.

Population census

The population has increased rapidly since the mid-twentieth century; over the past 65 years, the increase has amounted to one and a half million people.

In recent years, according to statistics, the number and birth rate of Finns has been declining, while the number of migrants has been increasing.

Video: interesting features of the inhabitants of Finland