Finnish is the main language of Finland. Swedish is also an official language, and both are spoken in bilingual areas.
Nearly 200,000 lakes, saunas, and art festivals make up the unique culture of Finland, one of Europe’s most magical countries. Its landscapes are diverse, ranging from coastal plains to inland rivers, lakes, and hills.
Daily life in Finland includes skiing, hiking, sailing, and a balanced mix of small-town life with modern cities.
The Finnish value common sense, education, honesty, and equality. They view themselves as egalitarian people whose culture is based on democratic principles of respect and interdependence. They like people for who they are and not for what they do for a living, their professional accomplishments, or how much money they earn. In Finland, gender equality is very important in most families. it’s common for both parents to cook dinner or clean the house.
Finns love nature and take strong measures to protect their environment; this has made Finland one of the cleanest countries in the world. They also are fond of physical activity. Hiking, ice hockey, skiing, swimming, hunting, sailing, golf and camping are popular activities.
Many Finns have a summer cottage (kesämökki). As soon as spring arrives, those who own cottages try to spend every weekend there. During the summer, they spend most of their holidays in their cottages with their families. If you don’t own a cottage, you rent one, at least for Midsummer.
Many people are members of clubs, associations and different hobby groups, and involvement with these groups is an excellent way for newcomers to make Finnish friends.