Have you heard Maamme (“Our Land”), Finland’s national anthem? All Finns know at least the first verse of their kansallislaulu (“national anthem”) by heart. The song provides a fascinating glimpse into the Finnish mindset at a pivotal time in the nation’s history. And for a language learner, reading or listening to the 19th century lyrics is an interesting challenge to take on! Don’t let the difficulty of it put you off, though – we will introduce you to the main themes and the key vocabulary to help you make sense of the Finnish lyrics. In this article, we’ll also shed light on the interesting history and evolution of the Finnish national anthem as well as its present-day status. siniristilippu (“the flag of Finland”, literally:... Show more

Are you thinking of visiting Finland? Or have you heard about Finland in the news recently and wanted to know more about the country? Whatever brought you here, know that we’ll do our best to satisfy your curiosity about the Finnish culture! Geographically, Finland lies between Scandinavia and Russia. While the country has been culturally influenced by its neighbors on either side, it has a very distinctive cultural identity of its own with many interesting quirks and unique traditions. Read on to learn more about Finland’s culture and traditions, from Finnish values and attitudes to popular sports, foods, and holidays. Trust us, there’s much more to Finnish culture than the sauna! Table of Contents Finnish Character and... Show more

Mikael Agricola Day, otherwise known as Finnish Language Day, is a special holiday for honoring the creation of written Finnish and the man behind it: Mikael Agricola. In this article, you’ll learn about who Mikael Agricola was, how he contributed to the creation of Finnish literature, and how you can celebrate this holiday. Let’s get started! 1. What is the Day of Mikael Agricola? Mikael Agricola Day is more commonly known as Finnish Language Day (Suomen kielen päivä). However, there’s a large focus on Agricola, who is considered the father of Finnish literature. Mikael Agricola’s Role in Finnish Literature History Agricola, born in 1510, was both a piispa ("bishop" ) and kääntäjä ("translator"). He spent many years... Show more

In Finland, Shrove Sunday is a fun holiday brimming with folklore, religion, joy, and wonderful food. It’s also the most popular of the pre-Lenten Sundays, taking place just before Lent. In this article, you’ll learn about the most common Shrovetide traditions, what holiday foods to expect, and what traditions people associated with this holiday in the past. Are you ready? Let’s get started! 1. What is Shrove Sunday? Shrovetide was originally celebrated for the joy of the end of winter and the approach of Easter. Shrove Sunday is the Sunday before Lent, making it the perfect time to have fun and indulge. A fast was started on Shrove Tuesday, so people wanted to celebrate and have a feast before that (this means Shrove... Show more

On the Epiphany holiday, Finland both celebrates the visit of the Itämaan tietäjät, or "Magi," to Baby Jesus and begins to wrap up the holiday celebrations for the year. In this article, you’ll learn about how Epiphany is celebrated in Finland, the story behind the holiday, and what kind of magic people associated it with in the past! At FinnishPod101.com, it’s our aim to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative—starting with this article! Are you ready? Let’s dive in. 1. What is Epiphany in Finland? Epiphany is a Christian holiday and marks the joulupyhien loppu, or "end of the Christmas holidays." Epiphany is even older than Christmas. It was established in the 200s, when it was... Show more

When the Summer Solstice comes around in June, the Midsummer celebration in Finland begins! On Midsummer Day, Finland enjoys the warmth of summer with barbeques, time outdoors, and a Midsummer bonfire. Finland's celebrations of Midsummer are rooted in its religious history and have evolved along with its transition to Christianity. Learn about the Midsummer celebration Finland observes each year to gain greater insight into Finnish life and culture! Midsummer's Eve traditions in Finland tell a lot about its culture as a whole, and as any successful language learner can tell you, comprehending a country's culture is essential in mastering its language. At FinnishPod101.com, it's our goal to make this learning journey both fun and... Show more

Memorial Day for the War Dead (also commonly referred to as Commemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers) is one of Finland’s most significant holidays. It seeks to commemorate Finland’s losses in various wars, as well as losses from the countries it fought. In particular, the Finnish Civil War sparked the idea for this day of commemoration in the war commander Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. In this article, we’ll be going over what this holiday is and take a look at the wars this day seeks to commemorate. After reading this article, you’ll have a better grasp of Finland’s history and events leading up to its culture today, which is vital for any language-learner. At FinnishPod101.com, we hope to make this learning journey both fun and... Show more

The Monday after Easter (Easter Monday) is Finland’s largest celebration during the Easter week. It’s a day of Finnish Easter pudding and more delicious traditional Finnish Easter food. However, it’s also a day of great religious significance for Finland’s Christian population. From its more religious celebrations to Easter witches, Easter in Finland is a delight! Learn about Finland Easter traditions and more information about Easter in Finland with FinnishPod101.com! We hope to make learning about Finnish Easter both fun and informative; after all, cultural knowledge is a vital aspect of learning any language! So let’s get started. 1. What is Easter Monday in Finland? Easter, which is celebrated in-between March and April in... Show more

Johan Ludvig Runeberg was Swedish-Finnish and is known for his writing and poetry. He was born on February 5, 1804 and died on May 6, 1877. Runeberg rose to the status of Finland's national poet during his lifetime, due to his work being very “patriotic,” or isänmaallinen. Runeberg has received numerous awards for his work and is highly honored in Finnish culture. Thus, by learning about Runeberg Paiva you’ll get a nice look at Finland’s history and its values. It’s our wish at FinnishPod101.com to help you learn all you need to know about Finnish culture, and this famous Finnish poet is no exception. So, who was Runeberg and what is Runeberg Paiva? 1. What is the Day of J.L. Runeberg? Runeberg's best-known work is “The... Show more

Learn all the Finnish New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join FinnishPod101 for a special Finnish New Year celebration! Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated. So, how do you say Happy New Year in... Show more