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

Did you know there are many different types of calendars? As you probably know - a calendar is a system of organizing days in weeks and months for specific purposes, according to Wikipedia. Worldwide, most countries use the Gregorian calendar. Some just work on the same framework, meaning that time is divided into units based on the earth's movement around the sun - the "solar calendar". Other calendars keep time by observing the moon's movements, a combination of the moon and the sun's movements, and seasons. Through FinnishPod101, you can learn all about this and so much more! Our themed, culturally relevant lessons are skillfully designed so you can do your planning perfectly for a holiday or a date. Having a good plan for a visit... Show more

Did you know that only some reptiles and birds don't parent their offspring? Except for crocodiles, all reptiles (and one family of bird species called megapodes) hatch from eggs and grow up alone, without any family. The rest of us need family if we are to survive and thrive - humans and animals alike! At FinnishPod101, we know how important family is. Therefore, we take care to teach you all the important vocabulary and phrases pertaining to family. Table of Contents Why Is It Important to Know Finnish Vocabulary about Family? Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first How FinnishPod101 Can Help You Learn Finnish Family Terms 1. Why Is It Important to Know Finnish Vocabulary about Family? Well, if you're serious... Show more

In 1917, Finland finally gained its independence from Russia after a months-long battle. Each year, Finns celebrate freedom and solemnly commemorate those who gave their lives during this time. In this article, you’ll learn about this long battle for freedom and about how people celebrate Finnish independence. Ready? Let’s get started! 1. What is Independence Day in Finland? Independence Day commemorates the day Finland won its independence from Russia. The holiday dates to 1917 when Finland was declared a sovereign nation apart from Russia, where it had been considered a grand duchy. The battle for Finnish independence began with the February Revolution of 1917 and was further pressed with the October Revolution of... Show more

You're learning to speak Finnish, and it's going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in Finnish. At Learn Finnish, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your Finnish in the process. 1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in Finnish Eating out is fun, and often an experience you'd like to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in Finnish. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills...and perhaps your taste in restaurants! Juha eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of the group, and leaves this comment: POST Let's break down... Show more

Have you ever practiced your Finnish skills by talking to Finns online? Social media and online communities offer endless opportunities to connect and chat with native speakers wherever you are in the world. However, the Finnish you come across online can be a world apart from the standard Finnish you’ve been learning. It’s often peppered with slang words, abbreviations, and acronyms that will have you scratching your head repeatedly. Dictionaries aren’t of much help with internet slang either! Our guide will demystify Finnish internet slang terms so that whether you’re chatting with a Finnish friend on Messenger or taking part in a conversation on a Finnish subreddit, you can do so with more confidence. We’ll start with a general... 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

Get the popcorn ready! It’s time to relax, sit back, and boost your Finnish studies by watching some great movies. Watching Finnish movies is arguably the best way to immerse yourself in the language and culture of Finland (after traveling to the country and interacting with Finns in real life, of course). How come?  1. It’s fun! You can almost forget that you’re learning while you’re enjoying a movie.  2. You’ll train your ear to listen to different dialects of spoken Finnish and can test your Finnish listening comprehension skills in a relaxed environment.   3. You’ll pick up new words and reinforce the vocabulary, key phrases, and sentence patterns that you’ve already learned.  4. You can always put... 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

Watching TV is a fun way to pick up a new language. While English learners probably have it easier than anyone else due to the massive popularity of shows like The Simpsons and The Game of Thrones, there’s no reason Finnish learners need to miss out! Some of the best Finnish TV series can be streamed online, and whether you’re into romantic comedies or police dramas, you’re sure to find something interesting to watch in our Finnish TV guide. Table of Contents How to Improve Your Finnish by Watching TV Shows Where to Find Great Finnish TV Shows to Watch Top Finnish Comedy Shows Top Finnish Crime Shows Top Finnish TV Shows for Kids, Teens, and the Young at Heart Top Finnish Sketch Comedies How... Show more