What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing's for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, "We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us." The older I get, the more I agree with him! Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person's journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you're planning to stay in for more than a quick visit, you're sure to need at least a few 'life events' phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it's generally expected that we will show up with good manners... Show more

Did you know that every minute of the day, one billion tons of rain falls on the earth? Hard to believe, considering the climate crisis! Of course, all that rain is not equally shared across the planet. So, would you mention this fascinating fact to your new acquaintance? Well, small talk about local weather is actually a great conversation-starter. Everyone cares about the weather and you’re sure to hear a few interesting opinions! Seasons can be quite unpredictable these days and nobody knows the peculiarities of a region better than the locals. FinnishPod101 will equip you with all the weather vocabulary you need to plan your next adventure. The weather can even be an important discussion that influences your adventure plans. After... 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

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

Traveling to foreign countries is nearly always an exciting, enriching, and beneficial experience. Yet, some things can be real downers, such as boredom on a lengthy flight to . Really, binge-watching onboard movies can only be interesting for so long! And jet lag - another huge downer. Did you know that jet lag is more severe when you travel from the West to the East? Well, we won't know how to beat that, but there are fortunately plenty of remedies around to investigate. To beat flight boredom, though, we may have the answer for you at FinnishPod101! Why don't you take the time to study Finnish travel phrases? We make this super easy and fun, with great downloadables, like our PDF Cheat Sheets. Quickly memorize these, and impress your ... Show more

Especially if you're planning a prolonged visit to , using the correct Finnish numbers for counting in Finnish could be very important! Number systems are the other alphabet in any language. In fact, it is a language all of its own, and it serves a multitude of excellent purposes. Table of Contents A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems Why is it Important to Learn Finnish Numbers? Learning Finnish Numbers Why Choose FinnishPod101 to Learn all about Finnish Numbers? 1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems 1. The Ishango Bone The origin of counting, and with it numbers, is not clear to historians. While their art showed that prehistoric man had a concept of numbers, the first indication of a formal... Show more