I'm from russia and I miss Finland very much. I used to go there a lot, and I felt very comfortable there. I'm friendly, but very introverted, so I really loved having my private space being respected. My country became crazy and completely ended all diplomatic relations with Finland, so I can't go there anymore. But I hope that one day I will go again... sending love to your channel! ❤

I live in Minnesota, USA. My heritage is 1/2 Finnish (my father was a Finn). My father died when I was young. I have always had things that I tended to do that were different from other people. Now, as an adult, I have started to learn about Finland. For most off what others find weird about me are normal for Finnish culture, but I didn't know it was. ❤ Now I know that I am not weird...I am Finnish! ❤❤❤

I love that Finns are comfortable with silence, I wish more cultures were! Same with not using names in conversation (for some reason, I don't care for it when people use my name when talking to me) Avoiding small talk by enjoying silence and responding to "How are you?" with a genuine response sounds fantastic, not weird at all!

I get the impression that Finns, Norwegians and the Japanese could co-exist very well. There's certain aspects of communal behaviour, social value systems and general personalities that would 'get' each other and be at peace I sense. Does anybody else concur? Especially interested in hearing from people who are from either of the aforementioned cultures. I love videos like this. Charming, quirky, honest and educational. Thumbs up!

My impression of Finland as an American? I LOVE your country. My wife and I went to Helsinki and then to Lapland. The cold weather doesn’t bother us, everyone was polite, everything was clean and orderly, the transportation was reliable and the food was amazing! We like silence and don’t like small talk. And we also love coffee! I hope we get back soon. 🇫🇮

I am 100% Finnish but born in a Finnish farming town in South Dakota. Everything you spoke about is me and my family. It is amazing how the culture replanted in the states in the early 1900’s. I love silence, never know someone’s name until they ha in my life for awhile and naked in the sauna with family and friends is the closest relationship you will ever experience. Letting babies nap in the cold brought back memories. Loved it all. Thanks.

I'm a finnophile and have visited Finland often for over twenty years. You know this business about Finns being shy and taciturn? A Finnish friend just yesterday told me he was sick of people stereotyping Finns as being incapable of chatting or terrified of strangers. Finns are just as varied and individual as anywhere but the internet if full of Finns telling everyone about how they just sit in silence etc. I had to say I agree. I have always found Finns to be very friendly and very responsive when you speak to them. Especially, when they find you're a foreigner who has learned Finnish. Some of my Finnish friends are much more extravert than me. I'm English. So sure, in comparison to many other nations, the Finns are fairly shy. But they are friendly on the whole and people shouldn't be afraid of chatting to them. They are the worst for spreading exaggerated stereotypes about themselves. I have never noticed the name thing. I've always found that when you meet a Finn they automatically say their name when they shake hands.

Lived in Turku/Abo for a couple of years, and really liked the fact that Finns don't feel like every moment should be filled with small talk. The thing with not introducing yourself is a bit weird, worse tho is when I called my Finnish colleague by wrong name, and that ass didn't correct me 🤣 Thanks a lot, Timo. 🤪

I worked in Finland for about 8 weeks (6 weeks summer, 2 weeks winter, and out in the countryside) back in the 90s and really enjoyed the place, the people and the language, (which I'm now learning for fun). The "silence" is only when there is nothing much to say, but almost every morning in the office there was a discussion at coffee break and all the Finns were talking, often at the same time. The only people who were silent were the non-Finns, like myself, who were unable to follow the conversation!

The baby naming thing is on point. As a finn I get anxiety when celebrities name their kids way before the due date and announce pregnancies super early.

My Grandfather was from Finland, and I am surprised how many of my personal habits are apparently straight from Finland! No shoes, writing notes, recycling, and most of all silent together are all things that I am and most people I know don't get it. And yes, I take the "How are you" question very seriously and do not like the small talk version of stopping at "Fine." Oh, my husband I am picking up puppies in 5 weeks, and he has a name for his picked out, but I always wait until I have mine for awhile to see who they are first.

I lived in Finland and I can say that everything you say, it's true!! I miss Suomi so much! Congrats for your presentation! 👍

I'm a Finn living in Canada. People here don't understand being silent together and have loud opinions about being naked in Sauna lol. Watching you makes me so happy 😊. Kiitos

This was a really fun video! Finland's culture and language is so interesting and resonates with me more than I can put into words, so thank you for all the insight your videos give us

#11 I have lived in Finland for 5 years and noticed some inconsistencies in not using names by Finns. On the one hand, they go to the gym or swimming pool and, despite meeting the same people regularly, they don't know them by name because they're just "acquaintance". On the other hand, when the phone rings (unknown number), Finns introduce themselves by name, often first and last name 😊

Kiitos 🇫🇮❤️ Quick fun fact: Finland just received a first spot in the worlds' "happiest country" category for five years straight placing Denmark as second after having been first for quite some time. Well done! I'm a Dane and I see many overall resemblances between Finnish and Danish culture. Of course there are differences, but that only adds more beauty to Finland. The recycling ♻️ part is taken *very* seriously here in Denmark and we care deeply about nature, wildlife and biodiversity. We're also introverted as a nation, we like our privacy and don't engage in small talk, not even with our neighbours. In this aspect, we're pretty similar. I know of many (myself included) who are very fascinated with the Finnish landscapes, and travel there regularly. Finland is like a second home 🏡 to us Danes 🥰🇫🇮🇩🇰

First of all thank you really much for your video, which moved my thoughts away from this sad and difficult situation the whole world is living. And your smile heals every wound of the soul :) I'm also really happy to see your channel growing up day after day. The passion you put into it deserves every credit, keep it up with your outstanding work! There are some similarities between finnish and italian uses after all: names day, split bills... One think I strictly relate with is I hate to have debt. Even 1€ of won't make me sleep haha! You mentioned several weird sports (sometimes reported even in italian newspaper) but you forgot the most important one: the Air Guitar contest! Finnish people in my Country aren't see weird at all and, as much as your northern neighbourghs, you're rather seen as inspiration for your political, educational and environment care systems. One big difference is about baby names: here you have to register their name the day they born. But I confess I find emotively deep to choose a baby's name according to her/his personality (for how a personality could be on a baby girl/boy after few days of life!). I can't wait for your next video :) Love from Italy

I really like how holiday time & free time in the evenings are so respected in Finland. It’s so important for a person’s health to have rest time available to them. It’s definitely not like that here in Canada.

So informative and fascinating. Thank you for sharing! I love your channel

I loved this! And explains why Finns are so happy 😀 Maybe the rest of us could adopt some of your “weird” practices. Thank you for sharing , Varpu. x

you know its a true friend when you can be just relax and be silent and it doesnt feel awkward, maybe this is just finnish thing. sometimes you just dont have anything that feels worth bringing up in your mind and we'll just be silent, but its still nice to hang around people because if tought comes then you just talk about it. we can sometimes just be silent but still enjoy the time together.

I was mostly raised around my Finnish - American family (I'm 3rd generation) and your point about not sharing or asking names really resonates. It NEVER occurred to me that I should just go up to people and (gasp!) INTRODUCE myself. It's just very foreign and uncomfortable. Same with direct confrontation or other kinds of forwardness. It just wasn't done. The culture hung on pretty strongly.

What a wonderful video. Thank you for sharing all these beautiful aspects of Finnish culture.

New subscriber from the Los Angeles, California, USA AREA. I LOVE this type of channel! I am so interested in learning about the cultures of different countries and regions, and your channel is exactly the type I love. Thank you so much for sharing! ❤

Thank you for sharing this video. I like your channel. It helps me understand my Finnish-American husband and family more. ❤ Also very funny! 😂 I have made some of these observations too. Although most Finns are a lot more quiet and reserved I have found that they are some of the nicest people I’ve ever known. The kindness and hospitality is unmatched. I’m blessed to be married to one.😊

Bit late for the train but here goes. Very good list. I am annoyed about those 5 or 10 points lists. Yours had 20 points. I liked that. You really made an effort. Your voice was also really nice. Without awkward pauses and so on. Sama suomeksi och samma på svenska. Tai jotain. Piristävä video! Tykkäsin. Kiitos.

Very interesting cultural aspects about Finland! Thank you for sharing!

Wow. This video was very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I'm from the US and I'm more excited for my trip. I will be heading to Finland in March 2024. Cant wait :)

I live in Minnesota, where we are (or were) predominantly Scandinavian. I have a friend who was dating a Finnish girl and went to meet her parents. Eventually, they took a Sauna. He was so uncomfortable with the thought of getting naked with her family that he excused himself and went home. Thus ended their relationship! He is Norwegian, and you certainly would never do that in a Norwegian home! I'm Swedish, I'd be fine with it. I suffered a severe brain injury 30+ years ago, and had to overcome a very tough speech impediment. I started studying the Finnish language, just practicing pronunciation (after 15 minutes of trying to speak Finnish, English seemed easy!). I never spoke Finnish very well, but I was able to overcome the worst of my English speech issues over a five year period! So, thank you, Suomi!!!

I've booked to come visit in Feb 2024 from the UK & im literally so excited already. I'm trying to learn a little of your language, it's a beautiful language! The non introduction of names seems funny as I usually start with hello I'm Jenna when I meet someone new. I like the warm personal connection of using a name, I think it can make you feel important to that person if they remember your name & use it but it's not that your ways are weird, they are just your ways. Diversity makes it interesting to visit different cultures. It would be boring if we were all the same. Thanks for allowing us into glimpse of Finn culture. 💗

Love this video Varpu! ❤️🇫🇮I knew almost all this things but learned about others like how you pic the new born baby names! 🥰 Terveisiä Argentiinasta!! 👋🏻🇦🇷

Kiitos! I'm glad to discover your channel. Great video. I was surprised that you didn't mention, salmiac. Not many of my American friends like it but I love it. Quite a unique candy.

I was an exchange student to Finland 50 years ago. My Finnish friends and adopted family have never lost touch. All of them have been here, and I there (many times). I love Finnish people, I love their ability to keep quiet and yet they say what they need. Thanks for your video,

I wonder how long these wonderful ways of doing things will last. I’m a natural born Finn but I have lived abroad for 33 years. I’m a stickler about taking shoes off inside one’s house and it drives me berserk when someone doesn’t take his or her shoes off when entering my home. I also love eating potatoes and drinking milk. One thing I miss is herneent. I don’t understand that we can get all kinds of exotic fruit and vegetables where I live but one can’t get herneitä (siis tuoreita herneen palkkoja). Whenever I visit Finland around summertime I eat myself sick with these peas. I miss Finland and hope to move back before I die.

I loved this video so much, thank you! I have a couple of Finnish friends who have always seemed so mature and wise to me I really believe that they can turn their hand to anything at all! Apparently your schools teach just about everything you need to know, for the rest of your lives! At university I learnt about your education system and it really does seem to beat everything else anywhere, hands down! I love metal music and so of course you guys just have the best music EVER! (Huge Nightwish fan here!) Your homes are beautiful, your country is beautiful and the people I have met just seem so happy and contented all of the time! So, your video was very interesting and I loved learning more about your culture. Taking shoes off in homes in the UK tends to vary from house to house, some people like to keep their carpets clean, others aren't so worried but apart from working in kindergarden baby rooms, I have never worked anywhere where you need to remove your shoes. In fact, several places have expressly forbidden it! For me, the weirdest thing is absolutely being naked in a sauna (I am English after all, being prudish is a well known, and true stereotype for us in general!😂) I cannot imagine anything more horrifying than being in a sauna with anyone who isn't my husband (even that would need a few stiff drinks first!) without even a swimsuit on. That is a massive HELL NO from me and the stuff nightmares are made from! Strangers, nope! 😳Family OMG even worse! 😲 I absolutely loved that your restaurant bills are split in groups of people so easily. That is so sensible! I personally find silence quite uncomfortable and so I tend to overcompensate by filling the silence with utter rubbish, sometimes to the point that I start to annoy myself after a while! I could learn so much from you there!😄 I am subscribing to you and hope to learn more about your glorious country and maybe a little of the language too and someday I would absolutely love to visit.

Went to Finnland last year, to see my husband play a concert in Helsinki. I felt strangely at home and what you describe feels totally familiar, apart from taking the shoes off in the office. I am German, but have been living in the UK for over twenty years. I loved your food and your language. Started to learn a few words before my travels, just to be able to say thanks and please, but it is so much fun, so I keep going. Thanks for the lovely video.

Hi Varpu, I'm from Slovakia and I found that few things we have common. Like: Sticker for vegetables in shops, recycling, names day celebration, getting shoes off inside, giving babies to sleep outside even when it's freezing, drinking milk as adults, working time, and we have also odd sports championships :D ... you should visit Slovakia when u'll plan your vacation. Sadly we don't have so many saunas as you do, but maybe you should consider the visit. ;)

Thank you, for sharing. I am from the Marshall Islands and can appreciate the importance of one's own culture

One day I want to visit Finland. Thank you for sharing lots of informations about your country. I really enjoyed learning them. Love from🇯🇵

They split up our bills around here too! Though you usually have to ask them to do it, rather than the waiter asking first. Great video~

Haha "we are watching all of the youtube videos about Finland" here I am, a Finn, watching this video from another Finn telling what we do, as if I didn't know these :D It's very true we like to hear what other people think about Finland, "Suomi mainittu, torilla tavataan"-Finland mentioned, we'll meet at the market square- as a popular saying really says it all.

Enjoyed it! I have long time Finnish family friends in a very rural corner of New Hampshire. I'll share more about Finnish ancestry friends another time.The Finnish custom of not firmly naming babies till they reveal their personality: Navajo (a large tribe of Native Americans) also have that custom. Often the grandmother gives/ settles on a name. And Navajo have a wonderful "First Baby's Laugh party." Whoever first made the baby laugh becomes an honored participant in a small family celebration gathering and blessing. --I used to be a storytelling school librarian for Navajo in NE Arizona.

Lol. I'm SO keen to go to Finland! The culture seems like something I'd really enjoy! Cheers from New Zealand!

Thank you!😁💞

More videos like this about culture and stuff 👍🏻

I love Finland and everything Finnish. However, riding a wooden horse competition would be pretty weird for me 😅

Recently visit your country and notice and greatly appreciated most of the things on your list. Didn’t notice others but now they make sense. I tend to keep to myself so I enjoyed my stay and the complete experience 😊

I began checking out the Finns via military and political history. I liked what I saw and expanded my inquiries. I quickly found that each new thing was a positive. Then, on a trip to Vipurri (sp?) I met many Finns and had great interactions, learning even more good things. Your education system is exemplary. Arts and music are fun. Movies, both fun and serious, are high end. I love your field gear. One day, I hope to visit. Recycling seems very effective. I have packs and coats made from plastic bottles that are good quality and price from there. Even Lenin admired you. (maybe a bit too much!) Happy independence day.

I am proud that I am 50% Finnish. My family and I did visit and stay in Finland for 3 weeks. We loved it. I visited many towns where my ancestors were born, grew up, lived, married, etc. I learned many things about Finnish Culture! Fascinating!

i love milk as an American Finn and this explains my personality so much! I am silent more than anything! Thank you for sharing! And yes never worn clothes in the sauna!

Great video!

Great video and useful and funny information. I want to visit Finland but don't know much about Finland. So if I meet an amazing Finn lady, I should say No Niin? 😅

I dutch, but married to a Finnish lady, she's definitely not silent lol, but unequaled in the honesty, classy and the genuine department, hope to go to Finland soon 🇫🇮

This is so cool! My first exposure to Finns and Scandinavians in general was when I was a little girl. They would be the tourists in our little beach resort and I noticed how quiet they were just enjoying the warm ocean and the beach scenery. Love the name giving isn’t necessary when it comes to acquaintances. Sounds like Japanese and Finns would get along just perfectly

This is great!

Interesting, specially about the crazy Sport Events. Must be very funny.

I'm married with a Finn and I really loved the Finnish culture in general. I'm Brazilian, by the way.

I missed the annual Air Guitar Championship in Oulu :D Finland is a great country with great nature and even greater people with an interesting language. I'm learning Finnish, but it's quite... different. Mun äidinkieli on Saksaa ja puhun myös Englantia, Ruotsia ja vääääähän Suomea. I have to go to Finland again as soon as possible.

This video was very well-made and informative. Thank you. I am in the United States, but I lived in Germany for 6 years when I was young. I did not know many of these facts about Finns. What was funny to me was the fact about not giving your name at introductions. As an American, I will do this every time, but then, will forget the other person's name in 5 minutes LOL. I guess it makes sense just to skip that part !

Finland sounds delightful. You have an admirable culture. I live in the inland Pacific Northwest out in the countryside where the wind in the trees is music to my ears. My interest in Finland is mostly a result of my admiration for Tuomas Holopainen, one of the great minds of our time. I'm glad I found your channel - have my like and subscription.

I so love all of these things and don't find them weird at all. I think it's brilliant 😁👏👏👏 no wonder I live here and I have a cousin that's Finnish 😍 expect the milk, oat milk for me ☺️

I (German) was very lucky to visit Finland twice: in 1978 and 1980. That's a pretty long time, but I never ceased to love this country. Sadly I have forgotten much of my (scarce) knowledge of the Finnish language. But one sentence I will never forget: Minä vihaan hytyssiä. 😉

I have developed a recent interest for Finland. I was listening to a Finnish song and your language sounds so nice. Currently i am trying to learn the language in the Duolingo app, but i cannot learn it in my native tongue. Anyway thank you for the informative video i learnt a lot from it. I hope to visit Finland one day.

That is a lot of helpful information🙏 And we have also already had experience with a recycling note 😁

I have seen quite a lot of this kind of videos concerning Finnish people and I wonder why no one mentions that we consider people who smiles or laughs without any real reason as idiots. So if you are talking to a Finnish person, try not to smile too much, unless there is a reason for it. This may be good to know and at least to me it is logical. I was a long time ago working for US based company and there if your boss cached you at any time when you were not smiling he confronted you and told to you that you have an attitude problem. Even at toilet… I quit after working just 3 days at that job.

Finland is the most lovely place to visit! i have been there like 4 times and still dying to go back when I plan a trip its never dissapointing! very safe, nice and polite people lot of fun and love the language im learning it, is not so easy 😁 but someday I will learn it to move and live there! greetings from sweden ❤!

Greetings from Switzerland! It's interesting to know that you weigh your own fruits and vegetables in the supermarket, to get the price. This did not shock me when I had the pleasure of coming to your country because it is the same in Switzerland. However, in California, this happens at the cash register, which is equipped with a scale, and it is the store employee who takes care of the pricing. In Canada, we also take off our shoes when we enter a house, especially in winter! This is also the custom in California but not necessarily an obligation. If there are carpets in the house one does it, with a stone or wood floor, we keep our shoes (flip flops) on. Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!

Thanks! I’ve been raised in the United States however my ancestors came from Finland. Unfortunately I know very little about Finland due to the fact my family members are not alive, so this is why I truly appreciate your videos. Sincerely Steve Tenhonen

I'm mexican and I live in California and I would love to visit Finland one day. It seems like a really special place this culture sounds very interesting.

My dad was born here, in northern Canada, to Finnish immigrant parents. I am proudly Canadian, speak English and French, and know very little Finnish, but your list explains so much about my father, his father (sadly his mom died when he was quite young), and some quirky parts of my own ways of doing things to this day. Thanks for the fun video! I shared it with my daughters who look remarkably similar to you.

Thanks sharing Varpu ❤.

My daughter is preparing to go to Finland later in the year to visit friends and ride horses. It is her fist time, so we watched your video. The weirdest thing is that most of the things on your 20 weird things list are the same as Japan where we live! Love the presentation of the contents and will check out the other videos. Thanks heaps.

As Estonian I find these things perfectly normal in most cases as we used to do things quite similar way. Thhere where a joke during Covid restrictions time: When the rules say that people have to be 2 meters away from each other was very stressful. After restrictions are over, we can get back to normal 5 meters distance... No nii!!! :) - I use it a lot! Very similar... Shoes in the house - never I understand this why many countries have used to wear shoes in the house, even at work. It is very uncomfortable and spread dirt everywhere. Have been walking with socks even at office during last 7 years at least, never wear shoes in the house.

As an Estonian, can relate!🇪🇪😄

As an American with all four grandparents born in Finland, I can see so many of these traits were carried to the new country. I have been to Finland with own sons in 2016 and first with my mother and sisters in 1998 where we found the grave of our great-grandmother and the farm house my father’s father (the first-born son) left to avoid Russian conscription. None of them ever saw their homeland again, which must have been a heartbreak. Still they taught us how to work hard, keep a clean house, take the hottest sauna (naked of course), how to relish silence and the beauty of white birches and a cold lake at sunrise. Not to mention the delicious panukakku, pulla, leipäjuusto and the dreaded lipiagula (don’t know how to spell that one) the terrible fish cured with lye my mother served on Christmas Eve.

This list sounds pretty normal to me now, as I've been living with a beautiful Finnish lady in the UK for 20 years. When I first encountered things on this list they did seem strange to me, as a Brit. I'm naturally shy, but even I was uncomfortable with prolonged silence. Sometimes during a silent period, I would question if something was wrong. If an English woman is silent, you KNOW that you have done something wrong 😆. We have adopted some of the 'weird' things into our house (like no shoes indoors) because they make much more sense.

I find some of the things normal like taking off your shoes when you are indoors. Have probably to do with the climate. Others are weird like leaving notes but we do them too. Funny how many things we have in common. Greetings from Sweden.

I am from the UK and I was lucky enough to visit Finland for a short time (7 days). I really appreciated the quiet way that Finns conducted their lives. I enjoyed the practical things like not repeatedly greeting a person whom you had already greeted earleir that day. Serial conversation was new to me and it made complete sense to me that only one person should speak at any one time. It was interesting to see no gender loading of speech. The absence of the terms for 'his' and 'her' made life much simpler. I had no preconceptions if I was going to meet a CEO because I had no idea if they would be male or female, especially where no name had been provided. The strong sense of community in Finland was palpable and present everywhere I went. It was a revelation to see that all buildings had doors that opened outwards from the central part of the building, to assist people tpo leave the building in case of fire. In the UK we do not do this as a routine nor as a matter of regulation. I found the Finnish sense of humour to be every bit as funny as the British sense of humour and my hosts ensured that I had a great time, while eating great food and drinking beer. One interesting food fact was one workplace (a hospital) which I was attending provided two main meals per day to its nursing staff. I asked why and was told that althpough the meals were nutritious, they did not provide enough energy for a whole day at work so the staff had two main meal breaks. Finland is blessed with utterly beautiful scenery and I spent some of my time travelling around the country. Finnish music is incredible and I have developed a strong taste for Finnish folk music, tales from the Kavala, heavy metal music and music played on a Kantele. In case you cannot tell from this short message, I fell completely in love with Finland and its very civilised people. I adored the country and thought the people were some of the nicest people I have met on this planet. I have lived and worked in around 30 different countries for the context of that last statement.

I find your culture amazing. I live in the USA and we purchase our fruits and vegetables mostly in the same way. Things have changed a bit with many people having their products delivered, but I was very familiar with what you were speaking. Thanks.

I was raised in the USA by my Finnish grandparents, my town was predominantly Finnish and Italian in the earlier years. Some of these I thought were just normal. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've always been fascinated by Finnish people. They remind me of the elves in lord of the rings. Also they are so rare. I've probably met three in my whole life. Very beautiful looking people. I love quiet sincere people.

Great video and none of these are weird to me but again I am mostly Finnish 💙🇫🇮

I spent a summer in Finland in 1979, working at a bank through AIESEC. This video brought back lots of great memories, so thank you!

The one time I was in Helsinki I remembered the excitement about strawberries. The person showing me around took me to the market and we ate them at a park overlooking the sea. Also, Finns might have the most beautiful English accent.

What I noticed also was how clean everywhere the country was, how expensive it was, and few obese people there were, unlike in other countries, esp here in USA.

If the last “outoa” thing is true, perhaps some Finns may enjoy my effort to sing in Finnish and explain a classic song? Kulkuri ja Joutsen - Miss Moonshine sings Finnish "Schlager" - There's No Place Like (Finland) Home kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j96VdNtmzZuup5s.html

Thank you for the video and for your openness! It would be interesting to get your opinion on why many of young Finnish ladies low their voice when talking? Sometimes it sounds like a voice of some old grandma or like there is no air left for breathing ☺️

I really really really ... realllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy need to move to Finland. I want to go there now! Oh, gawd... what would it be like for the day to be done by 4 pm. What would it be like .. being with family .. with friends in the afternoon .. All of that nature, the beauty the silence .. I could live on Finland's air alone. Heaven.

6:08 - This happened in my building once some years ago, with a very pissy note next to the trash in this garage like building, someone whining about people not recycling properly. I considered burning it in protest, but later forgot about it.

Hey.. I am from India -Kolkata city, I am moving to Finland 🇫🇮 for my doctoral studies. Here I am researching about the country, culture and food and understanding the demographics- it’s really helpful. Good work ❤

What an excellent ambassador you are, I would love to visit Finland. The icy bath… no! I would reply to a note with a nice letter…. 😅 the silence might be nice for a while. I love the name day and holidays and time off too. In the USA many often work too hard. Stay Happy!

As a finnish person, I find it so strange that these habits are considered weird. I told my Mediterranean housemates about the habit of leaving a baby to sleep in the cold, and they couldn't believe why you would do that? Aren't we worried about kidnappers? Apperantly not

As a french living in Finland (countryside) since few month with my finn boyfriend all of those facts make total sense 🤣 I may add as i noticed the fact that you have a lot of tv program in original version and suomi subtitles is a super nice way to learn and also share amusement moment however if you speack or not suomi 👍👍

Thanks….so true…. Thanks for sharing….I made many business trips to Finland and always loved the people I was working with.

I just love your youtube channel and your Pinterest! I'm a Finn (born in the US) and watching your videos and reading your articles makes me feel more connected to Suomi!

I'm American, but my mother put us out in the pram when we were babies. She believed the fresh air was good for babies. I notice Finns tend to really like competitions. Not in a fierce way, but just they get very involved and like a win or lose outcome. I've been to Finland and have friends there. None of this is surprising...now 😊 However, when I first noticed my friends inhaling while talking I thought they had breathing problems. To me, the numbered seats on buses and trains are odd. We do not have that in my part of the world, and unfortunately, I made a mistake once on a bus to Tamepere. I'm sure confronting me ruined that person's day. I felt really bad. Nice video !!!

A lot of what you said exists in the neighboring country - Russia. For example, taking off "street" shoes, name day, waiting for the local new potatoes, being naked in saunas, swimming in an "ice hole" and much more. I have been to Finland several times, and for example, garbage sorting is exactly the same as in Germany. Notes to neighbors, there are in the Netherlands (where I live) and milk is also in the buffets for lunch. So, we're all not very unique. And we have a strong penetration of cultures. Good luck to your channel.

The name day for me is weird because my name isn't on the Finnish calendar. My name is Friida and it apparently has German origin, but it's a Swedish name. My name day is in Swedish calendar is 29th of December so we celebrate it then. Anyway I realized that there's a lot of things I do I didn't even realize I do. Love the video keep up the work! :D

Hello, Varpu. I just discovered your videos. Finland has always fascinated me and I have it on my travel wish list. Personally speaking, I love how the Finns value silence. I do not talk much; unless my words have a purpose. My fellow Americans talk way too much! Ironic that Americans are so obsessed with security; yet, they will freely talk about their life stories to any strangers who will listen! Please keep making your informative videos about Finland. You are a terrific teacher, Varpu!

I am a finn and i have NEVER removed my shoes in the office or seen anybody else walk in their socks. If you are going to somebody’s home you do remove your shoes, but if it is some kind of party you usually bring ”indoor” shoes, so that you don’t have to be in your socks.