The
salmiakki is the most symbolic confectionery of Finland. It is about liquorice
salted.
I have no really
liked it because I find that rather special, but I found important to speak
about it on my blog, because this confectionery is very appreciated by Finn.
Finland, Suomi in Finnish, is a country having a unique and of her own culture. The Finns speak for a great majority Finnish and a little bit Swedish. Most of the Finns are Christian and belong either to the evangelic-Lutheran Church (85 %), or to the Greek Orthodox Church (1 %) and there is also a minority of Christians, Muslims and Jews (According to: http://www.bibliomonde.com/).
The flag of Finland is:
The flag of Finland, called Siniristilippu in Finnish (The Flag with the Blue Cross) date of 1918. The drawing of the flag represents the Scandinavian cross, as on the many more flags Scandinavian countries as Denmark, Norway, Iceland, or Sweden. The blue symbolizes lakes and sky whereas the white symbolizes the snow and white nights of the Finnish summer.
Its national anthem:
The Finnish national anthem: Maamme Laulu (Our country) was written at first in Swedish by Johan Ludvig Runeberg and titled Vårt Land, then translates into Finnish. He was played for the first time in 1848.
Finland is a member of the European Union since 1995 and possesses the Euro as the currency since 2002.
On December 6th, it is the Finnish national holiday that is the day of the independence of the country. In 2017, Finland will celebrate its 100 years of independence obtained December 6th, 1917 during Russian revolutionary events. For the occasion, the country organizes numerous cultural events, in particular exhibitions to celebrate it. You can find various events on this web site: https://finland.fi/life-society/finland-celebrates-100-years-of-independence-in-2017/.
The holidays and the national celebrations:
There is also a very important event celebrated in Finland and in the Scandinavian countries: Midsummer. It is a set of celebrations quite taking place during the summer solstice, between 21 and on June 25th. The midnight sun corresponds in the day when the sun does not set, it is thus daylight all night long. The day continues, it is thus possible to go to make a golf, of the peach at 1:00 am. It's amazing!
Here are some customs and knowledges to live Finnish that I was able to observe:
- Finn are shy people, distant and sometimes even a little bit cold at first. You should never give a kiss at a Finn, or of hug, you can shake hands him but between them Finn just content themselves with a very furtive exchange, to say "Hey". They do not like too much the physical contact.
- When we go into a house, Finn are used to removing their shoes and leaving them next to the front door. For example, a Finnish friend is come to my place and he has directly to remove his shoes while I didn't ask him for any.
- If there is a tradition in Finland it is the sauna. It is a part of the everyday life. Finn adore saunas and many have it at their home. The country counts more than 2 million saunas (I was even able to see one on the Ferry to go to Tallinn) for a little more than 5 million Finn! Finn are
used to going to the stark naked Sauna (there is no sexual connotation) even
with people whom they do not know as it was the case in the sauna of Levi's spa
to which I went in February.
- Finn are big players, they like the games of money. At every exit of store, I was able to see numerous Finn playing on machines.
- In the
crosswalk, the Finn will stop by seeing you arriving by far. It is necessary to
respect, the small red or green chap. On every light, a "clac clac" allows
to know when we can cross, it accelerates when the small chap is green.
- The bike is a means of transport very used by Finn. Even under the snow they ride a bike to go to their work, go to city center or simply see friends.
- On road slippery the winter, the Finns do not put any salt
on roads and pavements, but of small gravels. It allows to avoid the
misadventures!
- To avoid that the heating bill explodes the winter, most
of the windows consist of a window double glazing and of one other simple
glazing about ten centimeters more outside.
- We do not find a photo booth in Finland. I have of to
realize passport photos to leave for Russia because I not had no it. I thus
went to a photographer and 4 photos cost me 24€!
- In Finland, cans and bottles in plastics are recorded (between 15 and 40 centimes). It is necessary to return them to the entrance of a food store and you can receive a purchase voucher according to what you brought
- A small thing had called out me, it is the rather important number of dressed young people in serviceman who we can meet in the street in particular to Kajaani. It is necessary to know that the military service is always compulsory in Finland for the men. When you are Finnish, you are obliged to serve the nation during 6 months minimum, it can be extended in 12 months for those who want to continue. Finn have the choice between the classic military service, the not armed military service and the civil service.
- Finn are used to having lunch early between 11 am and 12 am. When I lunch to the university canteen, at 1 pm, there are not people anymore, a food anymore, it is at 11:00 am or there is most world, it surprised me because it is very different from France. In the evening, they have dinner between 5 pm and 6 pm, much earlier that at my home once again. The food in Finland is a mixture of European, Scandinavian and Russian food. I published in particular some dishes that I liked on my blog.
- Finn drink a lot of milk and coffee at any time of the day. What most surprised me it is that in every restaurant or even a place of the milk was available. Finn put some milk in their coffee but also drink the natural milk, what replaces the water.
