Finnishness - thisisFINLAND

A whole bunch of brunch for May Day: Finland’s festival of spring arrives

May Day, traditionally the wildest party of the year in Finland, starts on April 30 and continues on May 1, when people take to the parks for a picnic brunch. Chef Timo Lepistö provides us with recipes that fit the holiday.

Arts & culture Visual arts

Urbane renewal: Returning a beloved Helsinki landmark to its original form

We visit a workshop at an undisclosed location where the venerable sculpture Havis Amanda is undergoing a yearlong conservation project. It returns to its harbourside perch in August 2024 – with a new plan to protect it during major celebrations.

Life & society Finnishness

For seventh year running, Finland is first in World Happiness Report – other Nordics in top 7

Since 2018, the UN World Happiness Report has found that Finland is the happiest country in the world. How does happiness happen? And where can you take a happiness masterclass?

Hei!

Finnish word for "Hello!"

Life & society Cuisine

Après-steam cuisine: 7 Finnish waterfront sauna restaurants serving delicious meals

Famous for its sauna culture, Finland continues to innovate in the sauna space. Sleek new sauna restaurants have cropped up around the country in recent years. A few have already become classics and local landmarks.

Business & innovation Society

A humble but powerful Finnish invention: Pedestrian safety reflectors save lives

Invented by a Finnish farmer in 1963, the pedestrian reflector is still helping people stay safe all over the world.

2010

The year National Failure Day was introduced

Life & society Finnishness

7 wow-worthy Finnish saunas: Where steam meets interior design

Sauna is a Finnish national pastime, and location can make a sauna exceptional – but so can design. We peek inside seven styles of saunas in various corners of Finland.

Life & society Education

Navigating life sustainably at an archipelago school in Finland

Our video brings you to an island off the southwestern coast of Finland, where schoolkids take a course called Archipelago Knowledge. It maintains local traditions while looking towards a sustainable future.

Life & society Cuisine

We love Finnish rye bread: A baking story that stretches across borders and generations

A Finnish American reporter talks food and family history as he remembers his grandmother, and uncovers a long-lost rye bread starter dough in the process. The article includes a Finnish sourdough rye bread recipe, so do try this at home.

53.2 per 100,000 people

Most heavy metal bands per capita in the world

Source: Business Insider

Life & society Sports

Having fun on the water in Finland

People in Finland love spending time outdoors. Finland’s 188,000 lakes, hundreds of rivers and long coastline offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature. The Finnish Lake District is the largest such area in Europe.