Fun - 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 Winter

Icy resolve: Creating the world’s widest ice carousel on a Finnish lake

Janne Käpylehto’s newest project – making the largest ice carousel in the world – amounts to a masterclass in sisu, the untranslatable Finnish word that signifies courage and endurance. And we’ve got it on video.

Mellunmäki

The world's northernmost metro station, in Helsinki

Life & society Wellbeing

In Finnish culture, hobbies get pride of place

Hobbies offer a way for people to enrich their lives – and even enhance the lives of others in the process. Joining a hobby is also a way to meet new Finnish friends.

Life & society Webpick

Finland offers excellent challenges for runners

A number of factors make Finland a great place for runners. The website Run in Finland lists the country’s most exciting international running events for you and your friends.

150 000

Number of registered snowmobiles

Source: Liikenneturva

Life & society Equality

“Only in Finland”: A story of banknotes, post-it notes and social media posts

What happens when a cleaner in a Finnish office building finds five euros on the floor?

Life & society Helsinki

Taking to the streets for a spirited Helsinki ghost walk

Halloween (October 31) is a traditional season for ghostly activity, but Helsinki’s phantom tales are spooky at any time of the year. The city’s ghost walks perpetuate eerie legends.

Life & society Traditions

Learning Finnish graduation hat tricks

The Finnish high school graduation cap is more than just a white hat with a narrow black visor, and its use isn’t limited to graduation ceremonies. The subtleties and peculiarities of this particular headwear need some explanation.

Most Olympic medals total, per capita (303 in all) of any nation

Life & society Traditions

At Finland’s high schools, wild winter party precedes study break

Finnish tradition dictates that in mid-February, students in their last year of high school start their study break with a great big party. Meanwhile, the students below them celebrate their new status as the eldest kids in the building by dancing.