Some Key Concepts in the Finnish Customs and Way of Life

Answering the Telephone

What do you say when you pick up the receiver? Just “hello” is considered im polite in Finland. An swer directly with your name.

Be on Time! Älä myöhästy!

Älä myöhästy! Both at work and in social life, Finns are very punctual. A major exception is the “akateeminen vartti” – the academic quarter (15 minutes past the hour), which is a practice in the academic world. This means, for example, that if it says on the time table that your lecture is to start at 10, it will not begin until 10.15. Note, however, that the “akateeminen vartti” does not apply to examinations.

Coffee

Finns consume, on average, nine cups of coffee (kahvi) each day – it’s a world record! If you visit a Finnish home, you will probably be offered some coffee. It will not be considered impolite, if you happen to dislike coffee and decline it.

Cottage

A cottage or cabin (mökki) preferably in the middle of nowhere, by a lake and with only the most basic necessities is almost every Finn’s dream. Inside every Finn, there seems to be a little forest troll, who wants to hear the wind whispering in the trees and to dip into the cool water of a lake after the sauna.

No Smoking

Smoking is not allowed in public buildings since Finland has strict regulations against smoking. Therefore, always remember to check if there is a “No smoking” (Tupakointi kielletty) sign before you light a cigarette, even in situations in which you think it would be acceptable. Normally people smoke neither indoors nor in private homes.

Sauna

The sauna is an essential part of the Finnish way of life and today there are about 1.2 million saunas in the country. There is also a sauna in every TOAS student house. You will certainly be invited to several sauna evenings during your stay in Finland. Originally, sauna was not only a place for washing but also a place where children were born and the sick were cared for. There is an old Finnish proverb to the effect: “if sauna, spirits or tar don’t help, the disease is fatal”. Many flats now have their own saunas, and student associations often organise sauna parties for their members. However, it is not customary for men and women to share a sauna unless they are members of the same family or are otherwise particularly close friends.

Swimming in a hole in the ice on the lakes during winter is becoming increasingly popular in Finland and there are a number of places in Tampere (e.g. Rauhaniemen Uimala and Kaupinojan sauna) as well where you can go for a refreshing swim after bathing in a sauna.

Sports

Finns are very serious about sports (urheilu). Winning a medal in the Olympic Games is about the best thing that can happen to a Finn. The winner is treated like a na tional hero, invited to the Presidential Palace, featured in interviews and pictures in the newspapers and magazines. Every town and even the very smallest village has its own sports field, sports facility, swimming pool, etc.