December 6th - Independence Day

We Finns have celebrated Finlands independence on Friday. The Independence Day includes many traditions, for example parades, Independence Days reception in Presidentinlinna and lighting two blue and white candles to the front of the window. Finland became independent on 6.12.1917, already 96 years ago.  Let me tell you some things about being a Finn.

Independence Day is a flagging day

 

Persistance

I'm sure that if you asked from a hundred Finns what makes them so special, at least half of them would mention a thing called persistance. Persistance is something that Finns are very proud about. There's at least one car brand and throat pastille range named by it.

Ask from a hundred years old Finn how did he do it, and he aswers: "With persistance". Ask how Finns survived from the second world war more or less without damages, they mention the persistance.

Persistance is spending the whole summer in the forest, in the downpour, enjoying every second. We'll stay in the sauna a bit longer time than the others with persistance keeping our faces calmly on basic reading. Persistance is doing things until the end. Not because they're important, but because they have to be done.

The president Sauli Niinistö and his wife receiving guests

 

Sports

Besides persistance, sports are also essential to Finns. Finnish athletes succeed mostly in that kind of sports which requires hardiness: driving a tuned car through the uninhabited forest with a deadly speed is a thing where Finns have always been good. Ski jumping is another one. Finland has produced masters in formula 1, speed in landing, cross-country skiing, long-distance running and on nowadays in snowboarding too. If you aren't good at anything big money sport, you can always try a career in kyykkä (bowling with logs), orienteering, throwing a boot or carrying your wife on piggyback. The main thing is doing it with persistance.

six hatches opened in my advent calendar

 

Food culture

When has been sported, has to eat well, of course. Finnish food culture is extensive, distinctive and living wholeness. What and how we eat in Finland tells about Finnish nature, society, history, identity and culture. We Finns make our foor culture on our own daily choices.

There is a myriad of specialities in Finnish food culture, for example drinking milk on meals, a spring fad caused by new potatoes and your own grounds strawberries, swede, tippaleipä, campfire sausage, smoking fish and meat, viili and salty liquorice. The list continues far!

Some Finnish inventions

- dish drying cabinet
- women got nominated in the election first in the world on 1906.
- the tobacco law was the most advanced of its time, when smoking was limited on 1976.
- Finnish investigators discovered xylitol at the beginning of 1970.
- the right of paternity leave was got after 10 years discussion on 1978.
- warm and free school meal was brought to pupils plate at the beginning of 1940.
- everyman's right is an old right based on partly to land's way and partly to law.
- the idea of the text message came at the beginning of 1980.