When you move to a new country, things aren’t always easy and simple. Culture shock is common, especially if practices and the nature of the people are different from what you have grown up with. To avoid uncomfortable situations in Finland, here are some things worth knowing to help you manage your adjustment challenges.
For the Finns, happiness is not about smiling and an outward show of joy.
People across the world have different ways of showing their emotions, and certainly their interpretation of happiness. For the Finnish people, happiness is about having a balanced life where you can spend time with family. It is about feeling safe and supported by society and the government, as well as being able to make their own choices.
For the Finns, happiness is more about having peace of mind, than laughing and dancing.
Finnish people are by nature introverted and they love silence.
They do not show off their emotions and are known for their stoicism and resilience. They also do not enjoy small talk or talking casually to strangers and are known to be blunt when they communicate. They are sincere, honest, and modest. Trust is so important to them, that in Europe, Finland is where trust in strangers is the highest. They are also warm and hospitable. Observe well and learn about how they communicate, and you will feel more at ease with the Finnish character.
In Finland, the adage “silence is golden” is taken to heart. Finns love silence and exercise the same as a show of respect and giving people space. In conversations, silence is also considered a normal part of the discourse. So, stay calm, listen well, and don’t butt in too quickly.
Finns like showing their gratitude and are never aggressive.
Finnish culture values showing gratitude. Even in doing simple things like thanking the bus driver no matter what – whether they are late in arriving at the bus stop, or too early.
Finns are also never aggressive. Even when they are drunk, they will always treat you with respect and courtesy. They might slur a little, but that’s alright
Finns love their coffee and being in the sauna – naked.
Finns always drink coffee, and they will keep on inviting you for it. Because it’s cold and relatively dark eight months a year, Finns have a penchant for coffee. They are touted as the world’s biggest coffee drinker consuming some 12 kgs of coffee per capita each year. And they will keep on inviting you for it. Always accept the invitation whether you like coffee or not.
As for their favorite pastime, Finns consider sauna as an important part of their life – as a matter of tradition. Being invited to a sauna is considered an honor. And everybody is naked in sauna baths.
Folks from conservative countries might find this odd and intimidating, but in Finland, going to the sauna means being in the buff. It’s just an age-old regular practice. But there’s no need to fear though. You will not be forced to go naked. However, it will be seen as odd if you do sauna in clothes.
Remove your shoes at the door and don’t go visiting unannounced.
Just like some countries in Asia such as Japan and Korea, in Finland, you are expected to remove your shoes when entering the house. Do this as a sign of respect to the host.
Visiting unannounced is a no-no. Going to a friend or anybody’s house, for that matter, without informing the person in advance is frowned upon in Finland. Make sure that you are invited because things could get awkward.
Finns have a law for almost everything and tax for a lot of things
Finns have a law for almost everything. When you live in Finland, you are expected to follow and obey everything, including some weird laws that they have such as avoiding buying alcohol after 9 PM.
Finns don’t play music in a taxi. If you ask the driver to put on a CD to pass the time during a long taxi trip, you may find yourself in hot trouble. A Finnish taxi driver must pay royalties to an artist if they play music in their cab for a paying passenger. Next time, bring your MP3 player and a pair of headphones.
Finns have what is called a “Candy Tax”. The government has also attempted to cut dental costs by urging parents to limit their children’s confectionery consumption to once a week.
They’ve also imposed a ‘candy tax’ on all sugar-containing items, but the term is a little hazy. Bottled water, for example, is charged under this rule, but cookies are not.
There is also a TV tax. Innovations like internet streaming have significantly reduced the number of individuals who watch television or pay for cable. In Finland, however, regardless of whether or not they possess a television, every resident is required to pay a TV tax. Anyone looking to save money on their Netflix membership will be disappointed.
Other oddities
Don’t get a haircut on Independence Day. On public holidays, such as Finland’s Independence Day on December 6, most companies in Finland are closed, however, it is up to the government to select which enterprises are compelled by law to remain closed. Hair salons are one type of company that must close or pays a €600 fee to stay open. However, the female members of parliament still have a practice of getting their hair done on Independence Day, thus they are legally breaching their own rule.
Think about your headlights. You could imagine that because of the long hours of the Midnight Sun, you can turn off your car’s headlights, but this is not the case. Even in clear visibility or during the summer, Finnish legislation requires all drivers to maintain their headlights up at all times.
