FINLAND | Socializing | Cultural information
Mentality & Communication
The Finns may at first be introvert and quiet, but after all they are very friendly, helpful and honest. You may find good ideas for your free time on the websites www.visitfinland.com.
The Finns are known by their punctuality, obedience to the law and their honesty. The Finns obey the traffic regulations, the pedestrians wait for the green traffic light before crossing the roads and they will be on time in appointments. The Finns do not complain about services and they wait their turn when queing. The Finn is trustworthy. He/she is modest and she/he doesn´t like loud and insistent boasting about someone´s success. Anyway, most Finns are relaxed without any snobbery.
In Finland the equality is highly valued. The discrimination based on sex or race is illegal and the chauvinistic and patronizing comments to the women are not acceptable. The equality is seen in practise for example in situations where the women pay their share in restaurants, they don’t expect the men pay the drinks and meals. Everyone pays their own share.
The Finns are not good in so called “small talk”. They usually talk slowly, take pauses in their sentences. The words have the importance in communication. It is often mentioned that the Finns are better listeners than speakers. To interrupt someone’s sentence is very rude and impolite.
Good topics for the small talk are mutual hobbies and sport. When you have got to know your Finnish friend better, she/he is willing to talk even about the religion and politics with you. In Finland there are two official languages – Finnish and Swedish.
When you greet a Finn, make an eye contact and shake hands. The hand shaking is brief but firm. The friends and acquaintances for long time may hug each other, but kissing is not a cultural manner in Finland.
The Finnish humour is based often on the practical jokes and is very down to the earth. In Finland there are plenty of “funny” races – carry the wife on the shoulders, throw the mobile phone or a rubber shoe.
Invitations
When you go for a visit to the Finnish home, bring some flowers or bottle of wine – candies for the children. You may dress casually. The host will ask you to sit down for the dinner, wait until everyone has been served, the host may say “hyvää ruokahalua” – bon appetite, and then you can start eating. If you have been invited to the summer cabin, you may dress your self even more casually. Help the hostess with the little chores. Don’t complain about the primitive conditions like the missing electricity, running water, flushing toilet ext. Also, take off your shoes at someone´s home.
You may politely turn down the invitation to visit the sauna, but it is highly recommended that you try that very Finnish custom. You need to tolerate the fact that the Finns don’t wear swimsuits in sauna. They usually jump in to the lake for cooling down and escape the heat.
Going out to eat or drink
The Finns are often unfortunately heavy drinkers. Remember, that you can always say no to alcohol. You will be served non alcoholic drinks in restaurants and visits. The binge drinking is an unfortunate way of drinking in Finland – that causes a lot of problems in society and in families.
Women pay their share in restaurants, they don’t expect the men pay the drinks and meals. Everyone pays their own share.
You will find more useful information on: www.virtualfinland.com
Local customs
The most important celebrations and festivals in Finland are New Year, Easter, Labour Day, Mid Summer, Independence Day and Christmas. Every festival has it’s own character and menu.