Finnish Culture

What to know about Finnish culture?

Finns are punctual (if you agree to meet someone for coffee at 2pm you should be at the café at 2pm, not 2:15 as that would be considered rude)
We do not wear shoes inside - if you visit someone's home please leave your shoes at the door
There is no need to formally address each other, nor do we use titles. Most often pupils address their teachers by the teachers first name
If a Finn suggests to go for coffee they truly want to meet for coffee with you, so keep your word and don’t give empty promises
50 Cultural Facts on Finland that Help You Understand Finnish People (herfinland.com)
You can watch this video for differences between Finnish and U.S. culture: 10 CULTURE SHOCKS | FINLAND | NOMAD LIFE | - YouTube

During your time in Finland there are two celebratory days:

All Saints´ Day - November 6, 2022

All Saints' Day is celebrated in November during the darkest time of the year, is a quiet and devout day in Finland, when relatives bring candles, wreaths and flowers to the graves of their deceased loved ones. In addition to commemorating the dead, All Hallows' Day is a reminder of the hope of a reunion.

In Finland All Saints´ day is held on Saturday between 31.10 – 6.11. Shops, restaurants and other businesses may choose to follow Saturday opening hours, but some of them might be closed.

Father´s Day - November 13, 2022

In Finland, fathers are honoured on the second Sunday in November. In 2019, the status of Father's Day was elevated to that of Mother's Day when it was made an official Flag Day in Finland.

Father's Day is a celebration that honours the role of fathers and forefathers. It is a modern holiday, though the ancient Romans did have a tradition of honouring fathers, every February, but only those who had deceased.

Around the world, Father's Day is celebrated on different dates, though the day is celebrated in a similar manner, usually involving giving gifts to fathers and family activities.

Across Scandinavia, the tradition of a Father's Day was adopted in the 1930s. Originally the American date was used, but in 1949 the Nordic countries decided to move it to the second Sunday in November. This was partly to place it half a year away from Mother's Day but also it was chosen to increase sales in an otherwise quiet trading period before Christmas. The only country who didn't fall in line was Denmark. They forgot to inform the public and press about the date change, so Father's Day remained on the same day as their other early June holiday.