“It was very liberating, living in a foreign country, a place where everything was new and strange - the food, the customs, the climate, everything.” -Deborah Moggach (English novelist and screenwriter)
I very much agree with Moggach’s statement, especially the part about everything being strange. To the ones absorbed in their own culture, daily life seems normal. To an outsider, those normal aspects of daily life may seem very odd.
Read below to learn three more customs and traditions that I have witnessed in Finland.
Grocery Stores:
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| Popular "Corner" Grocery Stores |
At the grocery stores in the United States, one usually has no problem finding specific items. The food selection is vast. In fact, there are usually several versions of the same product. In Finland, this is not usually the case. Yes, there are convenient stores on every corner, and you can even find supermarkets. But when I say supermarket, I am not talking about retailer like Wal-Mart of Meijer. If you want big retailers, go to the suburbs. In Helsinki's urban areas, supermarkets are more the size of a small Kroger or IGA. Even at these larger grocery store chains, do not expect to find eight types of laundry detergent or a diversity of soda products.
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Karjalanpiirakkathin (A popular Finnish pastry usually with a
rye crust with a filling of rice. It is even better with egg butter!) |
Coke Zero is popular but other diet drinks are rare. Two items that come in more than enough varieties in Finland are breads and dairy products. I think you could have a different type of bread and milk for everyday of the year. I enjoy grocery shopping in Finland. While it might not appear very different from small food stores in Kentucky, I long for some of the pre-prepared meals and unique pastries. Sometimes I give into temptation and treat myself to these cravings.
Sauna:
Saunas are a significant part of Finnish culture. According to
Statistics Finland, there are five million inhabitants and over three million saunas in Finland—an average of one per household. Saunas are hot steam rooms meant for cleansing oneself.
There is no right or wrong way to a sauna experience. It is wise to follow your host’s lead or that of the others using the facility. Typically, the process requires showering before entering the sauna. After a short time in the hot room, most people cool off with another shower. Some even roll in the snow or jump in the frigid lake to cool down. Often breaks from the steam room include eating sausage and drinking soft drinks. Then, it is back to the sauna to warm up!
Almost all apartment buildings and most houses have their own saunas. At my housing complex, the sauna is available Wednesdays and Saturdays from 6-8pm. There are also public saunas that people pay to use. I have read that occasionally one uses a bunch of leafy, fragrant birch to gently beat his or her skin. This is supposed to have a relaxing effect on the muscles and soothes irritation from mosquito bites, which are prevalent during the summer season (
Source—Finnish Sauna). The Sauna is not intended for weight control or physical conditioning. It is a place people come to socialize and escape the day-to-day grind.
Cruising:
I am no stranger to a cruise ship. I have been on a few Carnival cruises to Mexico and the Bahamas. In Finland, cruising is a popular event. Instead of cruising to a tropical island, passengers visit Sweden, Estonia, or even Russia. Sometimes Finns simply go on a cruise without a specific destination. The boat is the entertainment.
I took a cruise to Stockholm, Sweden with faculty and students from the University of Helsinki. The purpose of the visit was to discuss exchange opportunities for teacher education students from both universities. I was only in Stockholm for six hours, but I was fortunate to see the Royal Palace in Old Town.
Six hours in Sweden is a stark contrast to the 40 hours I spent on the boat. On the ship, I experienced…Viking Buffet. The starter plate consisted of vegetables, breads, cold cuts, and an assortment of seafood dishes including raw fish. The main course comprised of potatoes, sausage, and other meat dishes. Then of course, there was coffee and dessert.
In addition to lots of eating on a cruise ship, passengers listen to live music, socialize in lounge areas, and sing karaoke. This particular boat had a country-western bar. It was like being back in Nashville! A cruise ship is an environment where people can relax and enjoy themselves. Besides the possibility of getting seasick from a rough passage (which I did the first night), I would have to agree.
