FACTS ABOUT FINLAND - FINLAND.COM

The colours of Finland’s national flag with its blue cross on a white background symbolise the country: blue represents the thousands of lakes while white stands for snow, ice and the light summer nights. In terms of area, Finland is the seventh biggest country in Europe; 10 % of its surface is covered by water and 69 % by forests.

Having only gained its independence in 1917, Finland is a young state, though it has been inhabited ever since the end of the last Ice Age. The first settlers arrived as soon as the continental ice sheet retreated ca. 8000 BC. Traces of the retreating ice sheet can still be found for example on the rocks of the south-western archipelago. Besides Finns, the country was also settled by the Sami people, who over the centuries moved further up north. Today, out of Finland’s population of five million, 6,500 are Sami people.

Christianity gained ground in Finland during the 12th and 13th centuries. The new religion was spread from both Sweden in the west and from Novgorod in the east. After Swedish rule was established in Finland, the country was referred to as the Eastern Land and its furs were sought-after merchandise. Sweden’s eastward expansion and the spread of Christianity is reflected for example in the legend of the assassination of Bishop Henrik, leader of the first Swedish crusade to Finland, by a Finnish peasant called Lalli on the ice of Lake Köyliö.

In the Middle Ages, a cathedral school was established in Turku for the training of clergy. Students of the cathedral school studied Latin and the Bible. However, since a university degree was required for higher posts, some of the learned men travelled to continental Europe to study. Some of them stayed to teach at European universities but most returned to Finland after taking their degree.

Along with the Reformation, the importance of public literacy and the right of the general public to read religious literature their native language became central issues. Bishop Mikael Agricola created the first form of written Finnish in the 16th century and his main work was the Finnish translation of the New Testament.

During the 17th century when Sweden was a major power in Europe, Finnish cavalrymen, known as ‘hakkapeliitta’, were much dreaded mercenary soldiers in the Thirty Years War. Due to its location between Sweden and Russia, the Finnish territory frequently became a battlefield in disputes between these two states over the centuries. Today Finland shares a border of 1,269 kilometres with Russia.

In the 19th century, advocates of the Finnish national movement occupied their minds with Finland’s position in regard to and relationship with its neighbouring countries. The feelings during the early stages of national awakening are well summarized by the famous words of A. I. Arwidsson, a significant proponent of the cause: ‘We are no longer Swedes, we do not want to become Russians, so let us be Finns.’

In 1906, a parliamentary reform introducing universal suffrage took effect in Finland. Thus Finnish women were the first in Europe to be granted the right to vote. The young nation suffered a bloody civil war in 1918, the legacy of which lasted for generations to come. The Finnish national identity has been reinforced by the experiences people shared during the Winter War (1939-41) and the Continuation War (1941-44) against the Soviet Union and by the nation’s ability to maintain its independence. After the wars, Finland began to develop from a predominantly agricultural country to a modern industrial state. The heavy war indemnity to the Soviet Union was paid off in the early 1950s. When Armi Kuusela won the title of Miss Universe in 1952, this further contributed to placing Finland on the world map.

As a small country, Finland has played a conciliatory role in world politics. During the Cold War, Finland hosted the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1975, and for a long time after, the ‘spirit of Helsinki’ was talked about in diplomatic circles. In 1955, Finland joined the Nordic Council and the UN. In 1995, Finland became a member of the European Union and formed the European Monetary Union with ten other member states in 1999. In 2002, the euro was introduced as the official currency of Finland. Finnish euro coins bear heraldic lion motifs. Nowadays Finland, renowned for its scenic beauty, is characterised by its high level of education and technology.

Midsummer -the highlight of the summer

Finns show consideration for other people and prefer not to be judgmental. In the sparsely populated country, the silence is almost tangible. Finns also respect the home to the extent that they take their shoes off indoors. While many Finns, such the conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and the F1-driver Mika Häkkinen, have created international careers, the best-known Finn is nevertheless Santa Claus, whose home is on the Arctic Circle.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Finland’s climate is warmer than that of Greenland, even though both countries are situated on the same latitude. The Northern Lights, or the aurora borealis, are a luminous natural phenomenon that at times lights up the Arctic sky. Snow also brightens up the landscape in Finland in winter when the hours of daylight are short. In Helsinki the contrast between the unfrozen sea and fresh, white snow is striking. In spring, hepaticas and wood anemones blossom in for example the in oak groves of south-western Finland.

The Midsummer festival is a highlight of the summer that finally makes people wake from hibernation. The sun doesn’t even set at night. Finns feel happiest when sitting and relaxing on the jetty of their lakeside cottage on a summer evening. Nature is at its best in summer. A sailing trip in for example the Turku Archipelago, the most extensive archipelago in Europe with its 20,000 islands, offers a stunning experience. The special atmosphere of the archipelago is created first and foremost by its hardy yet hospitable inhabitants who make their living from tourism.

You can stay overnight in the impressive lighthouse of Bengtskär or visit a sheep farm in Pargas. The lighthouse, standing on an outer skerry, is, according to Paula Wilson, the proprietress, rather like Finland: persistent and resilient. Jill von Weymarn, the sheep farmer at Stentorp, draws her inspiration from nature. The autumn colours, ancient mythology and craft traditions of the archipelago are all present in her handicraft made from sheep wool. A farm holiday is a pleasant way of gaining an insight into the Finnish way of life.

In autumn you can see huge flocks of cranes or large swans flying across corn fields. They will return to Finland early the following summer, as will many Finnish expatriates, because nothing can beat the wonderful Finnish summer.