Opiskelijan Seinäjoki 2023

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Snowmobile Safari in Lapland. Photo: Timetravels
Is food weird or does it taste good?
Finns have an omnivore diet but are more focused
on animal-based rather than plant-based food
receipts, as per cold weather countries. Still, there
are delicacies for everyone.
The Classic Finnish rye bread. It is joked that the
Finnish rye bread is so hard that it breaks the Swedish
knives. So try at your own risk!
What about the black pudding-looking Finnish
Easter dessert called Mämmi? It is made from water,
rye flour, powdered malt, dark molasses, salt and
orange zest. For some, it tastes very strange but for
some, quite good. The debate thus continues….
Two more weird foods?
The Karelian pie (Karjalanpiirakka), it’s arguably the
most weird-looking food but Finns love to eat it.
In Tampere, you cannot miss the mustamakkara.
Only for the not faint-hearted: it is blood-based
sausage and it tastes the best with redberries.
On the famous side are the masterpieces of the
north: the salmon soup and the sautéed reindeer
(poronkäristys).
Fun fact! Did you know Finland is the world’s
biggest consumer of coffee on a per-person basis?
That’s 12kg per person per year! Then, they chill out
with a lot of ice cream!
Where sport meets nature
From cross-country skiing to hiking and kayaking,
there’s something for everyone in Finland to unleash
everyone’s inner adventurer.
Even better, within walking distance from your
place, you will find sports/recreational parks including
outdoor gyms, football grounds, skating parks
and tennis parks.
Curious or want to learn a new sport? Finnish
towns provide good value seasonal sports card passes
for a versatile and affordable price for students
under 29 years old. Details can be found on your city
website.
Fishing is a beloved part of Finnish culture. For
centuries, Finns have been catching salmon, perch,
and more. Whether it’s ice fishing or trolling, the
thrill of the catch keeps Finns hooked!
Interested more? You can purchase a permit as
easily as from the city’s official website. When fishing,
be sure to follow the local regulations, respect
the environment, and practise safe fishing techniques.
It surely does not end there! Finland is also home
to some of the world’s weirdest sports. Heard of
wife-carrying competition, Swamp football, mosquito
squashing, hobby horsing, reindeer racing, or
Milking-stool throwing?....all Finnish!
The Sound of Silence: Music and
Libraries
Not a sporty person? All good! Finns also love cultural
activities!
Finnish music culture is a lively blend of traditional
folk, heavy metal, and modern pop. From the
mesmerising sounds of a kantele to a headbanging
metal concert, there’s always something fun and
exciting going on all year round, from small concerts
to festivals and even dedicated cruises!
When it gets cold, libraries get flocked since you
can make the most out of a plethora of volumes and
a cosy environment to relax.
Library culture is so popular in Finland that, to
celebrate the centenary of Finland’s independence,
Helsinki opened up one of the most modern and
innovative libraries, Oodi. It is even becoming popular
among tourists!
Did you know that Finnish Libraries are run by
municipalities and most services are free of charge?
Get the most out of it!
Anatomy of Finnish culture: The Finnish
way of life!
Finns are considered stereotypical of many things.
The most popular ones are Finns’ love for the sauna,
introverted nature, and melancholy. Since we are on
the topic, let’s start with stereotypes…
Why do Finns always go outside in groups?
Because it’s easier to maintain silence that way.
Why don’t Finns want to win the Eurovision Song
Contest? Because it would mean they have to host
the entire competition the following year.
Finnish attitude is characterised by a sense of
honesty, integrity, and humility. They tend to value
their personal space and privacy, but they also place
high importance on social responsibility and respect
for others. Punctuality, direct communication, and
a strong work ethic are also valued traits in Finnish
culture. Overall, Finnish manners and values
emphasise fairness, equality, and reliability.
Travelling during the year
Finland is the land of (180) thousand lakes, but
there are more opportunities than lakes!
When the academic year starts, you should enjoy
the last warm days and visit the main Finnish towns
of Helsinki, Tampere and Turku. For more adventures,
travel to the historicals Porvoo and Rauma or
immerse yourself in the lake region, from Savonlinna,
or in Koli national park.
You could also get a taste of other cultures and
panoramas! Although roaming around the Baltics
or weekend trips to Stockholms is a must, you could
even travel north up to Lofoten.
Then, from November to March, the snow season
provides many opportunities.
Every town offers cross-country skiing opportunities.
It is the national sport and something Finns will
speak with you about. It is a Finnish culture pillar
after the sauna!
To make the most of the season, your compass
will point north, toward Santa Claus’ home in Lapland
under the Northern Light skies.
In spring, you can tick any bucket list destinations
or activities you could not do in August-October…
with longer daylight time!
Stay around for the 1st of May! In Finland, Labor
Day is called Vappu and it is almost a Carnival.
Together with mid-summer, aka Juhannus, these two
events provide the main party occasions.
Get ready to enjoy Finland!