Finland Fun facts, food, music, language and more

Finland is a country full of fascinating traditions, delightful foods, joyful holidays, and beautiful places to visit. If your child is learning Finnish, exploring the culture is a wonderful way to keep them engaged and curious. From tasty desserts to traditional games and fun facts, here’s a colorful look into Finnish life, created especially for children and families.

Traditional Finnish Clothing

Finnish fashion is known for its warmth, quality, and creative patterns. Clothing often features bold stripes, floral designs, and abstract prints. Handmade and cozy, traditional Finnish attire includes knitted items like socks, scarves, and sweaters. The bright colors help bring cheer to the long, cold winters and even serve a practical purpose during snowy weather.

Festivals and Holidays

Christmas is Finland’s most important holiday. Families decorate Christmas trees on Christmas Eve, enjoy festive meals, and attend music and dancing events. The president of Finland declares “Christmas Peace” from Turku, a beloved tradition. Families also light candles at gravesites and attend church services on Christmas morning.

Midsummer is the second most celebrated holiday, marking the time when the sun stays up all night. Families gather at cottages to sit around bonfires, eat together, and enjoy the magical night.

Easter is deeply rooted in Finnish religious traditions. Children grow grass on plates indoors, decorate Easter eggs and cards, and dress as “Easter witches” with willow branches to collect treats door to door.

Children’s Day, celebrated on November 20th, is a time to reflect on children’s rights and well-being. Families attend workshops and celebrations aimed at supporting kids and improving parenting skills.

Finnish Food and Treats

Finnish cuisine uses local ingredients like potatoes, cabbage, turnips, and reindeer. Smoked fish, gravlax, and Finnish meatballs are also very popular. Sweet dishes like Mammi (a traditional Easter dessert made with rye flour) and oven-baked Pannu Kakku pancakes are fun to make together.

Some simple recipes include:

Karelian Hot Pot: A stew made from beef, pork, and lamb, slow-cooked with onions and spices.
Finnish Butter Cookies: A delicious almond-flavored treat.
Strawberry Snow: A whipped strawberry and cream dessert.
Cranberry Whip (Vatkattu Marjapuuro): A sweet, fluffy pudding made from cranberries and farina.

Fun Games Kids Play in Finland

Ketju (Chain): One child leaves the room while others form a tangled human knot. The child returns to untangle the circle by directing hand movements.

Crab Ball Tag: Kids crawl in a crab position while one player uses a ball to tag others.

12 Sticks on a Board: A mix of hide-and-seek and skill. Kids hide while one player rebuilds a stick board. Hidden players try to sneak back without being seen.

These games help develop teamwork, physical coordination, and lots of laughter.

Fun Places to Explore

Lake Inari in Lapland is known for trout and salmon. It’s also home to Hautuumaasaari Island, an important Sami heritage site.

Helsinki Market Square is full of shops, cafes, and colorful vendors. Kids love spotting crafts and souvenirs.

Esplanadi Park offers wide open spaces for picnics, live music, and playtime with pets and friends.

Finnish Customs and Etiquette

In Finland, people are polite and value sincerity. Handshakes and eye contact are common greetings. Finns are known for being direct, but they aren’t being rude—just honest. Punctuality is important, and interrupting is considered impolite. Gender roles are flexible, and many families share responsibilities equally.

Music of Finland

Music is a joyful part of life in Finland. Most children learn to play an instrument, and pop and heavy rock are popular genres. The kantele, a traditional string instrument, is Finland’s national instrument and often heard in folk songs.

Currency

Finland uses the euro as its currency. Before 2002, it used the markka. Today, debit and credit cards are used frequently, even more than coins or bills.