Finland

Sisu (SEE-soo) a Finnish word that means independent, courageous, and strong defines the ideal Finn. People are generally reserved, they speak quietly and value punctuality and their privacy. They rarely show affection in public. Because Finns value privacy, many of them have second homes or summer cottages in areas away from the cities or near one of the country's many lakes. They are proud of their cultural heritage, especially in the light of the national identity having survived centuries of foreign domination.

In 1917, Finland was finally declared an independent Republic. Finns are also proud of their clean natural environment. Women are expected to participate in careers, political life and the social arena as well as the family. Although many Finns are bilingual they continue to be proud of their language. Because of their winter's harshness, Finland's people make the most of their summer months. Some Finns spend all or part of their summer living in waterfront family cabins.

It is unusual to embrace when greeting people. Often one simply nods and says "hei" or "terve". To say goodbye, one says "hei heir" or "nakemiin". During introductions, the first name is used if it is informal, the surname if it is a more formal setting. Formal titles are reserved for formal events.

Formal dress is worn on special occasions, and colorful native costumes are sometimes seen at festivals and weddings. They often involve a striped, layered dress, with apron, bonnet and cap for women. The men wear a peaked cap, woolen cap or felt hat. Casual dress is however, the norm.

Finnish cuisine has been influenced by many cultures, from French to Russian. It also maintains a variety of Finnish specialties. Because of Finland's dependence on nature some dishes are seasonal as well as regional.

These are based on seafood, wild game and vegetables. Reindeer is on the menu, especially further north, along with salmon. Wild berries are commonly used in desserts and liqueurs.

Winter with its cold weather is a perfect time for thick soups made from vegetables such as turnips and rutabagas. Fish is often incorporated into the soup as well. A favorite soup lohikeitto (LOH-i-KAY-toh), is made from salmon prepared with potatoes, dill and milk. Mati (MATT-ee) , another popular winter dish is roe (fish eggs) taken from freshwater fish. Known as Finnish caviar and is delicious when served with sour cream.

The smorgasbord or Finnish buffet is called poronkaristys. Open-faced sandwiches on rye bread are often eaten for breakfast and snacks. Milk and coffee are the most popular drinks. Pastries are plentiful and bread is a staple in Finnish homes. A sweetbread called pulla comes in many forms, flavored with cardamon. Makkara (sausage) is roasted over a fire or sauna heater.

Porridge with mike and butter is a traditional breakfast but today most Finns prefer cereal, yogurt or rye bread with cheese and sausage. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day it includes salad, bread, a main course of fish, chicken or meat with sauce and a side dish of boiled rice, potatoes or pasta.

On formal occasions, visitors are shown their seats for dinner. Table conversation may span many topics. Finns eat in continental style, with a fork in the left hand, knife in the right hand. When going out to restaurants, one dresses conservatively.

Finnish cuisine has been influenced by many cultures, from French to Russian. It also maintains a variety of Finnish specialties. Because of Finland's dependence on nature some dishes are seasonal as well as regional. These are based on seafood, wild game and vegetables. Reindeer is on the menu, especially further north, along with salmon. Wild berries are commonly used in desserts and liqueurs. Winter with its cold weather is a perfect time for thick soups made from vegetables such as turnips and rutabagas. Fish is often incorporated into the soup as well. A favorite soup lohikeitto (LOH-i-KAY-toh), is made from salmon prepared with potatoes, dill and milk. Mati (MATT-ee) , another popular winter dish is roe (fish eggs) taken from freshwater fish. Known as Finnish caviar and is delicious when served with sour cream. The smorgasbord or Finnish buffet is called poronkaristys. Open-faced sandwiches on rye bread are often eaten for breakfast and snacks. Milk and coffee are the most popular drinks. Pastries are plentiful and bread is a staple in Finnish homes. A sweetbread called pulla comes in many forms, flavored with cardamon. Makkara (sausage) is roasted over a fire or sauna heater. Porridge with mike and butter is a traditional breakfast but today most Finns prefer cereal, yogurt or rye bread with cheese and sausage. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day it includes salad, bread, a main course of fish, chicken or meat with sauce and a side dish of boiled rice, potatoes or pasta.

An average Finnish family has up to two children. Often both parents have jobs and they make most family decisions together. Women receive up to 11 months maternity leave, with the option for some paternity leave. A newborn baby gets a lot of attention with family and friends coming to visit and bring food, clothes, and other gifts to celebrate the birth. Young people become independent early, moving out with the aid of housing subsidies. In farming areas, however most men and women still have traditional roles. Men work in the fields, women cook and clean and raise the children. Finnish women have equal status and are equally well-educated. They make up about half of the work force.

Dating begins in groups at about age 15, when individuals may go to movies or dances. Sometimes marriage takes place when children arrive. The children may bear either the father or mother's surname, if both parents have kept their original surnames. It is possible, though uncommon, for a man to take his wife's surname at marriage.

All kinds of outdoor activities are popular in Finland. Finland has twenty-nine nature reserves covering nearly one-third of their country. Finland's national sport "pesapallo" (pay-SAH-PARL-loh), is a summer sport played in rural areas and small towns. It is played like American baseball. Many Finns also play soccer. During the long winters many Finns enjoy sports such as snowboarding, skiing and ski jumping. Ice skating, Ice fishing, and driving snowmobiles are also popular. Large groups of Finns ski together and thousands take part in the 75 kilometer Finlandia cross-country ski race. Ice hockey is a favorite winter team sport. Young Finns enjoy many indoor activates during winter including playing video games, watching television and surfing the internet. Reindeer races are popular in Lapland where reindeer are raised as livestock.

Finns embrace their climate and have fun in the snow and example of this would be Yukigassen. Yukigassen (a Japanese word when translated means "snow battle") is a game which originated in Japan but popular in Finland. The rules are simple

Two opposing teams throw snowballs at each other.

Each team has 90 snowballs for each set

When a player is stuck by a snowball the player is declared out by a sideline judge and must leave the field of play.

Each team has a pennant that it is protecting from capture by the opposing team

A match between teams consists of three 180 second "sets" and the winner of two sets wins the match.

A set is won by outright capture of the opposing team's pennant, or on the basis of points. Points for each set are determined by the number of players remaining on the field for each team when the time has expired. If that determination is a draw, then the number of snow balls remaining are counted and the team with the most wins.

There are eight members to each team, of which number, at least three of the on-field members must be female.

Both sidelines have two line judges and one sideline has the head referee positioned at the centerline of the field. Their job is to observe the "hits" and to "flag" players out.

There is also a time keeper and a record keeper for each match.

The field of play:

Measures 10 meters wide and 40 meters long.

Is divided into two halves

Each half is divided into a middle and back field

There are snow shield walls placed on the field

The players wear special helmets with face shields

The helmets are red for one team and blue for the other team

The players wear numbered bibs: Zero through Seven

Zero is reserved for the team captain who roams the sideline up to the centerline and shouts instructions to their team.

Each team captain is on the opposite sideline.

The numbers 5, 6, and 7 are red and are reserved for the "go-fers" who are the only team members allowed to go into the backfield where the crate of snowballs is stashed.

Education in Finland is free, and all children between the ages of seven and sixteen attend comprehensive school.  Parents may enroll their children in either a Finnish-language or a Swedish language school.  Languages, especially English, Russian, French, and German are important in the country's educational system.  Children study three foreign languages in comprehensive school.  Schools run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is free, and some schools serve breakfast, too.  After nine years of comprehensive school, students attend high school for three years or vocational school for two or three years.  Students in vocational schools learn trade skills. All public schools provide religious and/or philosophical instruction. Students who did not wish to receive religious instruction may choose to study philosophy instead.  High school graduates who pass an entrance exam may continue their education by studying at one of Finland's universities.  On the last Saturday in May Finnish high school graduates receive certificates. All graduates wear white caps, and the young women also carry roses.

Education in Finland is free.