20 Weird Things Finnish People Do

There are many funny and weird things that Finnish people do. 🤣 🇫🇮 In this video, I’m going to share with you the 20 weird things that really stand out.

Here's the list:
0:00 Intro
0:51 The way we talk
3:21 Home & office
7:04 Out & about
10:12 Family
13:25 Fun facts

Drop a comment below to let me know which item on the list is the weirdest for you ⬇️

[evablack]

I'm from russia and I miss Finland very much. I used to go there a lot, and I felt very comfortable there. I'm friendly, but very introverted, so I really loved having my private space being respected. My country became crazy and completely ended all diplomatic relations with Finland, so I can't go there anymore. But I hope that one day I will go again... sending love to your channel! ❤

[missywoford]

I love that Finns are comfortable with silence, I wish more cultures were! Same with not using names in conversation (for some reason, I don't care for it when people use my name when talking to me) Avoiding small talk by enjoying silence and responding to "How are you?" with a genuine response sounds fantastic, not weird at all!

[ciganyweaverandherperiwink]

I get the impression that Finns, Norwegians and the Japanese could co-exist very well. There's certain aspects of communal behaviour, social value systems and general personalities that would 'get' each other and be at peace I sense. Does anybody else concur? Especially interested in hearing from people who are from either of the aforementioned cultures. I love videos like this. Charming, quirky, honest and educational. Thumbs up!

[wiijbtq]

I am 100% Finnish but born in a Finnish farming town in South Dakota. Everything you spoke about is me and my family. It is amazing how the culture replanted in the states in the early 1900’s. I love silence, never know someone’s name until they ha in my life for awhile and naked in the sauna with family and friends is the closest relationship you will ever experience. Letting babies nap in the cold brought back memories. Loved it all. Thanks.

[andicarson]

I live in Minnesota, USA. My heritage is 1/2 Finnish (my father was a Finn). My father died when I was young. I have always had things that I tended to do that were different from other people. Now, as an adult, I have started to learn about Finland. For most off what others find weird about me are normal for Finnish culture, but I didn't know it was. ❤ Now I know that I am not weird...I am Finnish! ❤❤❤

[michaeldriscoll]

My impression of Finland as an American? I LOVE your country. My wife and I went to Helsinki and then to Lapland. The cold weather doesn’t bother us, everyone was polite, everything was clean and orderly, the transportation was reliable and the food was amazing! We like silence and don’t like small talk. And we also love coffee! I hope we get back soon. 🇫🇮

[vladimirsvetlov]

Lived in Turku/Abo for a couple of years, and really liked the fact that Finns don't feel like every moment should be filled with small talk. The thing with not introducing yourself is a bit weird, worse tho is when I called my Finnish colleague by wrong name, and that ass didn't correct me 🤣 Thanks a lot, Timo. 🤪

[kevytmelankolia]

The baby naming thing is on point. As a finn I get anxiety when celebrities name their kids way before the due date and announce pregnancies super early.

[karhukivi]

I worked in Finland for about 8 weeks (6 weeks summer, 2 weeks winter, and out in the countryside) back in the 90s and really enjoyed the place, the people and the language, (which I'm now learning for fun). The "silence" is only when there is nothing much to say, but almost every morning in the office there was a discussion at coffee break and all the Finns were talking, often at the same time. The only people who were silent were the non-Finns, like myself, who were unable to follow the conversation!

[nunoribeiro]

I lived in Finland and I can say that everything you say, it's true!! I miss Suomi so much! Congrats for your presentation! 👍

[MotionMechanic]

My Grandfather was from Finland, and I am surprised how many of my personal habits are apparently straight from Finland! No shoes, writing notes, recycling, and most of all silent together are all things that I am and most people I know don't get it. And yes, I take the "How are you" question very seriously and do not like the small talk version of stopping at "Fine." Oh, my husband I am picking up puppies in 5 weeks, and he has a name for his picked out, but I always wait until I have mine for awhile to see who they are first.

[sherylnurmi]

I'm a Finn living in Canada. People here don't understand being silent together and have loud opinions about being naked in Sauna lol. Watching you makes me so happy 😊. Kiitos

[blotski]

I'm a finnophile and have visited Finland often for over twenty years. You know this business about Finns being shy and taciturn? A Finnish friend just yesterday told me he was sick of people stereotyping Finns as being incapable of chatting or terrified of strangers. Finns are just as varied and individual as anywhere but the internet if full of Finns telling everyone about how they just sit in silence etc. I had to say I agree. I have always found Finns to be very friendly and very responsive when you speak to them. Especially, when they find you're a foreigner who has learned Finnish. Some of my Finnish friends are much more extravert than me. I'm English. So sure, in comparison to many other nations, the Finns are fairly shy. But they are friendly on the whole and people shouldn't be afraid of chatting to them. They are the worst for spreading exaggerated stereotypes about themselves.
I have never noticed the name thing. I've always found that when you meet a Finn they automatically say their name when they shake hands.

[danielivan]

Hi Varpu, I'm from Slovakia and I found that few things we have common. Like: Sticker for vegetables in shops, recycling, names day celebration, getting shoes off inside, giving babies to sleep outside even when it's freezing, drinking milk as adults, working time, and we have also odd sports championships :D ... you should visit Slovakia when u'll plan your vacation. Sadly we don't have so many saunas as you do, but maybe you should consider the visit. ;)

[kjoy]

I loved this! And explains why Finns are so happy 😀 Maybe the rest of us could adopt some of your “weird” practices. Thank you for sharing, Varpu. x

[auroravanessa]

Kiitos 🇫🇮❤️ Quick fun fact: Finland just received a first spot in the worlds' "happiest country" category for five years straight placing Denmark as second after having been first for quite some time. Well done! I'm a Dane and I see many overall resemblances between Finnish and Danish culture. Of course there are differences, but that only adds more beauty to Finland. The recycling ♻️ part is taken *very* seriously here in Denmark and we care deeply about nature, wildlife and biodiversity. We're also introverted as a nation, we like our privacy and don't engage in small talk, not even with our neighbours. In this aspect, we're pretty similar. I know of many (myself included) who are very fascinated with the Finnish landscapes, and travel there regularly. Finland is like a second home 🏡 to us Danes 🥰🇫🇮🇩🇰

[meggiepis]

#11 I have lived in Finland for 5 years and noticed some inconsistencies in not using names by Finns. On the one hand, they go to the gym or swimming pool and, despite meeting the same people regularly, they don't know them by name because they're just "acquaintance". On the other hand, when the phone rings (unknown number), Finns introduce themselves by name, often first and last name 😊

[ion]

Im going to finland for 2 weeks for the first time ever. Thx for your vids, that helps a lot :)

[carlcushmanhybels]

Enjoyed it! I have long time Finnish family friends in a very rural corner of New Hampshire. I'll share more about Finnish ancestry friends another time.The Finnish custom of not firmly naming babies till they reveal their personality: Navajo (a large tribe of Native Americans) also have that custom. Often the grandmother gives/ settles on a name. And Navajo have a wonderful "First Baby's Laugh party." Whoever first made the baby laugh becomes an honored participant in a small family celebration gathering and blessing. --I used to be a storytelling school librarian for Navajo in NE Arizona.

[stefanhamilton]

I’m half Finnish, live in Australia. But I’m 100% Finnish in terms of temperament. My two sons look exactly like me and my Finnish cousins, and have strong Finnish characters too. The Finnish ways are quiet and strong!