Here are some hints how to go on about when meeting Finns:

Some Generalities to keep in mind when in Finland.

When are the Finnish Hollidays and what is good to know about them.

Things that might be good to know about Finnish cuisine and some food.

What is good for the Finnish soul, Sauna.

Some useful Links

You are welcome to read my Blog abut things happening right now in Finland. About all the funny, peculiar and strange things and customs I come across living here in this country and maybe even a philosophical moment of enlightenment I experience now and then.

Be on time

Be on time, on the dot. No later or earlier than the appointed time.

In Finland it is considered to be rude and inconsiderate to be too late. But also being too early for an appointment is awkward, like for example when the hostess is coming out of the shower and just getting dressed 15 minutes before the guests arrive for dinner.

I have not yet been able to determine which way is the worst and most insulting, to arrive too soon or too late to an appointment.

 

Queuing
Never jump a queue.

Finns are used to wait their turn in line, and everybody somehow knows when it is their own turn. Oddly enough, when people enter a room at different times they still all manage to know when it is their turn!

So make sure you don’t go before it’s your turn, check who was in the room before you to make sure, or ask the people present if you are unsure.
If turn-numbers are used, like for example in some offices, banks, pharmacies take a number and await your turn.

 

Tipping

Tipping is entirely up to you.

The prices are normally service included which is the reason the Finns not always tip, not even for very good service. But if you feel that the service you have been provided with

in restaurants, taxis and such you can tip to your own pleasing. Guess nobody would object to being tipped, and hardly as many would do the opposite either.

If paying by credit-card in a taxi though, it is preferred to tip in cash as it is easier for the driver, I have been told.

And if you are the guest of Finnish hosts in a restaurant, you should leave the tipping to them.

Be yourself
Finns generally are quite genuinely what they seem to be, so there is no need for you either to pretend to be something that you are not.

What you see is what you get.

And as one can only get away with pretending for a limited amount of time, your true self comes out sooner or later.

The Finns take the spoken word for real so don’t tell any too wild stories that are untrue or you might not be taken for serious when needed.

 

Photographing

Is generally allowed in public places outdoors, but you might want to ask for permission if photographing in indoors a restaurant for example. In museums and exhibitions it is normally prohibited if not mentioned otherwise.

 

Lost and found

If you loose any of your property there are Lost and found offices at every police station in Finland. It is also worth to ask the bus- or coach-company, the shops, department-stores, restaurants etc where you were when you lost your item.

 

Getting on buses and coaches

In Finland you are supposed to wave at the bus you want to get on if standing on a bus-stop. If you do not signal the driver does not stop and you will miss the connection entirely.

If commuting you save money by getting a monthly travelling-card instead of buying single fare tickets. In most towns you can get yourself a rechargeable one, and they are personal. Which is good, for if you loose yours they can always see whom it belongs to when handed in to the bus-company.

 

Where to get alcohol

Beverages such as beer and cider with containing a maximum of 4,9% alcohol are available in most supermarkets and you are allowed to buy them if you are 18 years old but for the stronger drinks such as wine and spirits you will have to find an ALKO which is the governmentally run shop for alcoholic beverages. The ALKO shops are open on all weekdays and Saturdays. They normally close earlier on days preceding Holidays and they are closed on Holidays.

Drinks hat contain less alcohol like cider, beer and wine you can purchase from the Alko shops from the age for 18 on, but for buying strong wine, hard liquor or spirits you have to be older than 20 years.

Alcohol and driving

Do keep in mind that in Finland you are not allowed to drink and drive. So park your car safely and leave it when drinking alcohol. Better to be safe than sorry. Recently the occurrence of road accidents have augmented dramatically and campaigns to ameliorate road safety are planned as well as police raids checking driver’s order to prevent drinking and driving.

Flagging
The official national flagging days you can see in the calendar section together with the reason the flagging is being performed. In addition to these flagging is also performed on the day of the parliamentary elections and the day the president is inaugurated into office. You are to handle the flag respectfully and not to soil it, keeping it off ground.
According to guidelines the Finnish flag is hoisted at 8 AM and taken down at sun set or latest by at 9 PM.
The exceptions to these rules are Midsummer’s eve, also the day of the Finnish flag; you hoist the flag at 6 PM in the Midsummer’s Eve and leave it up all night not lowering it until in the evening at 9 PM the next day, on Midsummer’s day.
The second exception is Kaatuneitten muistopäivä, Remembrance Day, on May 20^th that is celebrated to remember those who died in during the wars when the flag is raised up to the top only to lower it to 1/3 flagpole’s height at 10 AM and raise it to the top at 2 PM to take it down with the normal routine in the evening.
The third exception is Independence Day when you take the flag down at 8 PM even though the sun always sets earlier.