Finland, officially the Republic
of Finland[2] (Finnish: Suomi; Swedish: Finland (help·info)),
is a Nordic country situated in Northern Europe. It has borders
with Sweden to the west, Russia to the east, and Norway to the north,
while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland. The
capital city is Helsinki.
Finland has a population of 5,302,778 people,[1] spread over an
area of 338,145 square kilometres (130,559 square miles). Finland
is the sixth largest country in Europe in terms of area, with a
low population density of 16 people per square kilometre, making
it the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. The
majority of the population is concentrated in the southern part
of the country. As their mother tongue, most Finns speak Finnish,
one of the few official languages of the European Union that is
not of Indo-European origin. The second official language, Swedish,
is spoken natively by a 5.5 percent minority.[3]
Formerly part of Sweden and from 1809 an autonomous Grand Duchy
within the Russian Empire, Finland declared its independence in
1917. Today, Finland is a democratic, parliamentary republic and
has been a member state of the United Nations since 1955 and the
European Union since 1995. Finland has thriving services and manufacturing
sectors and is a highly democratic welfare state with low levels
of corruption, consistently ranking at or near the top in international
comparisons of national performance.
Finland is eleventh on the United Nations' Human Development Index[4]
and ranked as the sixth happiest nation in the world.[5] According
to the World Audit Democracy profile, Finland is the freest nation
in the world in terms of civil liberties, freedom of the press,
low corruption levels and high levels of political rights.[6] Finland
is rated the sixth most peaceful country in the world by the Economist
Intelligence Unit,[7] and since 1945, Finland has been at peace,
adopting neutrality in wartime.
Finland was rated the best country to live in by Reader's Digest
study released in October 2007, which looked at issues such as quality
of drinking water and greenhouse gas emissions as well as factors
such as education and income.[8]
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Prehistory
1.2 Swedish era (until 1809)
1.3 Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire (1809–1917)
1.4 Civil War (1917–1918) and early independence
1.5 Finland during World War II
1.6 The post-war era and modern history
2 Etymology
3 Geography and environment
3.1 Topography and geology
3.2 Flora and fauna
3.3 Climate
4 Provinces, regions, and municipalities
4.1 Provinces
4.2 Regions and municipalities
4.2.1 Largest municipalities
5 Demographics
5.1 Population
5.2 Language
5.3 Religion
5.4 Family structure
5.5 Education
5.6 Health
6 Government and politics
6.1 Political system
6.2 President
6.3 Parliament
6.4 Foreign relations
6.5 Defence Forces
6.6 Energy policy
7 Economy
7.1 Economic history
7.2 Notable corporations
7.3 Public transport
8 Tourism
8.1 Tourism in winter
8.2 Tourism in summer
8.3 Cultural attractions
9 Culture
9.1 Literature
9.2 Visual arts
9.3 Music
9.3.1 Folk music
9.3.2 Classical and opera
9.3.3 Popular music
9.3.4 Dance music
9.3.5 Rock and heavy metal music
9.4 Cinema
9.5 Media and communications
9.6 Cuisine
9.7 Public holidays
9.8 Sports
9.9 Finnishness
10 See also
10.1 International rankings
11 References
12 Further reading
13 External links
[edit] History
Main article: History of Finland
[edit] Prehistory
Rock paintings in Astuvansalmi in Ristiina, the Southern Savonia
region.[9]According to archaeological evidence, the area now composing
Finland was first settled around 8500 BCE during the Stone Age as
the ice shield of the last ice age receded. The earliest people
were hunter-gatherers, living primarily off what the tundra and
sea could offer. Pottery is known from around 5300 BCE (see Comb
Ceramic Culture).The arrival of the Battle Axe culture (or Cord-Ceramic
Culture) in southern coastal Finland around 3200 BCE may have coincided
with the start of agriculture. However, the earliest certain records
of agriculture are from the late third millennium BCE. Even with
the introduction of agriculture, hunting and fishing continued to
be important parts of the subsistence economy, especially in the
northern and eastern parts of the country.
The Bronze Age (1500–500 BCE) and Iron Age (500 BCE–1200
CE) were characterised by extensive contacts with other cultures
in the Fennoscandian and Baltic regions. There is no consensus on
when Finno-Ugric languages and Germanic languages were first spoken
in the area of contemporary Finland.
The first verifiable written documents appeared in the twelfth
century[citation needed].
[edit] Swedish era (until 1809)
The sea fortress of Suomenlinna was founded by a decision of the
Swedish Diet in 1747 as a defence works and naval base, to be built
on the islands off Helsinki.Sweden established its official rule
of Finland in the 13th century by the crown. Swedish became the
dominant language of the nobility, administration and education;
Finnish was chiefly a language for the peasantry, clergy and local
courts in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas. The Bishop of Turku
was usually the most important person in Finland during the Catholic
era.
The Middle Ages ended with the Reformation when the Finns gradually
converted to Lutheranism. In the 16th century, Mikael Agricola published
the first written works in Finnish. The first university in Finland,
The Royal Academy of Turku, was established in 1640. In the 18th
century, wars between Sweden and Russia led to occupation of Finland
twice by Russian forces, known to the Finns as the Greater Wrath
(1714–1721) and the Lesser Wrath (1742–1743). By this
time "Finland" was the predominant term for the whole
area from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Russian border.
[edit] Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire (1809–1917)
Thirteen of the nineteen women elected to Parliament in 1907. The
Finnish Parliament celebrated its Centennial in 2006–2007.[10]Main
article: Grand Duchy of Finland
See also: Finland's language strife and Russification of Finland
On March 29, 1809, after being conquered by the armies of Alexander
I of Russia in the Finnish War, Finland became an autonomous Grand
Duchy in the Russian Empire until the end of 1917. During the Russian
era, the Finnish language started to gain recognition, first probably
to sever the cultural and emotional ties with Sweden and thereafter,
from the 1860s onwards, as a result of a strong nationalism, known
as the Fennoman movement. Milestones included the publication of
what would become Finland's national epic, the Kalevala, in 1835;
and the Finnish language achieving equal legal status with Swedish
in 1892.
Despite the Finnish famine of 1866-1868, in which about 15 percent
of the population died, political and economic development was rapid
from the 1860s onwards.
In 1906, universal suffrage was adopted in the Grand Duchy of Finland,
the second country in the world where this happened. However, the
relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Russian Empire soured
when the Russian government made moves to restrict Finnish autonomy.
For example, the universal suffrage was, in practice, virtually
meaningless, since the emperor did not approve any of the laws adopted
by the Finnish parliament. Desire for independence gained ground,
first among radical nationalists and socialists.
[edit] Civil War (1917–1918) and early independence
Main articles: Finland's declaration of independence and Finnish
Civil War
On December 6, 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia,
Finland declared its independence, which was approved by Bolshevist
Russia.
In 1918, the country experienced a brief but bitter Civil War that
affected domestic politics for many decades afterwards. The Civil
War was fought between "the Whites", who were supported
by Imperial Germany, and "the Reds", supported by Bolshevist
Russia. The Reds consisted mostly of propertyless rural and industrial
workers who, despite universal suffrage in 1906, felt that they
lacked political influence. The White forces were mostly made up
of bourgeoisie and wealthy peasantry, politically to the right.
Eventually, the Whites overcame the Reds. The deep social and political
enmity between the Reds and Whites remained. The civil war and activist
expeditions (see Heimosodat) to the Soviet Union strained eastern
relations.
After a brief flirtation with monarchy, Finland became a presidential
republic, with Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg elected as its first
president in 1919. The Finnish–Russian border was determined
by the Treaty of Tartu in 1920, largely following the historic border
but granting Pechenga (Finnish: Petsamo) and its Barents Sea harbour
to Finland. Finnish democracy survived the upsurge of the extreme
rightist Lapua Movement and Great Depression in the early '30s.
However, legislators tended to be anti-communist and the relationship
between Finland and the Soviet Union was tense.
Fokker D.XXI planes of the Finnish Air Force during World War II.
[edit] Finland during World War II
Main article: Military history of Finland during World War II
During World War II, Finland fought the Soviet Union twice: in the
Winter War of 1939–40 after the Soviet Union had attacked
Finland and in the Continuation War of 1941–44, following
Operation Barbarossa in which Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union.
Following German losses on the Eastern Front and the subsequent
Soviet advance, Finland was forced to make peace with the Soviet
Union. This was followed by the Lapland War of 1944–45, when
Finland forced the Germans out of northern Finland.
Areas ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union after the Winter War
in 1940 and the Continuation War in 1944. The Porkkala land lease
was returned to Finland in 1956.The treaties signed in 1947 and
1948 with the Soviet Union included Finnish obligations, restraints,
and reparations as well as further Finnish territorial concessions
(cf. the Moscow Peace Treaty of 1940). Finland ceded most of Finnish
Karelia, Salla, and Pechenga, which amounted to ten percent of its
land area and twenty percent of its industrial capacity. Some 400,000
evacuees, mainly women and children, fled these areas. Establishing
trade with the Western powers, such as the United Kingdom, and the
reparations to the Soviet Union caused Finland to transform itself
from a primarily agrarian economy to an industrialised one. Even
after the reparations had been paid off, Finland continued to trade
with the Soviet Union in the framework of bilateral trade.
[edit] The post-war era and modern history
After the Second World War, neutral Finland lay in the grey zone
between the Western countries and the Soviet Union. The "YYA
Treaty" (Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation, and
Mutual Assistance) gave the Soviet Union some leverage in Finnish
domestic politics. This was extensively exploited by President Urho
Kekkonen against his opponents. He maintained an effective monopoly
on Soviet relations, which gave him a status of "only choice
for president". There was also a tendency of self-censorship
regarding Finno-Soviet relations. This phenomenon was given the
name "Finlandisation" by the German press (fi. suomettuminen).
However, Finland maintained a democratic government and a market
economy unlike most other countries bordering the Soviet Union.
The post-war era was a period of rapid economic growth and increasing
wealth and stability for Finland. In all, the war-ravaged agrarian
country was transformed into a technologically advanced market economy
with an extensive social welfare system. When the Soviet Union collapsed
in 1991, the bilateral trade disappeared overnight. Finland was
simultaneously hit by a severe depression originating from the Western
markets and the Finnish economy itself that caused a structural
change of the economy. The depression lasted from 1990 to 1993,
but the economy survived and began growing at a high rate. Finland
joined the European Union in 1995.
[edit] Etymology
The name Finland (Suomi in Finnish) has uncertain origins but a
strong candidate for a cognate is the proto-Baltic word *zeme meaning
"land". According to an earlier theory the name was derived
from suomaa (fen land) or suoniemi (fen cape).
The exonym Finland has resemblance with, e.g., the Scandinavian
placenames Finnmark, Finnveden and hundreds of other toponyms starting
with "Fin(n)" in Sweden and Norway. Some of these names
are obviously derived from finnr, a Germanic word for a wanderer/finder
and thus supposedly meaning nomadic "hunter-gatherers"
or slash and burn agriculturists as opposed to the Germanic sedentary
farmers and sea-faring traders and pirates. It is unknown how, why
and when "Finnr" started to mean the people of Finland
Proper in particular (from where the name spread from the 15th century
onwards to mean the people of the whole country).
Among the first documents to mention "a land of the Finns"
are two runestones. There is one in Söderby, Sweden, with the
inscription finlont (U 582) and one in Gotland, a Swedish island
in the Baltic Sea, with the inscription finlandi (G 319) dating
from the eleventh century.[11]
[edit] Geography and environment
Detailed map of Finland. See also: Atlas of FinlandMain article:
Geography of Finland
See also: List of cities and towns in Finland, List of lakes in
Finland, and List of national parks of Finland
[edit] Topography and geology
Finland is a country of thousands of lakes and islands; 187,888
lakes (larger than 500 m²) and 179,584 islands to be precise.[12]
One of these lakes, Saimaa, is the fifth largest in Europe. The
Finnish landscape is mostly flat with few hills and its highest
point, the Halti at 1,324 metres, is found in the extreme north
of Lapland at the border between Finland and Norway.
The landscape is covered mostly (seventy-five percent of land area)
by coniferous taiga forests and fens, with little arable land. The
most common type of rock is granite. It is a ubiquitous part of
the scenery, visible wherever there is no soil cover. Moraine or
till is the most common type of soil, covered by a thin layer of
humus of biological origin. The greater part of the islands are
found in southwest in the Archipelago Sea, part of the archipelago
of the Åland Islands, and along the southern coast in the
Gulf of Finland.
Finland is one of the few countries in the world whose surface
area is still growing. Owing to the post-glacial rebound that has
been taking place since the last ice age, the surface area of the
country is growing by about 7 square kilometres (2.7 square miles)
a year.[13]
The distance from the most Southern point – Hanko –
to the most northern point of Finland – Nuorgam – is
1,445 kilometres (898 miles) (driving distance), which would take
approximately 18.5 hours to drive. This is very similar to Great
Britain (Land's End to John o' Groats – 1,404 kilometres (872
miles) and 16.5 h).
[edit] Flora and fauna
All terrestrial life in Finland was completely wiped out during
the last ice age that ended some 10,000 years ago, following the
retreat of the glaciers and the appearance of vegetation.
Today, there are over 1,200 species of vascular plant, 800 bryophytes
and 1,000 lichen species in Finland, with flora being richest in
the southern parts of the country. Plant life, like most of the
Finnish ecology, is well adapted to tolerate the contrasting seasons
and extreme weather. Many plant species, such as the Scots Pine,
spruce, birch spread throughout Finland from Norway and only reached
the western coast less than three millennia ago. Oak and maple grows
in nature only in the southern part of Finland.
The Archipelago Sea, between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of
Finland, is the largest archipelago in the world by number of islands;
estimates vary between 20,000 and 50,000.Similarly, Finland has
a diverse and extensive range of fauna. There are at least sixty
native mammalian species, 248 breeding bird species, over seventy
fish species and eleven reptile and frog species present today,
many migrating from neighbouring countries thousands of years ago.
Large and widely recognised wildlife mammals found in Finland are
the Brown Bear (the national animal), Gray Wolf, elk and reindeer.
Other common mammals include the Red Fox, Red Squirrel, and Mountain
Hare. Some rare and exotic species include the flying squirrel,
Golden Eagle, Saimaa Ringed Seal and the Arctic fox, which is considered
the most endangered. The Whooper Swan, the national bird of Finland,
is a large Northern Hemisphere swan. The most common breeding birds
are the Willow Warbler, Chaffinch and Redwing.[14] Of some seventy
species of freshwater fish, the northern pike, perch and others
are plentiful. Salmon remains the favorite of fly rod enthusiasts.
The endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal, one of only three lake seal
species in the world, exists only in the Saimaa lake system of southeastern
Finland, down to only 300 seals today. It has become the emblem
of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.[15]
Due to hunting and persecution in history, many animals such as
the Golden Eagle, Brown Bear and Eurasian Lynx all experienced significant
declines in population. However, their numbers have increased again
in the 2000s, mainly as a result of careful conservation and the
establishment of vast national parks.
[edit] Climate
The climate in Southern Finland is a northern temperate climate.
In Northern Finland, particularly in the Province of Lapland, a
subarctic climate dominates, characterised by cold, occasionally
severe, winters and relatively warm summers. The main factor influencing
Finland's climate is the country's geographical position between
the 60th and 70th northern parallels in the Eurasian continent's
coastal zone, which shows characteristics of both a maritime and
a continental climate, depending on the direction of air flow. Finland
is near enough to the Atlantic Ocean to be continuously warmed by
the Gulf Stream, which explains the unusually warm climate considering
the absolute latitude.
A quarter of Finland's territory lies above the Arctic Circle,
and as a consequence the midnight sun can be experienced –
for more days, the farther north one travels. At Finland's northernmost
point, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during summer,
and does not rise at all for 51 days during winter.
[edit] Provinces, regions, and municipalities
Main article: Administrative divisions of Finland
[edit] Provinces
Provinces of FinlandMain articles: Provinces of Finland and Historical
provinces of Finland
The state organisation is divided into six administrative provinces
(lääni, pl. läänit). Police, prosecutors, and
other state services operate under the administration of the province,
and are divided into smaller districts (formerly state local districts).
The provincial authority is part of the executive branch of the
national government, and has no elected officials. This system was
created in 1634, and underwent few major changes until the redivision
of the country into "greater provinces" in 1997. Since
then, the six provinces have been (see picture on the right):
Southern Finland
Western Finland
Eastern Finland
Oulu
Lapland
Åland
Dialects, folklore, customs, and people's feeling of affiliation
are associated with the historical provinces of Finland, although
the re-settlement of 420,000 Karelians during World War II and urbanisation
in the latter half of the twentieth century have made differences
less pronounced. The present-day regions are subdivisions of these
provinces.
The Åland Islands enjoy a degree of autonomy.
[edit] Regions and municipalities
Municipalities and regions map of Finland (2007).
Black borders refer to municipalities, red to regions.Main articles:
Regions of Finland, Sub-regions of Finland, and Municipalities of
Finland
Legally, Finland has two levels of democratic government: the state,
and 415 municipalities (as of 2008). Since 1977, no legal or administrative
distinction is made between towns, cities and other municipalities.
Although a municipality must follow the laws set by the state, it
makes independent decisions. That is, the decisions of a municipal
council, if legal, cannot be appealed. People often identify with
their municipality.
Municipalities co-operate in seventy-four sub-regions and twenty
regions. These are governed by the member municipalities. The Åland
region has a permanent, democratically elected regional council,
as a part of the autonomy. In the Kainuu region, there is a pilot
project underway, with regional elections.
Sami people have a semi-autonomous Sami Domicile Area in Lapland
for issues on language and culture.
[edit] Largest municipalities
In the following chart, the number of inhabitants includes those
living in the entire municipality (kunta/kommun), not just in the
built-up area. The land area is given in km², and the density
in inhabitants per km² (land area). The figures are as of January
1, 2007. Notice that the capital region – comprising Helsinki,
Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen (see Greater Helsinki) – forms
a continuous conurbation of one million people. However, common
administration is limited to voluntary cooperation of all municipalities,
e.g. in Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council.
Municipality Population Land area Density
Helsinki &&&&&&&&&0564474.&&&&&0564,474
&&&&&&&&&&&&0184.470000184.47
&&&&&&&&&&&03061.&&&&&03,061.00
Espoo &&&&&&&&&0235100.&&&&&0235,100
&&&&&&&&&&&&0312.&&&&&0312.00
&&&&&&&&&&&&0751.6.0E+5751.60
Tampere &&&&&&&&&0206171.&&&&&0206,171
&&&&&&&&&&&&0523.4.0E+5523.40
&&&&&&&&&&&&0393.9.0E+5393.90
Vantaa &&&&&&&&&0189442.&&&&&0189,442
&&&&&&&&&&&&0240.540000240.54
&&&&&&&&&&&&0780.4.0E+5780.40
Turku &&&&&&&&&0177502.&&&&&0177,502
&&&&&&&&&&&&0243.4.0E+5243.40
&&&&&&&&&&&&0720.5.0E+5720.50
Oulu &&&&&&&&&0130049.&&&&&0130,049
&&&&&&&&&&&&0369.430000369.43
&&&&&&&&&&&&0351.4.0E+5351.40
Lahti &&&&&&&&&&098773.&&&&&098,773
&&&&&&&&&&&&0134.950000134.95
&&&&&&&&&&&&0730.1.0E+5730.10
Kuopio &&&&&&&&&&091026.&&&&&091,026
&&&&&&&&&&&01127.4.0E+51,127.40
&&&&&&&&&&&&&081.&&&&&081.00
Jyväskylä &&&&&&&&&&084482.&&&&&084,482
&&&&&&&&&&&&0105.9.0E+5105.90
&&&&&&&&&&&&0789.&&&&&0789.00
Pori &&&&&&&&&&076211.&&&&&076,211
&&&&&&&&&&&&0503.170000503.17
&&&&&&&&&&&&0150.830000150.83
Lappeenranta &&&&&&&&&&059077.&&&&&059,077
&&&&&&&&&&&&0758.&&&&&0758.00
&&&&&&&&&&&&&077.7.0E+577.70
Rovaniemi &&&&&&&&&&058100.&&&&&058,100
&&&&&&&&&&&07600.7300007,600.73
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.6.0E+57.60
Joensuu &&&&&&&&&&057879.&&&&&057,879
&&&&&&&&&&&01173.4.0E+51,173.40
&&&&&&&&&&&&&049.1.0E+549.10
Vaasa &&&&&&&&&&057266.&&&&&057,266
&&&&&&&&&&&&0183.&&&&&0183.00
&&&&&&&&&&&&0311.2.0E+5311.20
Kotka &&&&&&&&&&054860.&&&&&054,860
&&&&&&&&&&&&0270.740000270.74
&&&&&&&&&&&&0203.&&&&&0203.00
Further information: List of Finnish municipalities, List of Finnish
municipalities by population, List of Finnish municipalities by
area, and Former municipalities of Finland
[edit] Demographics
Population of Finland, 1750–2000[16]
Year Population Year Population
1750 421,000 1880 2,060,800
1760 491,000 1890 2,380,100
1770 561,000 1900 2,655,900
1780 663,000 1910 2,943,400
1790 705,600 1920 3,147,600
1800 832,700 1930 3,462,700
1810 863,300 1940 3,695,617
1820 1,177,500 1950 4,029,803
1830 1,372,100 1960 4,446,222
1840 1,445,600 1970 4,598,336
1850 1,636,900 1980 4,787,778
1860 1,746,700 1990 4,998,478
1870 1,768,800 2000 5,181,000
Main article: Demographics of Finland
[edit] Population
Finland currently numbers 5,290,158 inhabitants and has an average
population density of 17 inhabitants per square kilometre.[1] This
makes it, after Norway and Iceland, the most sparsely populated
country in Europe. Finland's population has always been concentrated
in the southern parts of the country, which is even more pronounced
after twentieth-century urbanisation. The biggest and most important
cities in Finland are the cities of the Greater Helsinki metropolitan
area - Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen - some of the other
big cities include Tampere, Turku and Oulu.
The share of immigrants in Finland is among the lowest of the European
Union countries. Foreign citizens comprise 2.3 percent of the population.[17]
Most of them are from Russia, Estonia and Sweden.[17]
[edit] Language
Main articles: Finnish language, Finland Swedish, and Languages
of Finland
See also: Finnish alphabet, Finnish grammar, and Finnish phonology
Most of the Finnish people (92 percent[18]) speak Finnish as their
mother tongue. Finnish is a member of the Baltic-Finnic subgroup
of the Uralic languages and is typologically between inflected and
agglutinative languages. It modifies and inflects the forms of nouns,
adjectives, pronouns, numerals and verbs, depending on their roles
in the sentence. In practice, this means that instead of prepositions
and prefixes there is a great variety of different suffixes and
that compounds form a considerable percentage of the vocabulary
of Finnish. It has been estimated that approximately 65–70
percent of all words in Finnish are compounds.[19] A close linguistic
relative to the Finnish language is Estonian, which, though similar
in many aspects, is not mutually intelligible with it. These languages,
together with Hungarian (all members of the Uralic language family),
are the primary non-Indo-European languages spoken in Europe. Finland,
together with Estonia and Hungary, is one of the three independent
countries where an Uralic language is spoken by the majority.
The largest minority language is Swedish, which is the second official
language in Finland, spoken by 5.5 percent of the population.[18]
Other minority languages are Russian (0.8 percent[18]) and Estonian
(0.3 percent[18]). To the north, in Lapland, are also the Sami people,
numbering around 7,000[20] and recognized as an indigenous people.
About a quarter of them speaks a Sami language as their mother tongue.[3]
There are three Sami languages that are spoken in Finland: Northern
Sami, Inari Sami and Skolt Sami.[21] Other minority languages are
Finnish Romani, Finnish Sign Language (spoken natively by 4,000–5,000
people[22]) and Finland-Swedish Sign Language (spoken natively by
about 150 people). The rights of minority groups (in particular
Sami, Swedish-speaking Finns and Romani people) to cherish their
culture and language is protected by the constitution.[23] The majority
of Finns learn enough English in school and from media to be proficient
in that language. Other common secondary languages are Swedish,
German and French.
[edit] Religion
The Helsinki Cathedral with the statue of Emperor Alexander II of
Russia.Main articles: Religion in Finland, Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Finland, and Finnish Orthodox Church
See also: Roman Catholicism in Finland, Judaism in Finland, Islam
in Finland, and Hinduism in Finland
Most Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
(82.5 percent).[24] A minority belongs to the Finnish Orthodox Church
(1.1 percent) (see Eastern Orthodox Church). Other Protestant denominations
and the Roman Catholic Church in Finland are significantly smaller,
as are the Muslim, Jewish and other non-Christian communities (totaling
1.2 percent). 15.1 percent[25] of the population is unaffiliated.
The main Lutheran and Orthodox churches are the national churches
of Finland. Church attendance is much lower than these figures may
suggest. Most of the population holds generally secular views. A
majority of members of the state Lutheran Church do not participate
actively, often attending church only for special occasions like
weddings and funerals.[26]
According to a 2005 Eurobarometer Poll,[27] 41 percent of Finnish
citizens responded that "they believe there is a god",
whereas 41 percent answered that "they believe there is some
sort of spirit or life force" and 16 percent that "they
do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".
[edit] Family structure
Finnish family life is centered on the nuclear family. Relations
with the extended family are often rather distant, and Finnish people
do not form politically significant clans, tribes or similar structures.
According to UNICEF, Finland ranks fourth in child well-being.[28]
[edit] Education
Auditorium in the Helsinki University of Technology's main building,
designed by Alvar Aalto.Main article: Education in Finland
See also: List of universities in Finland
The Finnish education system is a comparatively egalitarian Nordic
system, with no tuition fees for full-time students. Attendance
is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16, and free meals are served
to pupils at primary and secondary levels. The first nine years
of education (primary and secondary school) are compulsory, and
the pupils go to their local school. Secondary education is not
compulsory; it is either a trade school, or preparation for tertiary
education. In tertiary education, two, mostly separate and non-interoperating
sectors are found: the higher vocational schools and universities.
In the OECD's international assessment of student performance,
PISA, Finland has consistently been among the highest scorers worldwide;
in 2003, Finnish 15-year-olds came first in reading literacy, science,
and mathematics; and second in problem solving, worldwide. The World
Economic Forum ranks Finland's tertiary education #1 in the world.[29]
[edit] Health
Finland has a developed public health care system. 18.9 percent
of health care is funded by households themselves, 76.6 percent
is publicly funded, and the rest of the funding comes from elsewhere.
There are 307 residents for each doctor.[30]
After having one of the highest death rates from heart disease
in the world in the 1970s, improvements in the Finnish diet and
exercise have paid off. Finland also boasts the lowest smoking rate
of any country in the European Union. Finland is now one of the
fittest countries in the world.[31]
The life expectancy is 82 years for women and 75 years for men.
[edit] Government and politics
Eduskuntatalo, the main building of the Parliament of Finland (Eduskunta)
in Helsinki.Main article: Politics of Finland
[edit] Political system
Finland has a semi-presidential system with parliamentarism. The
president is responsible for foreign policy outside of the European
Union in cooperation with the cabinet (the Finnish Council of State)
where most executive power lies, headed by the Prime Minister. Responsibility
for forming the cabinet is granted to a person nominated by the
President and approved of by the Parliament. This person also becomes
Prime Minister after formal appointment by the President. Any minister
and the cabinet as a whole, however, must have continuing trust
of the parliament and may be voted out, resign or be replaced. The
Council of State is made up of the Prime Minister and the ministers
for the various departments of the central government as well as
an ex-officio member, the Chancellor of Justice.
The 200-member unicameral parliament is called the Eduskunta (Finnish)
or Riksdag (Swedish). It is the supreme legislative authority in
Finland. The parliament may alter the Constitution of Finland, bring
about the resignation of the Council of State, and override presidential
vetoes. Its acts are not subject to judicial review. Legislation
may be initiated by the Council of State, or one of the Eduskunta
members, who are elected for a four-year term on the basis of proportional
representation through open list multi-member districts.
The state flag of FinlandThe judicial system of Finland is divided
between courts with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and
administrative courts with responsibility for litigation between
the individuals and the administrative organs of the state and the
communities. Finnish law is codified and based on Swedish law and
in a wider sense, civil law or Roman law. Its court system consists
of local courts, regional appellate courts, and the Supreme Court.
The administrative branch of justice consists of administrative
courts and the Supreme Administrative Court. In addition to the
regular courts, there are a few special courts in certain branches
of administration. There is also a High Court of Impeachment for
criminal charges (for an offence in office) against the President
of the Republic, the justices of the supreme courts, members of
the Council of State, the Chancellor of Justice and the Ombudsman
of Parliament.
The parliament has, since equal and common suffrage was introduced
in 1906, been dominated by secular Conservatives, the Centre Party
(former Agrarian Union), and Social Democrats, which have approximately
equal support, and represent 65–80 percent of voters. After
1944 Communists were a factor to consider for a few decades. The
relative strengths of the parties vary only slightly in the elections
due to the proportional election from multi-member districts but
there are some visible long-term trends.
Like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, Finland has no constitutional
court, and courts may not strike down laws or pronounce on their
constitutionality. In principle, the constitutionality of laws in
Finland is verified by a simple vote in the parliament. However,
the constitutional committee in the parliament reviews legistlation
during the lawmaking process, and thus performs a similar role.
According to Transparency International, Finland has had the lowest
level of corruption in all the countries studied in its survey for
the last several years.[32] Also according to the World Audit study,
Finland is the least corrupt and most democratic country in the
world as of 2006.[6]
In its 2007 Worldwide Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders
ranked Finland (along with Belgium and Sweden) 5th out of 169 countries.
[edit] President
The current President of Finland Tarja Halonen in a state visit
to Brazil, October 2003.Main article: President of Finland
The President of Finland is the Head of State of Finland. Under
the Constitution of Finland, executive power is vested in the President
and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers.
The President is elected directly by the people for a term of six
years. Since 1991, no President can be elected for more than two
consecutive terms. The President must be a native-born Finnish citizen.
The office was established by the Constitution Act of 1919.
The current office-holder is President Tarja Halonen. She began
her first term of office in 2000 and was re-elected on January 29,
2006. Her current term expires in 2012. She is the eleventh President
of Finland, the first woman and first from the capital, Helsinki,
to hold the office.
Presidents of Finland
Name Born–Died In office
K.J. Ståhlberg 1865–1952 1919–1925
Lauri Kristian Relander 1883–1942 1925–1931
P.E. Svinhufvud 1861–1944 1931–1937
Kyösti Kallio 1873–1940 1937–1940
Risto Ryti 1889–1956 1940–1944
C.G.E. Mannerheim 1867–1951 1944–1946
J.K. Paasikivi 1870–1956 1946–1956
Urho Kekkonen 1900–1986 1956–1981
Mauno Koivisto 1923– 1982–1994
Martti Ahtisaari 1937– 1994–2000
Tarja Halonen 1943– 2000–2012
[edit] Parliament
Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen eight days prior the Finnish
parliamentary election, 2007.Main article: Parliament of Finland
See also: List of political parties in Finland
The Finnish Parliament consists of one chamber with two hundred
members. The members are elected for a four-year term by direct
popular vote under a system of proportional representation. According
to the Constitution of Finland, the Parliament elects the Prime
Minister, who is appointed to office by the President. Other Ministers
are appointed by the President on the Prime Minister's proposal.
The current Prime Minister of Finland, as well as Chairman of the
Centre Party is Matti Vanhanen (who in the second half of 2006 was
President of the European Council).
After the parliamentary elections on March 18, 2007, the seats
were divided among eight parties as follows:
Party Seats Net Gain/Loss % of seats % of votes
The Centre Party 51 –4 ? 25.5 23.1
The National Coalition Party 50 +10 ? 25.0 22.3
The Social Democratic Party 45 –8 ? 22.5 21.4
The Left Alliance 17 –2 ? 8.5 8.8
The Green League 15 +1 ? 7.5 8.5
The Swedish People's Party 9 +1 ? 4.5 4.5
The Christian Democrats 7 0 ? 3.5 4.9
The True Finns 5 +2 ? 2.5 4.1
Others 1* 0 ? 0.5 2.4
* Province of Åland representative.
[edit] Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Finland
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Finland freed itself
from the last restrictions imposed on it by the Paris peace treaties
of 1947. The Finno-Soviet Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation,
and Mutual Assistance (and the restrictions included therein) was
annulled but Finland recognised the Russian Federation as the successor
of the USSR and was quick to draft bilateral treaties of goodwill
as well as reallocating Soviet debts.
Finland deepened its participation in the European integration
by joining the European Union with Sweden and Austria in 1995. It
could perhaps be said that the country's policy of neutrality has
been moderated to "military non-alignment" with an emphasis
on maintaining a competent independent defence. Peacekeeping under
the auspices of the United Nations was for years the only real extra-national
military responsibility which Finland undertook. Since 2006, Finland
has participated in the formation of European Union Battlegroups.
The President leads Finnish foreign policy, which is implemented
by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The current Minister for Foreign
Affairs is Ilkka Kanerva. Matters related to the European Union
are usually not considered part of the foreign policy.
Finland's foreign policy is based on the membership of the European
Union with its customs union, military non-alliance, and neutrality.
Finland is also in the Nordic Council, and has long traditions of
co-operation with the Nordic countries. Finland has good relations
with all its neighbours, Sweden, Norway, Russia and Estonia, and
is not involved in international conflicts or border disputes.
The military doctrine is strictly self-defensive, and indeed, the
Constitution of Finland only allows participation in military operations
authorised by the UN or the OSCE. Public opinion is against joining
any military alliances, such as NATO, although Finland is involved
in the Partnership for Peace programme with NATO. Foreign trade
is highly important, as about a third of the gross domestic product
comes from foreign trade, and Finland depends on imports for most
raw materials.
[edit] Defence Forces
Virtually every conscript in Finnish Defence Forces is given ski-training.Main
article: Finnish Defence Forces
See also: Military history of Finland and List of Finnish wars
The Finnish Defence Forces is a cadre army of 16,500, of which 8,700
are professional soldiers (officers), with a standard readiness
strength of 34,700 people in uniform (27,300 Army, 3,000 Navy, and
4,400 Air Force). Finland's defence budget equals about 1.4 percent
of the GDP. A universal male conscription is in place, under which
all men above 18 years of age serve for six, nine, eleven (unarmed
service) or twelve months. Inhabitants of Finland's Åland
Islands and Jehovah's Witnesses are exempt, but there are no other
general exemptions. Non-military service for twelve months is also
possible. Since 1995, Finnish women have been able to do military
service as volunteers. The defence is based on a large trained reserve.
During the Cold War, Finland could have mobilised 490,000 reservists
in a conflict, but this number has since been reduced to some 350,000
due to ongoing budget cuts.
The Finnish Defence Forces are under the command of the Chief of
Defence, who is directly subordinate to the President of the Republic
in matters related to the military command. The current Chief of
Defence is Admiral Juhani Kaskeala.
The military branches are Finnish Army, Finnish Navy and Finnish
Air Force. The Border Guard is under the Ministry of the Interior
but can be incorporated into the Defence Forces when required by
defence readiness.
[edit] Energy policy
See also: Nuclear power in Finland
The Ministry of Trade and Industry is responsible for the Government's
energy policy. Energy policy is of exceptional importance, for Finland
needs a lot of energy because of its cold climate and the structure
of its industry, but has no fossil fuel energy resources, like oil
or coal. It has thus done pioneering work on developing more efficient
ways of using energy. Also, Finland refines oil for export (36 percent
of chemical exports[33]) and to cover domestic needs. The Finnish
corporation Neste Oil has two oil refineries. Finland is connected
to the Nordpool, the Nordic electricity market.
Until the 1960s, Finnish energy policy relied on the electricity
produced by hydropower stations and extensive decentralised use
of wood for energy. Finland's 187,888 lakes do not lie much above
sea level – less than 80 metres in the case of the two biggest
lakes, Saimaa and Päijänne. Consequently, Finland has
less hydropower capacity than Sweden or Norway.
Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant with two existing units. The third
unit and Finland's fifth (far left) is computer manipulated and
will be ready by 2011.Finland started planning the introduction
of nuclear power in the 1950s. In 2001, eighteen percent of all
electricity consumed in Finland was produced by the country's four
nuclear power plants.[34] Energy policy became a burning issue in
Finland when industry applied for permission to build a new nuclear
power unit, the country's fifth. On May 24, 2002, Parliament supported
the application by 107 votes to 92. After the vote, the The Green
League resigned from the government where they had held the environment
portfolio. All the other parties were divided over the nuclear issue.
The fifth nuclear power station – world's largest at 1600
MWe – is currently under construction and is scheduled to
be operational by 2011. It is being built by France's AREVA and
Germany's Siemens AG. After general elections held on March 18,
2007, two Finnish energy groups, Fortum and Teollisuuden Voima (TVO)
started the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process concerning
the sixth nuclear power plant unit.[35]
Most of the energy is produced from fossil fuels, mainly coal and
oil. Fossil fuels are, however, all imported, because Finland doesn't
have any fossil fuel sources, unlike neighboring Norway with oil
and Estonia with oil shale. Nevertheless, Finland fares exceptionally
well with renewable energy: 25 percent of energy is renewable, which
is high compared to the EU average 10 percent. About one fifth of
all the energy consumed in Finland is wood-based. This is not a
remnant of old ages: the pulp and paper industry – Finland's
third-largest industry – burns its byproducts, such as black
liquor residues and waste wood chippings, resulting in net production
of energy. Many homeowners also own renewed forests, and use wood
as an additional (but not primary) heat source. About seven percent
of electricity is produced from peat harvested from Finland's extensive
bogs. Peat is "bioenergy", but there is no consensus whether
it is renewable (carbon neutral) or not.
Currently, some electricity is imported to Finland. In recent years,
a varying amount (5–17 percent) of power has been imported
from Russia, Sweden and Norway. The Norwegian and Swedish hydroelectric
plants remain an important source for imported power. The current
energy policy debate is centred on self-sustainability. There are
plans to build an submarine power cable from Russia, but this is
also considered a national security issue. The government has already
rejected one plan for such a power cable.
[edit] Economy
Headquarters of Nokia, Finland's largest company.Main article: Economy
of Finland
See also: List of Finnish companies and Helsinki Stock Exchange
Finland has a highly industrialised, free-market economy with a
per capita output equal to that of other western economies such
as France, Germany, Sweden or the UK. The largest sector of the
economy is services at 65.7 percent, followed by manufacturing and
refining at 31.4 percent. Primary production is low at 2.9 percent,
reflecting the fact that Finland is a resource-poor country.[36]
With respect to foreign trade, the key economic sector is manufacturing.
The largest industries[37] are electronics (21.6 percent), machinery,
vehicles and other engineered metal products (21.1 percent), forest
industry (13.1 percent), and chemicals (10.9 percent). International
trade is important, with exports equalling almost one-third of GDP.
Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports
of raw materials, energy and some components for manufactured goods.
Because of the northern climate, agricultural development is limited
to maintaining self-sufficiency. Forestry, an important export earner,
provides a secondary occupation for the rural population.
Finland was one of the eleven countries joining the euro monetary
system (EMU) on January 1, 1999. The national currency markka (FIM),
in use since 1860, was withdrawn and replaced by the euro (EUR)
at the beginning of 2002 (see Finnish euro coins).
The World Economic Forum has declared Finland to be the most competitive
country in the world for three consecutive years (2003–2005)
and four times since 2002.[38] In recent years there has been national
focus on innovation and research and development, with special emphasis
on information technology.[39] Nokia, the telecommunications company,
is generally regarded as the single most significant cause of Finland's
success.
[edit] Economic history
Finnish trade relationships and politics were by large determined
by avoidance of provoking first the feudally ruled Imperial Russia
and then the totalitarian Soviet Union. However, the peaceful relationship
with both the Soviet Union and Western powers was turned into an
economic advantage. The Soviet Union conducted bilateral trade with
Finland, but Western countries remained Finland's main trading partners.
After the Second World War, the growth rate of the GDP was high
compared to other Europe, and Finland was often called "Japan
of the North". In the beginning of the 1970s, Finland's GDP
per capita reached the level of Japan and the UK.
In 1991, Finland fell into a severe depression caused by economic
overheating, depressed foreign markets and the dismantling of the
barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union. More
than twenty percent of Finnish trade was with the Soviet Union before
1991, and in the following two years the trade practically ceased.
The growth in the 1980s was based on debt, and when the defaults
began rolling in, an avalanche effect increased the unemployment
from a virtual full employment to one fifth of the workforce. However,
civil order remained and the state alleviated the problem of funding
the welfare state by taking massive debts. 1991 and again in 1992,
Finland devalued the markka to promote export competitiveness. This
helped stabilise the economy; the depression bottomed out in 1993,
with continued growth through 1995. Since then the growth rate has
been one of the highest of OECD countries, and national debt has
been reduced to 41.1 percent of GDP (fulfilling the EU's Stability
and Growth Pact requirement). Unfortunately, the unemployment has
been persistent, and is currently at about 7 percent.
[edit] Notable corporations
The 339 metres long M/S Freedom of the Seas and her sister ship
M/S Liberty of the Seas, built at Aker Yards in Perno, Turku, are
the largest cruise ships and passenger vessels in the world.Notable
Finnish companies include Nokia, the market leader in mobile telephony;
Stora Enso, the largest paper manufacturer in the world; Neste Oil,
an oil refining and marketing company; UPM-Kymmene, the third largest
paper manufacturer in the world; Aker Finnyards, the manufacturer
of the world's largest cruise ships (such as Royal Caribbean's Freedom
of the Seas); Instrumentarium Imaging, the creator of the Orthopantomograph
(Pan X-Ray machine) and world innovative leader of dental imaging
systems and software.; KONE, a manufacturer of elevators and escalators;
Wärtsilä, a producer of power plants and ship engines;
and Finnair, the country's international airline.[40]
[edit] Public transport
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, the main airport of the Helsinki Metropolitan
Region and the whole of Finland.Main article: Transport in Finland
See also: Highways in Finland, List of airports in Finland, and
Public transport in Helsinki
Finland's transport network is developed. As of 2005, the country's
network of main roads has a total length of 13,258 km, and is mainly
centred on the capital city of Helsinki. The total length of all
public roads is 78,186 km, of which 50,616 km are paved. The motorway
network is still to a great extent under development, and currently
totals 653 km. There are 5,865 km of railways in the country. Helsinki
has an urban rail network, and light rail systems are currently
being planned in Turku and Tampere. Finland also has a considerable
number of airports and large ports.
The national railway company is VR (Valtion Rautatiet, or State
Railways). It offers InterCity and express trains throughout the
country and the faster Pendolino trains connecting the major cities.
There are large discounts (usually fifty percent) available for
children (7–16 yr), students, senior citizens and conscripts.
There are international trains to St. Petersburg (Finnish and Russian
day-time trains) and Moscow (Russian over-night train), Russia.
Connections to Sweden are by bus due to rail gauge differences.
It's possible to take the
Silja Line and Viking Line ferries from Helsinki and Turku to Mariehamn
and Långnäs, Stockholm (Sweden) and Tallinn (Estonia),
Tallink ferries from Helsinki to Tallinn (Estonia) and Rostock (Germany)
Eckerö Line ferries from Helsinki to Tallinn (Estonia) and
from Eckerö to Grisslehamn (Sweden).
There are about 25 airports in Finland with scheduled passenger
services. Finnair, Blue1 and Finncomm Airlines provide air services
both domestically and internationally. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is
Finland's global gateway with scheduled non-stop flights to such
places as Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Nagoya, New
York, Osaka, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Helsinki has an optimal
location for great circle airline traffic routes between Western
Europe and the Far East. Hence, many foreign tourists visit Helsinki
on a stop-over while flying from Asia to Europe or vice versa.
[edit] Tourism
The M/S Silja Symphony leaving from Helsinki. Cruises are a popular
tourist activity throughout Finland.Main article: Tourism in Finland
Tourism is an expanding industry in Finland and in recent years
has become a significant aspect of its economy. In 2005, Finnish
tourism grossed over €6.7 billion with a five percent increase
from the previous year. Much of the sudden growth can be attributed
to the globalisation and modernisation of the country as well as
a rise in positive publicity and awareness. There are many attractions
in Finland which attracted over 4 million visitors in 2005.
The Finnish landscape is covered with thick pine forests, rolling
hills and complemented with a labyrinth of lakes and inlets. Much
of Finland is pristine and virgin as it contains 35 national parks
from the Southern shores of the Gulf of Finland to the high fells
of Lapland. It is also an urbanised region with many cultural events
and activities.
Commercial cruises between major coastal and port cities in the
Baltic region, including Helsinki, Turku, Tallinn, Stockholm and
Travemünde, play a significant role in the local tourism industry.
[edit] Tourism in winter
Although many tourists visit for the ideal weather during the summer,
winter also attracts hundreds of thousands for its Christmas festivities
and winter sports and activities such as skiing, dog sledding and
Nordic walking. Finland is regarded as the home of Saint Nicholas
or Santa Claus. Santa’s Post Office is also located in Finland,
up in the northern Lapland region. Above the Arctic Circle, there
is a polar night, a period when the sun doesn't rise for days or
weeks, or even months. Lapland, the extreme north of Finland, is
so far north that the Aurora Borealis, atmospheric fluorescence,
is seen regularly in winter. This exquisite spectacle draws people
from around the globe, particularly from Japan.
[edit] Tourism in summer
Throughout the summer there are a range of international festivals,
markets and performing arts including song and dance. The receding
snow and everlasting sunlight also provide an opportunity for an
array of outdoor activities. These activities range from golf, fishing,
yachting, lake cruises, hiking, kayaking among many others. At Finland's
northernmost point, in the heart of summer, the Sun does not completely
set for 73 consecutive days. Wildlife is abundant in Finland. Bird-watching
is popular for those fond of flying fauna, however hunting is also
popular. Elk, reindeer and hare are all common game in Finland.
The sport is highly regulated and also helps the economy.
[edit] Cultural attractions
Finland is also a place rich in culture for history, tradition and
religion. There are churches and cathedrals scattered all across
Finland reflecting the strong Finnish Lutheran following. There
are also museums and examples of ancient architecture remaining
from the reign of the Swedish Empire over much of Finland. These
sites allure thousands for their significance and historical insight.
Castles from the Swedish reign are found, for example in Turku,
Hämeenlinna and Savonlinna. The Turku Castle is a museum. Olavinlinna
in Savonlinna hosts the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. The capital
city of Helsinki, on the other hand, is famous for its Grand Duchy
era architecture, which resembles that of imperial St. Petersburg.
[edit] Culture
Chimneyless sauna building in Enonkoski. Strong Finnish sauna culture
is one of the remains of the aboriginal Finnish culture.Main article:
Culture of Finland
Like the people, Finnish culture is indigenous and most prominently
represented by the Finnish language. Throughout the area's prehistory
and history, cultural contacts and influences have concurrently,
or at varying times, come from all directions. As a result of 600
years of Swedish rule, Swedish cultural influences are still notable.
Today, cultural influences from North America are prominent. Into
the twenty-first century, many Finns have contacted cultures from
distantly abroad, such as with those in Asia and Africa. Beyond
tourism, Finnish youth in particular have been increasing their
contact with peoples from outside Finland by travelling abroad to
both work and study.
There are still differences between regions, especially minor differences
in accents and vocabulary. Minorities, such as the Sami, Finland
Swedes, Romani, and Tatar, maintain their own cultural characteristics.
Many Finns are emotionally connected to the countryside and nature,
as urbanisation is a relatively recent phenomenon.
Finland comfortably won the first Eurovision Dance Contest in September
2007.
[edit] Literature
Main article: Finnish literature
Though Finnish written language could be said to exist since Mikael
Agricola translated the New Testament into Finnish in the sixteenth
century as a result of the Protestant Reformation, few notable works
of literature were written until the nineteenth century, which saw
the beginning of a Finnish national Romantic Movement. This prompted
Elias Lönnrot to collect Finnish and Karelian folk poetry and
arrange and publish them as Kalevala, the Finnish national epic.
The era saw a rise of poets and novelists who wrote in Finnish,
notably Aleksis Kivi and Eino Leino.
After Finland became independent there was a rise of modernist
writers, most famously Mika Waltari. Frans Eemil Sillanpää
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1939 – so far
the only one for a Finnish author. The second World War prompted
a return to more national interests in comparison to a more international
line of thought, characterized by Väinö Linna. Literature
in modern Finland is in a healthy state, with detective stories
enjoying a particular boom of popularity. Ilkka Remes, a Finnish
author of thrillers, is very popular.
[edit] Visual arts
The architect couple Aino and Alvar Aalto.See also: List of Finnish
architects
Finns have made major contributions to handicrafts and industrial
design. Finland's best-known sculptor of the twentieth century was
Wäinö Aaltonen, remembered for his monumental busts and
sculptures. Finnish architecture is famous around the world. Among
the top of the twentieth century Finnish architects to win international
recognition are Eliel Saarinen (designer of the widely recognised
Helsinki Central railway station and many other public works) and
his son Eero Saarinen. Alvar Aalto, who helped bring the functionalist
architecture to Finland, is also famous for his work in furniture
and glassware.
[edit] Music
Main article: Music of Finland
[edit] Folk music
Much of the music of Finland is influenced by traditional Karelian
melodies and lyrics, as comprised in the Kalevala. Karelian culture
is perceived as the purest expression of the Finnic myths and beliefs,
less influenced by Germanic influence, in contrast to Finland's
position between the East and the West. Finnish folk music has undergone
a roots revival in recent decades, and has become a part of popular
music.
Sami music
Main article: Sami music
The people of northern Finland, Sweden and Norway, the Sami, are
known primarily for highly spiritual songs called Joik. The same
word sometimes refers to lavlu or vuelie songs, though this is technically
incorrect.
[edit] Classical and opera
The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), a significant
figure in the history of classical music.The first Finnish opera
was written by the German composer Fredrik Pacius in 1852. Pacius
also wrote Maamme/Vårt land (Our Land), Finland's national
anthem. In the 1890s Finnish nationalism based on the Kalevala spread,
and Jean Sibelius became famous for his vocal symphony Kullervo.
He soon received a grant to study runo singers in Karelia and continued
his rise as the first prominent Finnish musician. In 1899 he composed
Finlandia, which played its important role in Finland gaining independence.
He remains one of Finland's most popular national figures and is
a symbol of the nation.
Today, Finland has a very lively classical music scene. Finnish
classical music has only existed for about a hundred years, and
many of the important composers are still alive, such as Magnus
Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho, Aulis Sallinen and Einojuhani Rautavaara.
The composers are accompanied with a large number of great conductors
such as Sakari Oramo, Mikko Franck, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Osmo Vänskä,
Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Susanna Mälkki and Leif Segerstam. Some
of the internationally acclaimed Finnish classical musicians are
Karita Mattila, Soile Isokoski, Kari Kriikku, Pekka Kuusisto, Réka
Szilvay and Linda Brava.
[edit] Popular music
Modern Finnish popular music includes a renowned heavy metal scene,
in common with other Nordic countries, as well as a number of prominent
rock bands, jazz musicians, hip hop performers, and dance music
acts such as Bomfunk MCs and Darude. Finnish electronic music such
as the Sähkö Recordings record label enjoys underground
acclaim. Iskelmä (coined directly from the German word Schlager,
meaning hit) is a traditional Finnish word for a light popular song.
Finnish popular music also includes various kinds of dance music;
tango, a style of Argentinean music, is also popular. One of the
most productive composers of popular music was Toivo Kärki,
and the most famous singer Olavi Virta (1915–1972). Among
the lyricists, Sauvo Puhtila (born 1928), Reino Helismaa (died 1965)
and Veikko "Vexi" Salmi are the most remarkable authors.
The composer and bandleader Jimi Tenor is well known for his brand
of retro-funk music.
[edit] Dance music
Notable Finnish dance and electronic music artists include Jori
Hulkkonen, Darude, JS16, DJ Proteus and DJ Orkidea.
[edit] Rock and heavy metal music
Finnish rock-music scene emerged in 1960s with pioneers such as
Blues Section and Kirka. In the 1970s Finnish rock musicians started
to write their own music instead of translating international hits
in Finnish. During the decade some progressive rock groups, such
as Tasavallan Presidentti and Wigwam, gained respect abroad but
failed to make commercial breakthrough outside Finland. This was
also the fate of rock and roll group Hurriganes. Finnish punk scene
produced some internationally respected names including Terveet
Kädet in 1980s. Hanoi Rocks was a pioneering 1980s-glam rock
act that left perhaps deeper mark in the history of popular music
than any other Finnish group giving inspiration for Guns 'n' Roses.
Apocalyptica playing live with RammsteinIn 1990s Finnish metal music
started to get international fame with such bands as Amorphis, Children
of Bodom, Impaled Nazarene, Nightwish, Sentenced, Sonata Arctica
and Stratovarius. In the later 1990s the cello metal group Apocalyptica
played Metallica cover versions as cello quartettos and sold half
a million records worldwide. Arguably one of Finland's most domestically
popular rock groups is CMX. Although this group is not widely known
outside of the country, bassist Billy Gould of popular U.S. rock
group Faith No More produced CMX's 1998 album Vainajala.[41]
In 2000s also Finnish rock bands started to sell well internationally.
The Rasmus finally captured Europe (and other places, like South
America) in 2000s. Their 2003 album Dead Letters sold 1.5 million
units worldwide and garnered them eight gold and five platinum album
designations. But so far the most successful Finnish band in the
United States is HIM; they were the first band from Finland to ever
sell an album that was certified gold by the RIAA. Most recently,
the Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band Lordi won the 2006 Eurovision
Song Contest with a record 292 points, giving Finland its first
ever victory. Rock bands such as 69 Eyes and 22-pistepirkko enjoy
cult following abroard despite of milder commercial success.
Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, one of the largest open-air heavy
metal festivals in the world, is held annually in Kaisaniemi, Helsinki.[42]
Ruisrock and Provinssirock are the most famous rock festivals held
in Finland.
[edit] Cinema
Erkki Karu, one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema, with cinematographer
Eino Kari in 1927.Main article: Cinema of Finland
See also: List of Finnish films
Finland has a growing film industry with a number of famous directors
such as Aki Kaurismäki, Timo Koivusalo, Aleksi Mäkelä
and Klaus Härö. Hollywood film director/producer Renny
Harlin (born Lauri Mauritz Harjola) was born in Finland.
[edit] Media and communications
Linus Torvalds, a famous Finnish software engineer, best known for
initiating the development of the kernel of the Linux operating
system.See also: Communications in Finland, List of newspapers in
Finland, and List of Finnish television stations
Finland is one of the most advanced information societies in the
world. There are 200 newspapers; 320 popular magazines, 2,100 professional
magazines and 67 commercial radio stations, with one nationwide,
five national public service radio channels (three in Finnish, two
in Swedish, one in Sami); digital radio has three channels. Four
national analog television channels (two public service and two
commercial) were fully replaced by five public service and three
commercial digital television channels in September 1, 2007.
Each year around twelve feature films are made, 12,000 book titles
published and 12 million records sold. 79 percent of the population
use the Internet.[43][44]
Finns, along with other Nordic people and the Japanese, spend the
most time in the world reading newspapers. The most read newspaper
in Finland is Helsingin Sanomat, with a circulation of 434,000.
The media group SanomaWSOY behind Helsingin Sanomat also publishes
the tabloid Ilta-Sanomat and commerce-oriented Taloussanomat. It
also owns the Nelonen television channel. SanomaWSOY's largest shareholder
is Aatos Erkko and his family. The other major publisher Alma Media
publishes over thirty magazines, including newspaper Aamulehti,
tabloid Iltalehti and commerce-oriented Kauppalehti. Finland has
been at the top of the worldwide Press Freedom Ranking list every
year since the publication of the first index by Reporters Without
Borders in 2002.[45]
Finland's National Broadcasting Company YLE is an independent state-owned
company. It has five television channels and 13 radio channels in
two national languages. YLE is funded through a television license
and private television broadcasting license fees. Ongoing transformation
to digital TV broadcasting is in progress — analog broadcasts
ceased on the terrestrial network 31 August, 2007 and will cease
on cable at the end of February 2008. The most popular television
channel MTV3 and the most popular radio channel Radio Nova are owned
by Nordic Broadcasting (Bonnier and Proventus Industrier).
The people of Finland are accustomed to technology and information
services. The number of cellular phone subscribers as well as the
number of Internet connections per capita in Finland are among the
highest in the world. According to the Ministry of Transport and
Communications, Finnish mobile phone penetration exceeded fifty
percent of the population as far back as August 1998 – first
in the world – and by December 1998 the number of cell phone
subscriptions outnumbered fixed-line phone connections. By the end
of June 2007 there were 5.78 million cellular phone subscriptions,
or 109 percent of the population.[46]
Another fast-growing sector is the use of the Internet. Finland
had more than 1.52 million broadband Internet connections by the
end of June 2007, i.e., about 287 per 1,000 inhabitants.[46] The
Finns are not only connected; they are heavy users of Internet services.
All Finnish schools and public libraries have for years been connected
to the Internet.
[edit] Cuisine
Karjalanpiirakka, a traditional Finnish pastry.Main article: Cuisine
of Finland
Traditional Finnish cuisine is a combination of European, Fennoscandian
and Western Russian elements; table manners are European. The food
is generally simple, fresh and healthy. Fish, meat, berries and
ground vegetables are typical ingredients whereas spices are not
common due to their historical unavailability. In years past, Finnish
food often varied from region to region, most notably between the
west and east. In coastal and lakeside villages, fish was a main
feature of cooking, whereas in the eastern and also northern regions,
vegetables and reindeer were more common. The prototypical breakfast
is oatmeal or other continental-style foods such as bread. Lunch
is usually a full warm meal, served by a canteen at workplaces.
Dinner is eaten at around 17.00 to 18.00 at home.
Modern Finnish cuisine combines country fare and haute cuisine
with contemporary continental cooking style. Today, spices are a
prominent ingredient in many modern Finnish recipes, having been
adopted from the east and west in recent decades.
[edit] Public holidays
Main article: Public holidays in Finland
See also: Flag days in Finland
All official holidays in Finland are established by acts of Parliament.
The official holidays can be divided into Christian and secular
holidays, although some of the Christian holidays have replaced
holidays of pagan origin. The main Christian holidays are Christmas,
Epiphany, Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost, and All Saints Day.
The secular holidays are New Year's Day, May Day, Midsummer Day,
and the Independence Day. Christmas is the most extensively celebrated
holiday: usually at least 23rd to 26th of December are holidays.
In addition to this, all Sundays are official holidays, but they
are not as important as the special holidays. The names of the Sundays
follow the liturgical calendar and they can be categorised as Christian
holidays. When the standard working week in Finland was reduced
to 40 hours by an act of Parliament, it also meant that all Saturdays
became a sort of de facto public holidays, though not official ones.
Easter Sunday and Pentecost are Sundays that form part of a main
holiday and they are preceded by a kind of special Saturdays. Retail
stores are prohibited by law from doing business on Sundays, except
during the summer months (May through August) and in the pre-Christmas
season (November and December). Business locations that have less
than 400 square metres of floor space are allowed Sunday business
throughout the year, with the exception of official holidays and
certain Sundays, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day.
[edit] Sports
Paavo Nurmi at the 1920 Summer Olympics.Main article: Sport in Finland
2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen celebrating
victory at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix.Various sporting events
are popular in Finland. Pesäpallo (reminiscent of baseball)
is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular sports
in Finland in terms of media coverage are Formula One, ice hockey
and football. The Finnish national ice hockey team is considered
one of the best in the world. During the past century there has
been a rivalry in sporting between Finland and Sweden, mostly in
ice hockey and athletics (Finland-Sweden athletics international).
Jari Kurri and Teemu Selänne are the two Finnish-born ice hockey
players to have scored 500 goals in their NHL careers. Football
is also popular in Finland, though the national football team has
never qualified for a finals tournament of the World Cup or the
European Championships. Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypiä are the
most internationally renowned of the Finnish football players.
Relative to its population, Finland has been the number one country
in the world in automobile racing, measured by international success.
Finland has produced three Formula One World Champions – Keke
Rosberg (Williams, 1982), Mika Häkkinen (McLaren, 1998 and
1999) and Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari, 2007). Along with Räikkönen,
the other Finnish Formula One driver currently active is Heikki
Kovalainen (McLaren). Rosberg's son, Nico Rosberg (Williams), is
also currently driving, but under his mother's German nationality.
Other notable Finnish Grand Prix drivers include Leo Kinnunen, JJ
Lehto and Mika Salo. Finland has also produced most of the world's
best rally drivers, including the ex-WRC World Champion drivers
Marcus Grönholm, Juha Kankkunen, Hannu Mikkola, Tommi Mäkinen,
Timo Salonen and Ari Vatanen. The only Finn to have won a road racing
World Championship, Jarno Saarinen, was killed in 1973 while racing.
Among winter sports, Finland has been the most successful country
in ski jumping, with former ski jumper Matti Nykänen being
arguably the best ever in that sport. Most notably, he won five
Olympic medals (four gold) and nine World Championships medals (five
gold). Among currently active Finnish ski jumpers, Janne Ahonen
has been the most successful. Kalle Palander is a well-known alpine
skiing winner, who won the World Championship and Crystal Ball (twice,
in Kitzbühel). Tanja Poutiainen has won an Olympic silver medal
for alpine skiing, as well as multiple FIS World Cup races.
Some of the most outstanding athletes from the past include Hannes
Kolehmainen (1890–1966), Paavo Nurmi (1897–1973) and
Ville Ritola (1896–1982) who won eighteen gold and seven silver
Olympic medals in the 1910s and 1920s. They are also considered
to be the first of a generation of great Finnish middle and long-distance
runners (and subsequently, other great Finnish sportsmen) often
named the "Flying Finns". Another long-distance runner,
Lasse Virén (born 1949), won a total of four gold medals
during the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.
Also, in the past, Riku Kiri, Jouko Ahola and Janne Virtanen have
been the greatest strength athletes in the country, participating
in the World's Strongest Man competition between 1993 and 2000.
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the
XV Olympiad, were held in 1952 in Helsinki, Finland. Other notable
sporting events held in Finland include the 1983 and 2005 World
Championships in Athletics, among others.
Some of the most popular recreational sports and activities include
floorball, Nordic walking, running, cycling and skiing.
[edit] Finnishness
List of Finns
Suuret suomalaiset – a list of the "100 Greatest Finns"
of all time as voted by the Finnish people in 2004.
Below are listed some of the characteristics of Finnishness. The
term "Finnishness" is often referred to as the national
identity of the Finnish people and its culture.
A triptych by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of
Kalevala on three panes.Finnish Maiden a figure of national personification
symbolising Finland
Kalevala the national epic of Finland, and Finnish mythology in
general
Kantele traditional musical instrument
Mämmi traditional Easter food
Kalakukko traditional Savonian food
Mustamakkara traditional blood sausage from Tampere
Karelian pasties traditional pasties from the region of Karelia
Joulupukki Father Christmas/Santa Claus
Jean Sibelius one of the most popular national figures (composer
of the symphonic poem Finlandia)
Sauna a Finnish national institution (see also Finnish sauna)
Sisu will, determination, perseverance, mental fortitude
Perkele swear word (see Finnish profanity)
Puukko traditional Finnish style woodcraft belt-knife
Talkoot community work
Ice swimming swimming in a body of water with a frozen crust of
ice
Nordic walking a recreational sport first popularized in Finland
Salmiakki salty liquorice
Sahti traditional beer
Koskenkorva Finnish vodka
Reilu meininki fair dealing
Flying Finn a nickname given to notable Finnish sportsmen
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