Finland

Culture and traditions of Finland

The Finnish culture is influenced by Baltic and Germanic traditions as well as by Swedish and Russian culture.

The cultural offer is mainly concentrated in the capital of the country, Helsinki. The National Museum of Finland exhibits a valuable collection about the history of the country going from the stone age till today's modern society. The museum is located in the centre of the city in a building of high historical interest. Also valuable exhibitions can be found in the National Gallery and Museum of Natural History.

One of the most celebrated festivities is the summer solstice "Juhannus". Finns use this event for spend some time in accommodations close to lakes and to celebrate this festivity around a bonfire, and depending on the region, dancing traditional folk dances.

During Easter, a combination of pagan and Christian customs, specially on Easter Saturday and Sunday, children dress up as witches, offering from door to door willow branches in exchange of sweets. Bonfires during this festivity are considered as a pagan custom to keep witches away.

And although it might be surprising, the Finnish Tango plays a relevant role in the cultural life of Finnish people. The Finnish Tango is a variant of and similar to the Argentine Tango. Evidence of its importance is the Tango Festival of Seinäjoki that is celebrated every year and has gained international recognition. The origins of the Finnish Tango came form the 30's, although during the 60's it was considered as old-fashioned and thanks to the effort of various musicians, who kept this important style alive, today it is an established tradition of Finnish cultural expression.