Análisis de la cultura finlandesa

Finnish Society and Culture
2009

15/10/2009

As an introduction, the culture of Finland combine indigenous heritage, represented by the national language, with its roots Finnish Finno-Ugric and sauna, combined with Nordic and European culture. Due to their history and geographical location, Finland has been influenced by Baltic and Germanic peoples and for the past dominant powers Sweden andRussia. Today, it´s clear the U.S. cultural influence and the country has increased contacts with distant cultures of Asia and Africa.
Finnish culture is very difficult to define. However, there are general characteristics associated with Finnish society and culture today. Finns are generally private people, like the other Nordic Norway and Sweden. The Finns love nature and tranquility, but many ofthem prefer the excitement of the cities.
There is a sense of melancholy and depression often associated with the Finns, who are reserved with strangers. Generally, it takes time before establishing closer relations, but once established, these relationships tend to be deep and lasting. The Finns I know are shy, but now I can feel how they are getting closer and closer.
The Finns were like comparedto other nationalities and their country with other countries. They are proud of having gone from a very poor country in the early twentieth century to one of the richest countries in the world today. Social equality is an important part of Finnish culture as the culture of the other Nordic countries.
In Finnish society, the young become independent at a much earlier age than in Spain, about 20years. This high level of social security aid helps young people become independent. The company provides financial support for all young people from 20 years of age who leave the family home, regardless of economic status of parents. 
For university students this occurs even earlier, for example, as soon as they begin to study, depending on their economic situation.
Cohabitation with a partner isvery popular among young Finns. Cohabitation in the apartments of students is the first step for young people to officially begin when a stable relationship. It is strange that a young couple get married without having lived before. Therefore, the number of children born outside marriage is increasing. At the same time, when they marry, is becoming "fashionable" to make big events. But the reasonwhy Finnish women have their children early and marry late is due to the high level of education. Today, young women are more educated than men. (http://www.virtual.finlanaVEnglish/women/women.html).
I have been in some Finnish houses of students; they enjoy their freedom and responsibility by their own. Doesn´t matter if their parents live in the same town, they do their personal life. Comparingto Spain, we normally leave our home when we find a good job and a couple. If not, we live with our parents because the reason of economy and the lack of aid from the state.
In Finland, independence and decision making that allow children is also something that catches my attention. Something as important as food is something that parents should take without asking much to children. They shouldtry all kinds of food because they are growing and need those nutrients. Also, eating culture has to be acquired as to eat everything.
I also feel this independence among Finns in the way in which they live. I understand that due to the depopulation of the country to live apart from each other. But with such extreme climate conditions I see more logical to have some coexistence between neighbors tohelp each other with any problem in winter.
The Finns have a well-established series of rituals. The most important is the sauna. There is a sauna for every 3 people, and I think there are more saunas than cars. 
The sauna is a healthy thing that the Finns do since childhood. Usually they are shy, but in the sauna that is left aside to take off their clothes and start this way of life, which for...