"When you arrive in a country, try to observe its laws and customs to avoid misunderstandings," old guidebooks used to advise.
Let's shake hands
"Hot Finnish guys" – Russians joke, hinting at the extreme restraint of Finland's inhabitants. According to the website "This is Finland", anyone who has lived or even visited Finland will confirm that the coldness and dryness of Finns is nothing more than a myth.
Massage therapist Svetlana Timofeeva is no longer surprised: "My Finnish grandmother clients enter the room with open arms. Grandfathers reach out their hand across the threshold. And I'm afraid the door will slam on both of us."
Translator and teacher Evgenia Svaikina from Vantaa agrees: "Yes, in Finland it is indeed customary to shake hands. That was surprising to me. In Russia, no one shook my hand even when we were introduced." And Russian doctors do not usually shake hands with patients, as Finnish doctors always do.
Heartfelt Finnish "you" (informal)
Can you imagine a Russian schoolchild addressing the school principal with the informal "you"? But for a Finnish student, this is the most ordinary thing. Students use the informal "you" with teachers, girls with old ladies, ordinary workers with chairmen of company boards. No one is offended: it is not rudeness, but a sign of universal equality.
Suitable and not-so-suitable topics of conversation
"Politics and religion are considered unsuitable topics for conversation in a company of strangers," says journalist and writer Leena Liukkonen. Acquaintances do talk about politics: there is nothing wrong with exchanging a few words with friends or colleagues.
"Finns talk about politics, but they never ask who you voted for in elections – that is as indecent as asking about the size of your salary," clarifies Arseniy Svinarenko, a sociologist from the University of Helsinki. "In Finland, it is not customary to argue about politics, imposing your point of view, but talking is customary," sums up entrepreneur Mila Käkela from Vantaa.
And what else to talk about? Not gossip, after all. "Gossiping is indecent, and most Finns do not support such conversations," confirms Leena Liukkonen.
Everything is agreed upon in advance
"Good things come slowly" (Hiljaa hyvä tulee), they say in Finland, condemning haste. In everyday life, Finns also do not rush: they plan vacations half a year to a year in advance, and invite guests about three weeks ahead.
"Finns value their own and others' time: they invite guests in advance, and visitors, in turn, inform in advance whether they will come," says Natalia Vinogradova, a singer at the National Opera. And according to Natalia, special needs of guests are treated attentively here: it is customary to ask if guests follow a special diet, so as to serve appropriate dishes.
To the summer cottage – with your own sausages
Every third Finnish family has a summer cottage – it continues to connect the Finn with nature, dear to his heart. "If you want to have fun, bring sausages with you," Finnish friends advise when they invite you to a summer house.
"They love grilling from January 1 to December 31," claims guide Inna Janis from Helsinki. Evidence is found on store shelves, which are literally bursting with grill sausages of all brands.
With a kind word and deed
"Help a person on the hill, not downhill" (Auta miestä mäessä, älä mäen alla) – recommends a Finnish proverb, and Finns follow this advice. Kind and attentive attitude towards others is one of the main rules of Finnish life. If neighbors are planning a noisy party, you will find out about it in advance. "They will drop an apology note in the mailbox or hang it on the board at the entrance," says Anastasia Perta, a company director from Espoo.
"A pedestrian who is let through at a crosswalk, a driver who is given way, will definitely wave a hand in gratitude," says IT architect Alexander Bezprozvanny from Kirkkonummi. Kind words and deeds generate pleasant feelings – it is no wonder that about 80% of Finns consider themselves happy.