Articles about Finland
Finland: Land of Majestic Forests
Finland lies in Northern Europe and is bordered by Russia, Norway, and Sweden. It is a modern country with many beautiful cities and small towns, but it still has plenty of nature that is untouched. Finland includes 188,000 lakes and approximately that many islands. In the northern part of the country you can see the Northern Lights in winder and the midnight sun in the summer. Finland is also the home of Santa Claus and his majestic mountain Korvatunturi, and much of the tourist industry in Lapland is devoted to fans of Santa. Finland is one of the most technologically advanced countries worldwide, but the Finnish people still like heading for summer cottages during the summer where they enjoy fishing, swimming, and barbecuing.
During World War II about twelve percent of Finland was conquered by the USSR, but Finland had them at a standstill. Finland then became an ally of Germany to try to regain the territory from the Soviets, but they were unsuccessful. They actually wound up turning against Germany as part of their peace agreement. During World War II, Finland actually was involved in three separate wars. They ended up losing part of their territory, but it cost the Soviets 300,000 lives.
After the war ended Finland had to adhere strictly to Russia’s foreign policy but the remained officially neutral and were able to keep their free market system and hold multi-party elections. There were some tense times but Finland eventually made itself into a productive farming and forestry economy. They are now one of the most advance countries in technology with high-tech companies such as Nokia. Finland joined the European Union in 1999.
Lutheranism, a form of Protestant Christianity, is the official state religion, but the country is completely free to worship as they choose. Everyday practice of the religion is practically nonexistent, but the teachings have developed a strong work ethic and belief in equality. Finnish character is often described as being extremely stubborn, especially in the face of an enemy.
The Finnish diet is heavy on meat and fish, but vegetarians are not uncommon. Most restaurants offer vegetarian choices. Milk and cream are a very important part of the Finnish diet and it is often included in recipes and served as a drink even for adults.
Finland has a cold climate, but it is fairly mild in relation to its latitude. The North Atlantic Current plays a large role in moderating the climate. It is possible for winter temperatures to fall below -50C in the north. The summer is brief with an average temperature about +20C.
Travelers love visiting Finland for the majestic scenery. One of the attractions is the famous Midnight sun that never sets during the summer. Another is the appearance of the Northern Lights in the winter.
If you are invited to a Finnish home, you must remove your shoes upon entering the house because snow and ice can be carried in most of the year. A handshake is the customary greeting. Hugs and kisses are normally on exchanged between family members an close friends.
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