Whenever you consider Finland, what issues pop straight into your thoughts? If you happen to pictured the Moomin valley or the Santa Claus village, it’s a lot greater than that. With their insanely complicated language and world-class training system, there’s additionally the mesmerizing nature, clear air, and 1000’s of crystal clear lakes. Heck, it’s even been nominated because the happiest nation on the planet for 4 consecutive years!
However like each nation, it too has its personal bizarre little quirks, even when they appear hilarious and foolish. Enter the Very Finnish Issues, an Instagram account devoted to highlighting Finland’s nationwide id with a pinch of enjoyable.
From the Finns’ burning love for saunas and low to their sacred private house, we now have collected a few of the finest memes the account needed to provide. Proceed scrolling and upvote those that made you snort! And when you’re hungry for some extra Finnish goodness, try our earlier posts about it proper right here and right here.
Very Finnish Issues is among the greatest initiatives celebrating the Finnish life-style on-line. Tens of 1000’s of followers take pleasure in its content material on Instagram, nevertheless it’s simply the tip of the iceberg. Individuals also can stumble throughout such hilarious memes and jokes on Fb, Twitterand YouTube. Plus, there’s even an entire web site devoted to honoring the Finnish allure.
The founding father of this challenge, Joel Willans, is a British Helsinki resident who created the account in 2016. A yr later, he printed a best-selling e book 101 Very Finnish Issues: A Foreigner’s Information to Surviving Finlandafter which a sequel Extra Very Finnish Issues: An Even Extra Important Information to Surviving Finland. These books are filled with humor and important insights into the highs and lows of incredible Finland to assist individuals take care of all this nation can throw at them.
“I’m the Inventive Director at a digital advertising company, Ink Tank Media, and I wager certainly one of my shoppers that I might create a Fb web page of 10K followers in a month with out spending a penny,” Joel defined the origins of Very Finnish Issues in a earlier interview with Bored Panda final yr. “The wager was made throughout Finnish winter, which was usually darkish and really, very chilly. The pavements have been tremendous slippery and it was taking me ages to stroll to work, and I bear in mind considering how winter is attempting to kill me, and what a really Finnish downside that’s.”
He then realized it was one of many very many Finnish quirks “confronted by an Englishman within the far north. That was the way it all started, and it clearly resonated with numerous individuals, as a result of I received the wager and obtained almost 20K followers in a month.”
When requested about his followers, he stated they’re extraordinarily lively. “The most important demographic is Finnish girls between 25-54. However there’s numerous different nationalities and age teams too,” he defined. “Apart from Finns who take pleasure in listening to about Finland from a British man’s perspective, there’s foreigners who love Finland and foreigners who might need a Nordic background.”
Nicely, Joel was as soon as a foreigner too. Whereas he rapidly fell in love with the Finnish life-style, he instructed Bored Panda he’s nonetheless getting used to it, even after dwelling there for over 18 years. “After all, the tradition shock isn’t as hardcore because it was, and I do quite a lot of Finnish issues now with out even noticing it. For instance, if anyone had instructed me 20 years in the past I’d be taught to like saunas, I’d have laughed at them,” he revealed jokingly.
Many of the VFP memes showcase a slice of Finnish life. From the tough but stunning climate to the deep introversion of this nation’s residents, there are many clichés that gas such hilarious content material. “Like all stereotypes, there’s a component of reality,” Joel stated. “But additionally like all stereotypes, it’s exaggerated.”
The creator of this challenge personally thinks Finns are simply extra easy and trustworthy than many different nationalities. “Reasonably than being well mannered and pretending to be thinking about chatting like we do within the UK, if Finns don’t need to speak to you, they received’t.”
He continued: “Residing within the EU’s least densely populated nation, I believe they’re additionally extra snug being alone or with household within the wilderness. That’s one other factor I’ve actually realized to like.”
Whereas some beliefs individuals have concerning the Finns are inaccurate, they’ll nonetheless be an awesome supply of leisure. “For sure, for all of the horrors of COVID-19, there was numerous speak about how self-isolating and sustaining distance suited Finns. Even in troublesome occasions, I believe it helps to attempt to snort, so at occasions we had some enjoyable with that.” Additionally, analysis that highlights surprising traits about this nation helps him consider new memes. As an instance, he talked about a research that discovered pineapple was Finland’s hottest pizza topping.
Furthermore, Joel sees many extra alternatives to brighten individuals’s boring days by celebrating the comparatively odd and charming Finnish habits. “I’ve plans to relaunch the Very Finnish Issues podcast very quickly. We initially launched it 4 years in the past and, for some time, it was certainly one of Finland’s prime 5 podcasts, however then work and life obtained in the best way. We solely did 19 episodes, so there’s lots left to speak about.”
“I’m additionally taking a look at entering into the world of Finnish-themed NFTs and contemplating a 3rd Very Finnish Issues themed e book, though it could take a distinct angle to the earlier two. So, loads of issues within the pipeline!”
