Historical Story of Finland:
10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, the glaciers retreated leaving lakes and a lot of visible bedrock. The Finnish people were hunters and fishermen.
The area was an eastern province of Sweden from 1200-1809, and even now the two official languages of the country are Finnish and Swedish, which I could see frequently in the dual-language road signs. Finland was never occupied by Sweden, but it was part of the same cultural heritage. Sweden had frequent wars with Russia, with the Finnish people securing the border. The modern country even now has a very long border with Russia.
In 1808-1809, there was a long war between Sweden and Russia, ending with Finland becoming a Grand Duchy of Russia in 1809. Tsar Alexander I decreed that Finland could retain their old Finnish laws and the Lutheran religion. The Finnish senate made laws, which then were ratified by the Tsar to become officially valid in the Grand Duchy.
The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917, the rebels doing away with the entire royal family. There was no longer a tsar. Finland took the opportunity to declare independence from Russia, and Lenin signed off on it. As of December 6, 1917, Finland was an independent nation. To celebrate this, every December 6, at 6 p.m., many Finns place two lit candles, one blue, one white (the colors of the Finnish flag), in the windows of their homes.
Interesting facts I learned from our guide Leena:
* In regard to grain and milk, Finland produces 80% of their own food.
* The sea is only 1% salt, so it freezes in the winter. The ice breakers are already prepped and ready for deployment, waiting for winter at the Helsinki port.
* Helsinki is in the top ten of the most livable cities. It touts itself as the most functional city in the world (or at least it will be). Helsinki is undergoing a stage of renovation, to be fully complete in 2030. The new residential areas have apartments for sale at €900/square meter (approx. $900/square yard, i.e., $300/ft2).
* The typical high-rise building in Helsinki is seven stories. Currently the tallest building is 32 stories.
* The current population of Helsinki is 650,000 people.
* Finland’s population is 5.7 million people.
* Forestry was the biggest industry up to the 1970s, making 80% of Finland’s exports. Now, timber makes up only 25%. Currently, Finland’s largest industries is the production of machinery for forestry and shipbuilding, and of course high-tech electronics.
* The Gulf Stream tempers the climate, allowing for 50% of Finland to be forests of pine, spruce, and birch.
* Finland has a conscript army, men joining up a 18, and women volunteering.
* German was taught in schools until the 1950s, and now English tends to be the one that is taught as a third language. Most Finns typically know 2-3 languages.
* Finland recently entered NATO. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 80% of Finns were to interested in NATO. Many minds changed over night, opting now for NATO. Finland has been a member of the EU since 1995.
* Red is a typical color for traditional homes in Finland. The color is derived from a mineral from the ground and helps protect the house from humidity. Yellow houses, are finer, and often larger, with the color signifying that the resident owns the land surrounding building (an estate).
* There are ten tram lines and one metro line in Helsinki. Helsinki has had trams since the 1890s, although at that time the first trams were puled by horses. The current electric trams are all built in Finland, specifically designed for the northern climate.
* Helsinki was founded in 1550 and moved a more accessible location in 1640, so visitors will not find any buildings within city limits now from the 16th century.
* The industries that were housed in the city center, moved to other locations in the 1980s, so the remaining factories and office buildings were converted and are now residences.
* There are 3 market halls in Helsinki. These are stone buildings, inside of which are many small shops and cafes.
* Almost every family in Helsinki has bicycles and a watercraft.
* Areas of the shore are designated for public swimming, and you might see Finns dipping into the sea during any season. In fact, winter sea dipping might be what a Finn does to cool down after visiting one of the public saunas along the shore.
* Every apartment building has a sauna, and residents can book a slot to use the sauna for one hour each week. Some homes have their own private saunas.
* The pastel colored buildings in Helsinki are Art Nouveau houses, with decor inspired by the flora and fauna of the region. The exterior of the buildings must be kept authentic.
* The Lutheran religion is the largest practiced faith in Finland. <1% are Greek Orthodox Catholic. Uspenski Cathedral is the Orthodox church in Helsinki.The Helsinki Cathedral is the main Lutheran church in Helsinki, located on Senate Square.
* Senate Square, the main historic square in Helsinki, was commissioned by Tsar Alexander I.
* In 2012, the National Library was built, consolidating all of the books and knowledge of the various departments into one location.
* One-third of Helsinki is made up of green spaces.
* Snow generally arrives in November, and is firmly on the ground by the end of December. Snowy winters last about three months.
* The Railway Station was constructed in 1919 out of pink granite. The four stone men that guard the entrance participate in celebrations and large events. For example, they will be wearing scarves or flags, for example, during holidays or sporting events.
* The Rock Church was designed by two brothers who played a lot as children on the exposed bedrock of their town. The church was built in and part of the bedrock. The copper wire ceiling is made of copper from Finland. The building took two years to construct, and was inaugurated in 1969. Because of the spectacular acoustics, there are often free concerts. The Rock Church is an active Lutheran church. It was getting so many visitors that the congregation decided to start charging an entry fee. The number of visitors increased. The congregation uses the funds to support youth programs in Helsinki.
* The city residents were asked what they would like to have or do to celebrate their centennial in 2019, and the people wanted a place where everyone was welcome and could enjoy working and relaxing. So, €300 million was allowed to the design and construction of Oodi, an absolutely spectacular library: made up glass, wood, and stainless steel, the three floors, each with its own purpose and atmosphere, made me wish we could spend all day there.
