Finland’s first settlers arrived during the first millennium BC, among them the nomadic Sámi, who inhabited the north of the country, and the Tavastians, who arrived from central Europe. The settlers spoke a language belonging to the Finno-Ugric group, which is quite distinct from the Indo-European languages spoken throughout most of the rest of Europe.
During the Viking Age, Finland – an area that then extended as far east as the Karel peninsula, now part of the Russian Federation – provided the backdrop for trade and occasional wars between Swedes, Russians and Germans.
The Treaty of Pähkinäsaari in 1323 saw Finland divided into Russian and Swedish spheres of influence. The tug-of-war between Finland's two powerful neighbours continued for the next few centuries, while the Finns concentrated on preserving their unique language, culture and institutions.
In 1917, Finland was an autonomous region within the Russian Empire but, in the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution, Finland declared independence.
Under a formal peace treaty signed in 1947, the Finns agreed to cede territory to the then USSR and pay reparations. The existence of a Pact of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance between the two countries has led to the term 'Finlandisation'. The two countries signed a 10-year treaty in 1992.
Since joining the EU in 1995, the focus in Helsinki has switched towards Europe, and also the development of relations with the newly independent Baltic states of the former USSR, with whom there are cultural and linguistic links.
For decades, Finnish domestic politics was dominated by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Centre Party (known as 'Kesk'), which led a long series of coalition governments. In recent years, however, the political landscape in Finland has shifted, with the emergence of the right-wing National Coalition Party (Kokoomus, referred to as 'Kok') and the populist far-right Finns party, both of whom entered a coalition alongside the Centre Party in 2015, booting the long-standing SDP’s into opposition.
Social Democrat, Tarja Halonen, Finland’s first female president, took office at the beginning of 2000 and remained there until 2012, when the National Coalition Party’s Sauli Niinistö took over the role.
Did you know?
• Finland has the highest number of heavy metal bands per capita in the world.
• Another thing Finland has in abundance? Saunas. It is estimated there are around two million of them serving a population of 5.3 million – that’s more than one for every three people.
• The average Finnish person consumes 12 kg of coffee per year (compared to an annual world average of around 1.3 kg per person). They also drink more milk per capita than anywhere else in the world.
86% Lutheran, 1% Finnish Orthodox; there are also Baptists, Methodists, Free Church, Roman Catholics, Jews and Muslims.
Social conventions:Shaking hands is customary as a greeting and guests are expected to refrain from drinking until the host or hostess toasts their health with kippis or skol (cheers). Most Finns prefer practical, casual clothing, except for special occasions. Many younger Finns rebel against this social norm through body piercing, dressing in 'Gothic' clothes and listening to heavy rock bands such as Lordi. Although renowned for their liberal attitudes, Finns can appear to be rather reserved with strangers, so do not be alarmed if conversations start slowly. Shoes should be removed when entering someone's home.
There are two official languages: Finnish, mother tongue for 91.6% of the population, and Swedish, first language of 5.5% of the population. Swedish Finns have a distinct cultural identity and often speak English more fluently than they speak Finnish. The Finnish language is related to only Estonian and Hungarian. Around 2,000 people in Lapland speak one of the dialects of the Sámi language, while Karelian dialects still survive amongst older people in the east of the country. English is taught as the first foreign language.
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