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Mi s ce l l aneou s
13.
Miscellaneous
13.1 Finnish Manners and Customs
Greeting
When Finns introduce themselves to people they
have not met before, they often shake hands.
When Finns meet friends or people they know,
they simply just say "Hello". Younger people
sometimes greet each other with a hug.
Punctuality
Most Finns are punctual both at work and in their
social life. When you are off to meet somebody
you might want to arrive five minutes early rather
than five minutes late. A mobile phone comes in
handy if you are delayed, and it's polite to let your
contact know that you will arrive late.
Queuing
Waiting for your turn when queuing is an
unwritten rule in Finland. Finns can be strict
about queuing and you should never try to cut
the line. However, you should be aware that
"queuing" does not solely refer to standing in
line. It generally refers to almost any situation
where there are people waiting for their turn to
do something. Most importantly it means waiting
for one's turn and showing respect for those
who came before you. Queuing systems with
numbered note-sized pieces of paper are quite
common.
Telephone Etiquette
There are no public telephones in Finland, but
practically everyone has a mobile phone. It is
considered impolite to use a mobile phone
in situations where it could be disturbing to
others, e.g. in lecture halls, meetings, concerts,
theatres, church, or libraries. On the other hand,
people often use their mobile phones in public
transportation.
Gender Equality
There is a high degree of equality between the
two genders in Finland. Today most women
work outside the home and many women
hold advanced positions in all the spheres of
politics and working life. The Finnish society and
legislation is based on equality and, for example,
parental leave, social benefits and family structure
highlight its importance.
Religion
Finland has freedom of religion and about 77%
belong to the Evangelical- Lutheran Church.
However, many Finns are quite secular and
religious beliefs are considered to be a very
private matter.
Food
Nowadays, the Finnish cuisine is a mixture of
European, Scandinavian and Russian influences.
Traditional Finnish food is most commonly eaten
on holidays, but there are still some dishes that
are eaten throughout the year.
Finns usually eat a rather sturdy breakfast as well
as a proper meal for lunch. Lunch is normally
served from 11 am to 2 pm, and dinner around 5
pm to 7 pm. Restaurants serve dinner until late in
the evening, but the kitchen usually closes half an
hour before the official closing time.
There are several student restaurants at both the
Åbo and Vasa campuses, which serve lunch for
an affordable price (2.60? with a Finnish student
card) on weekdays. For more information, please
see chapter 9.4.
Drinks
Finnish tap water is drinkable and has been
proven to be purer than many brands of bottled
water. It is quite common to drink milk with food
as well, also among grown-ups.
The drinking culture differs slightly from other
European countries when it comes to alcohol,
although the consumption of alcohol per person
per year is at a European average. Note that only
beer and cider can be bought in regular food
stores, whereas other alcoholic beverages are
only sold at the off-licence store Alko.
As a fun fact it can be mentioned that Finns are
some the biggest consumers of coffee in the
world. We drink as much as five cups of coffee a
day.
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory in Finland and service
