Vappu

Finland is preparing for the most, perhaps, fun holiday of the year - Vappu.
It would be wrong to call it simply May Day or the day of all workers, it is also a holiday of students, and also the day of the Catholic saint Walpurgis and the day of the meeting of spring.
Marking begins April 30 in the afternoon. The epicenter of events, traditionally, becomes Helsinki. It was there that a white graduation cap is put on the head of the statue of Havis Amanda. And still people in such caps gathers 20-30 thousand!
May 1 is a day of fun and picnics. Balloons and streamers are everywhere. The brushwood (tippaleipä), donuts, sparkling drinks, sausages and sims (almost mead) are traditional dishes from Wappa.

Saima nerpa

Scientists have found 63 baleka Saima nerpa

This year's calculations have become more complicated due to thin ice.

Since the beginning of spring, sixty-three squirrels of the Saimaa seal were found on Lake Saimaa, according to the Forest Department.

One of the cubs was found dead.

This year's calculations have become more complicated due to thin ice.

The number of seal belts will be determined back in May when calculating nesting sites. Last year, President Sauli Niinisto himself took part in the recount of the seals.

Earlier it was reported that Finnish scientists will share with Russian colleagues their experience in preserving the population of rare ringed seals. In April, a three-year joint project began, the goal of which is to develop scientific work on the protection of seals on the Ladoga and Saimensky lakes.

Also this winter it became known that on Saimaa artificial floating nests will be constructed for seals. The goal of the action is to help the seals to survive in conditions of global climate warming.

Saimaa nerpa is protected by the state. Its population, according to various estimates, has about 400 individuals.

The white birch

The national tree of Finland is white birch.

White birch (Betula pendula) with its surprisingly white bark and lush green foliage on gracefully hanging branches is probably the most beautiful wildlife tree found in the forests of Finland. Therefore, it is not surprising that as a result of a public vote in 1988, birch was chosen as the country's national tree.

In addition to using birch as timber, the Finns at all times found many other ways to use this tree. Birch sap, rich in minerals, has long been used as a healthy drink. Birch bark is used to make a wide variety of items for various purposes, from baskets and bast shoes to roofing.

Bath broom, made from young birch branches, has valuable therapeutic properties, helps with many ailments and restores vitality. On the day of the mid-summer celebration, Ivanov's day, in Finnish Juhannus (Juhannus), many Finns, honored by old folk traditions, adorn the entrance to the house with two young birch trees cut down.

Birch has long been a favorite element of the scenic landscape of Finnish romantic cinema, in which there is always a scene with a beautiful blonde maiden leaning against a birch against the background of a blue lake distance.

Аbout salaries and rich people in Finland

To the right is the owner of a fairly successful startup, to the left, an experienced product manager, both are my superiors)
Now there will be 10 points about salaries and rich people in Finland. Drove:
1. The average salary in Helsinki is about 3k euros before taxes. Taxes are approximately 25-30%.
2. The cost of living is about 700 euros per month.
H. The average salary in IT: for a senior level developer, 4-5k euros before taxes, Junior, a graduate after uni - 2.5-3k euros.
4. If this is not just a developer, but some with the Data prefix, then from 5 to how much you agree.
5. The graphic designer receives approximately 2.5-3.5k euros before taxes.
6. If UX, Product, UI designer, then 3.5-5k euros.
7. All managers, managers, hr, salespeople receive from 3k to how much they agreed.
8. Now about the rich. Most of all receive lawyers, doctors, teachers and programmers. At the same time, you cannot see very rich people, they are no different from all the others. They walk in ordinary clothes, work in regular work, ride the subway, cheap cars, but they can have a business, hectares of forest, factories, steamboats. Of course, there are media individuals who are different, they are obliged by the profession. But even they do not protrude their income.
9. Progressive taxes restrain a strong social gap. Therefore, there is a large middle class, and very few rich and poor.
10. Many penalties are also progressive and depend on income.

Biohacking in the Finnish forest

The word “forest” means a lot to the people of Finland: food, shelter, leisure, work and inspiration. Biohackers improve their bodies and mental abilities, “pumping” their own body. Find out how traditional Finnish-forest relations can be echoed by healthy lifestyle enthusiasts.

Biohacking, that is, “hacking” of the organism, may even include tough methods and technologies, for example, the introduction of alien elements under the skin, as in science fiction films, or attempts to change DNA. Such methods seem completely far from the notions of evergreen forests, where there are no superhuman beings, and the population consists of ordinary, solitary animals that do not appear to people. Let's follow where and how the forest and biohacking are connected.

Difficult food from wild plants

According to the Finnish notion of the right of universal access, everyone can freely walk in state or private forests, pick mushrooms and berries.

Award-winning chef, a real herbalist, author of a cookbook, biohacker Sami Tallberg specializes in seasonal food from wild ingredients of local origin. He could spend hours talking about the nutrient-rich raw foods that are available in the wild (and in fact he does when he holds seminars).

Plants in the wild have to struggle hard for their existence. You could even say that they are forced to show sisu: this difficult to translate Finnish word means courage and perseverance. The concentration of nutrients in wild plants is much higher than in varieties grown in greenhouses.

“Organic food is good, but food from wild plants is many times better than it,” says Sami Tallberg. The top three of his best tips for healthy nutrition includes a detox of the body using dandelion, booster of spruce spruce and nettle rich in vitamins and minerals (do not eat it raw, so as not to burn leaves). Be sure to pay attention to the following information, it is unlikely that you will receive such spam by e-mail: they say that nettle increases libido.

“For me, as a chef, the basis of the work is food from wild plants, but my attitude to the forest is holistic,” Sami says. “Forest is my art gallery, my supermarket and my sanctuary.”

“My work and life, continuing the Finnish tradition, I always relate to the time of year. The first Finns were hunters and gatherers, and I am proud to build the current Finnish culinary art, based on their customs and wisdom. ”

Berry properties
Chefs are not the only ones talking about the health benefits of Finnish food, especially berries. For 20 years, the VTT State Technical Research Center has been studying the antimicrobial properties of berries.

According to a recent VTT study in collaboration with the Central University Hospital of Helsinki, berries of the Rubus genus, such as raspberries and cloudberries, may contain a highly sought-after drug to combat skin infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are often found during surgery.

Forest and especially Finnish berries have long been a source of innovation in medicine, food supplements and cosmetics. The Finnish company Aromtech produces supplements made from sea-buckthorn berries rich in Omega-3, -6, -7 and -9 acids, as well as natural vitamins A and E. Supplements and products for external use, developed on the basis of sea-buckthorn oil, have a number of benefits.

Another company, Pihqa, relies on the centuries-old Finnish tradition of using natural resin, spruce resin, to treat various skin diseases. Scratch-applied resin forms an anti-bacterial film and speeds up the cleaning process.

Feel alive
But you can "pump" your body, not only with food. So we got to the favorite Finnish theme: saunas.

The oldest scientific study on the benefits of the sauna dates back to 1765. The most widely recognized beneficial effect of a sauna on human health is the improvement of blood circulation. Add to this douche with cold water after the steam room, and learn what it means "living veins."

The alternating alternation of hot and cold procedures is not only characteristic of Finland, but the Finns know better than others how to improve blood circulation using temperature contrasts. Sauna can be heated to 100 degrees, while when you go outside to swim in icy water or lie in the snow, the temperature can reach 30 degrees of frost.

Simultaneously with the "pumping" of the body, you can also "pump" your brain with endorphins. Biochemical and psychological studies show the same result; whatever the reason, you feel great after the sauna.

Barefoot
Imagine walking barefoot on soft moss. Clean air is saturated with oxygen, thanks to photosynthetic trees around you. Inhale, exhale. Great, right?

In addition to the soft texture of moss, blood circulation in your legs is enhanced by the spiky tips of pine and spruce needles on the forest floor. You can decide for yourself what hormones will be produced during a forest walk: endorphins (if you are in boots) or adrenaline (if you are without boots).

For a convinced biohacker, barefoot walking can be akin to the hippie spirit. However, the soil you touch also matters. Aki Sinkkonen, a Finnish scientist in the field of wildlife and eco-friendly solutions, would like to bring a piece of Finnish forest to everyone, especially those who live in the city.

Each gram of soil contains up to five billion harmless bacteria that naturally strengthen the immune system of children visiting the forest, protecting them from non-infectious diseases. The urban sandbox on the playground contains only 10,000-100,000 bacteria per gram, which is not enough to protect.

“Finnish forests are an ideal environment for healthy exposure to diverse microflora because, thanks to our cold winters, we don’t have more dangerous pathogens,” says Aki. And there is always a forest nearby, within walking distance, even in the capital.

The cleanest air

The farther you are from the city, the higher the likelihood of falling asleep, the bearded lichen hanging from the branches and trunks of trees and so named because of the appearance.

Finns will tell you that if susceptible to pollution, usnea grows on old trees, this is a guarantee of clean air. In Finland and other northern countries, the cleanest air in the world is, and you will realize that you have arrived at the right place when you see this bearded lichen, and your lungs will tell you kiitos (thanks).

Text: Virve Ilkka, April 2019

There are more growing companies in the EU

Today, 11% of companies in the EU are fast-growing, which is 6% more than in 2016. Such data are given by the European statistical agency Eurostat.

The richest in fast-growing companies, as before, was the sector of information and communication technologies (almost 17% of companies in this sector are fast-growing).

Most of the fast-growing companies increased in construction (11% more from 2016), mining (11%), transport and research (8% in both areas).

Most notably, the number of such companies grew in Cyprus (where they grew by 57% over 3 years), in Slovenia (by 20%) and in Finland (by 19%).

Companies that have been growing at least 10% annually in the last 3 years (despite the fact that the company initially had at least 10 employees) are considered to be growing rapidly.

New attractions

In the two largest amusement parks in Finland are preparing for the discovery of new attractions.

Linnanmäki has invested ten million euros in the new product, and Särkänniemi - three million.

In the two largest amusement parks in the country, new, extreme attractions will appear. In the capital "Linnanmäki" it will be a roller coaster called "Taiga", and in Tampere "Särkänniemi" - the free fall tower "Bum".

The construction of "Taiga" cost ten million euros, and for the construction had to carry three old rides and several kiosks. The length of the slides will be 1.1 km, height - 52 meters (71.3 meters above sea level), and the maximum speed - 106 kilometers per hour. The opening of the attraction is scheduled for the second half of June, when Ivanov Day is celebrated in Finland.

Visitors to Särkänniemi will not have to wait another month and a half: Boom will open on May 11th. The season in the amusement park will begin on the first of May. 68-meter tower "Boom" cost the amusement park at three million euros.

In 2018, about 650 thousand people visited “Särkänniemi”, which is fifty years old this year. Linnanmäki is visited annually by more than a million people.

For harmony with nature

Amateur gardeners experiment with heat-loving plants and strive for harmony with nature

The trend in gardening this summer will be growing plants that attract pollinating insects.

Harmony with nature and the cultivation of fruit-bearing plants are increasingly interested in amateur gardeners.

Last year’s summer heat has pushed many to cultivate heat-loving plant species, and the trend seems to continue this year. Many gardeners are also trying to combat the disappearance of pollinating insects and choose plants that attract butterflies and bees.

- Many are going to grow corn this summer. Last year, the experiments were successful, because it grew well in warm places. Also this year, planting different types of pumpkins and even watermelons and melons are interested. Respect for nature is a trend that will last for a long time, it is not seasonal. People choose natural materials, they strive to avoid plastic and various chemical pesticides, - says Timo Taulavuori, chairman of the Association of Gardeners.

Secrets of the subway Helsinki

 Station ghosts. Kaisaniemi - a revived ghost

This year there are no glittering train lights in Helsinki. But the former Kaisaniemi metro station, which was renamed the University of Helsinki not so long ago, was until 1995.

The station was built in 1981, but it was not completed. Trains passed by her without stopping.

In the northern part of the station were areas Kaysaniemi. The tunnel is cut down to half and while the second exit is waiting for better times. Now in this technological impasse stored exhibits, which are exhibited in the museum window at the southern end of the station.

Loan or rent

In Finland, as in other economically prosperous countries, living in a rented apartment is quite common. It is quite difficult to explain this phenomenon by the desire of people to save on housing costs. The fact is that the monthly rent of an apartment, if we compare the average indicators, often costs a bit more expensive than living in an apartment bought on credit.

This is confirmed by the results of a comparative analysis of the cost of two types of housing costs, conducted in Finland in March of this year.

For the standard was taken one bedroom apartment of 50 square meters. meters Compared the average price of renting an apartment in a particular city and the amount of housing costs to pay for the same housing purchased on credit in the same locality. Under the sum of costs in the second case, implied monthly deductions for the return of the loan plus utilities.

The study was large-scale and covered all regions of the country.

The results showed that in Finland there are many places in which the rent for housing is higher than the payment for an apartment purchased on credit.

Thus, in the city of Kayaani, the average person who buys a two-room 50-meter apartment on credit stays on hand every month, on average, 136 euros more than the tenant of the same apartment.

Even in many large and fast-growing centers, such as Tampere, Turku and Oulu, living in an apartment bought on credit is less expensive than renting an apartment. In Tampere, the monthly gain of the owner of a 50-meter apartment bought on credit is 12.46 euros, in Turku - 56.67 euros, in Oulu - 60.54 euros.

In addition, one more important circumstance must be taken into account: a living space purchased on credit is a form of accumulating funds. Money returned to the bank increases the size of the property of the payer. At the same time, the money given for the rental of housing becomes irretrievably lost for him.

And yet, as statistics show, the proportion of Finnish residents seeking to acquire their own housing tends to decrease.

Specialists of one of the leading banks in the country conducted a survey of public opinion in order to find out the reasons for the growing popularity of rental housing. 1500 Finnish citizens aged from 18 to 79 years answered the questions of researchers.

Approximately 45 percent of respondents said that they do not own housing. This category of respondents was asked: why did they not buy an apartment?

Many, or 22 percent, referred to the fact that they lacked the means to pay the loan.

The above reason seems convincing only in the case of expensive apartments, because housing prices have been growing more slowly in recent years than wages. Only in the capital and in some areas of other fast-growing cities, the growth rate of housing costs outpaces the growth of income.

Approximately the same number of respondents, or rather 21 percent, reported that they did not want to get into debt.

Fear of debt is more pronounced among young people, because their income is usually more modest than the income of middle-aged people.

According to economists of the bank, such caution is not entirely justified. Duty to duty is different, they argue. The loan spent on the purchase of housing is a “positive” debt, as it allows you to increase the size of the property and in strategic terms leads to an increase in economic independence.

13 percent of respondents called the reason for the delay in the issue of buying a home because they did not have the guarantees required by the bank to get a loan. The same number of respondents declared no interest in owning their own housing.

Seven percent said they were afraid of being tied to a particular place of residence and would like to retain their freedom to change their area of ​​residence.

Only a small part of the survey participants, 3 percent, explained their position in the matter of purchasing their own homes, with the fear that their current level of income would decrease. 2 percent said that owning an apartment brings too many extra worries.

Ten percent of respondents simply did not manage to give the reason for which they do not want to buy an apartment.

According to the results of the survey, it can be concluded that economic reasons are not the main obstacle to acquiring your own home.

As has already been said, this kind of explanation is, on the whole, unconvincing. They can be taken into account when it comes to Helsinki, where apartments are much more expensive than in other places. And although the rent for metropolitan housing is also high, it is, nevertheless, significantly lower than the payment for a loan to buy an apartment.

Thus, in the center of Helsinki, a two-room apartment with an area of ​​50 m2 costs, on average, 350 thousand euros. In this case, the total amount of monthly expenses for the payment of a loan and utilities may be close to 2,000 euros per month. In the neighborhoods of the city such costs will be approximately 1,000 euros.

MYTHS OF FINLAND

Tapiola is a country in Finnish mythology, subject to the god of the forest Tapio, a forest country - that is, one of the poetic names of Finland. "Tapiol" Sibelius - one of his last works - an allegory of his forest land, the embodiment of all soil, "native" and Finnish, that is, in this sense - archaic, primitive: the country of primeval forests with hidden nature life, inconspicuous and " North-faded "outwardly, but executed, if you look at (listen to) the inner secret life, in fact - the most refined and diverse. "Tapiola" is related to the imagery of the Fifth Symphony, but is like a concentrate of its most intimate. Tapiola is a quiet life of nature and a quiet anthem to the edge of Tapio, lyrical and heartfelt from everything created by Sibelius.

LUONOTAR ("nature maiden") - in Finnish mythology, the goddess-creator. At the beginning, only Luonnotar was alone in the midst of great emptiness. ” When she got tired of living in heaven, the maiden jumped into the cosmic ocean and swam through it until the eagle made a nest on her knee. Inadvertently the goddess destroyed the nest, the eggs broke. The yolks became the sun squirrel — the moon, the shell fragments turned into stars. later Luonnotar created the continents and gave birth to Väinämöinen.

UKKO - the supreme god of thunder, the owner of the sky and air, giving rain. Cancer created lunar eclipses, Väinämöinen created songs, weather at sea and successful swimming depended on Ilmarinen, Turi-sas brought victory in the battle, Kratoy took care of the property of a person, Tontu was a household. Apparently, the highest deities were heavenly - the elder Ukko and the storm god Ilmarinen.

The Finns worshiped TAPIO, the forest deity who helped the hunters. He could send loot, but he could drive a man through the forest to death. It was up to Tapio how long the game would end up in the forest, and the luck on the hunt was in the hands of Khiisi; Nirkes contributed to the hunt for squirrels, Hatavainen - for hares. Ahti, the god of waters, gave fish, but the rich catch on the net sent Veden-ema (“mother of waters”). Lecchio - the god of herbs, the roots of trees. Farmers took care of: Pellon Pe-ko - the spirit of barley, Virankaninos - the spirit of oats; Egres gave a rich harvest of beans, peas, turnips, cabbage, flax and hemp; Köndös patronized plowing. The Finns worshiped TAPIO, the forest deity who helped the hunters. He could send loot, but he could drive a man through the forest to death. It was up to Tapio how long the game would end up in the forest, and the luck on the hunt was in the hands of Khiisi; Nirkes contributed to the hunt for squirrels, Hatavainen - for hares. Ahti, the god of waters, gave fish, but the rich catch on the net sent Veden-ema (“mother of waters”). Lecchio - the god of herbs, the roots of trees. Farmers took care of: Pellon Pe-ko - the spirit of barley, Virankaninos - the spirit of oats; Egres gave a rich harvest of beans, peas, turnips, cabbage, flax and hemp; Köndez patronized plowing.

VAYNYMAJENEN was born already old and wise, since he spent 30 years in the womb of his mother. He is considered the patron saint of Kalev's country (“the homeland of the heroes”), and Väinämöinen was endowed with amazing magical powers. However, God could not find a life partner. Joukahainen promised his sister Aino to be his wife when Väinämöinen defeated him in singing. But Aino rushed into the river, just to not marry the old man, and turned into a salmon.

LEMMINKJAYNEN - one of the main characters of Kalevala. As a child, his mother bathed him three times on a summer night and nine times autumn so that her son would gain the wisdom and gift of a singer. Forest secrets were revealed to him, he became a skillful hunter who owned magic spells. Calling for the help of the forest god Tapio, his wife - the forest hostess Meylikki and their daughter Tulikki - the goddess of the wind, he managed to catch the magical beasts of the sorcerer Hiishi. But in the grim land of the dead, where Lemminkäinen went after the swan of Tuoni, his spells were powerless.

In the dark country of Tuonela, from where almost no one came back, there lived Tuoni, the god of the dead, with his wife Tuonetar. They had seven children — deities of suffering, including Kipu-Titto, the goddess of disease. In search of magical amulets Väinämöinen visited Tuoni. Crossing the black river, he met Tuonetar, who served him a magic beer. While the guest was sleeping, the son Tuonetar set an iron lattice across the river to prevent Väinämöinen from returning home. However, the hero turned into an otter and overcame the obstacle.

Mandarin duck

Meet me - this is a mandarin duck, a forest duck that flew to us this year from the south among the first migratory birds

The initial range of mandarins - the Far East. In Europe, these birds were the result of breeding and acclimatization.

Mandarin nests on trees - their nests are located at a height of 6 meters. Mandarin also known as "Chinese duck". The individual in the photo caught the lens of a Finnish photographer a few days ago in Kokkola.

Hanami

Hanami - Cherry Blossom Festival, May 19

Hanami, translated from Japanese, means ’admiring flowers’. And it is not at all surprising that the cherry blossom festival is the main spring event in the land of the rising sun. 🌺

In Helsinki, it became popular quite recently, having turned over the past 12 years from a small thematic event into a festival of city scale. Meet the program Roihuvuoren Hanami 2019! 🎈

Easter in Helsinki

What to do at Easter in Helsinki, April 19 - 22?

Finnish Easter is already quite on the nose, and if you decide to meet her in Helsinki, then you probably will need our selection of Easter events.

Easter in the Winter Garden, April 16 - 23

Enjoy the blooming of lilies, tulips and exotic flowers in the Helsinki Winter Garden. Every day, visitors can also enjoy Easter theatrical performance. Free admission.
Address: Talvipuutarha, Hammarskjöldintie 1

Easter bonfires on Seurasaari, April 20

In antiquity in Finland they believed that lively fire and acrid smoke drove away witches and trolls walking around the world on the eve of Easter. Traditional Easter bonfires on the island museum of Seurasaari are a tribute to this tradition. The main fire will be lit on Prazdnichnaya Ploschad (Juhlakenttä) of the island at 18:30. Free admission.
Address: Seurasaari

Open Day at Haltiala Farm, April 19 - 21

Lambs, chickens, piglets, cows and horses - go with your whole family to get acquainted with the pets of Haltial's farm. The farm will be waiting for big and small guests from 11:00 to 18:00 daily. Free admission.
Address: Haltialan kotieläintila, Laamannintie 17

Via Crucis - Easter theatrical show, April 20

Via Crucis (The Way of Christ) is an annual theatrical show about the last moments of the life of Jesus Christ. The action of the colorful and exciting Easter presentation takes place on the streets of Helsinki. The culmination of the procession becomes the crucifixion of Christ at the foot of the Cathedral. Highly recommend. Beginning at 21:00 in the park Kaysaniemi.

I wish you a happy Easter and great Easter weekend!

Snow fortress

The small town of Kemi in the southwest of Lapland is known for its snow fortress. She welcomes guests from late January to early April. And what to do in the summer? I have an idea! Recently, a large pavilion was built in Kemi, where the negative temperature is maintained constantly. In the pavilion, ice sculptures, an ice cafe, and an ice slide await visitors. They even melt during the hot summer months!

Еxecutive cottages of Lapland

In the executive cottages of Lapland rest VIP guests

Especially the Saariselkä region in Inari is known for its luxurious hotels, where important representatives of the business and financial world welcome important guests.
In the very center of the Saariselkä ski resort, under a pine tree, stands a group of black log buildings. This is the famous Luppomaja - a complex of cottages of the Bank of Finland, which turned 50 last year.

This is a popular place of rest in business circles - not a magnificent palace with golden mixers. The interior design is discreet, it is traditionally a Finnish cottage, mainly intended for skiers, albeit high-ranking ones. In the oldest cottage in the complex, built in 1968, there are stoves made of natural stone. The premises where CEOs rest, however, you can see the furniture of Alvar Aalto and many other items of "Finnish luxury."

Most often, Luppomaja is used for recreation by employees of the Central Bank. In the cottages, however, the presidents and general directors spent the night.

- For example, this year a seminar on financial policy was held here. About ten scientists and experts from the Bank of Finland participated in it. As a rule, presentations and discussions take place in the first half of the day, and skiing or other classes in the fresh air in the second half, says Bank of Finland Press Secretary Elisa Newbi.

Foreign guests who have never skied can learn this lesson together with a Finnish instructor.

- For foreign guests, Lapland is an exotic and interesting place. This, of course, helps the Central Bank to invite those in power to visit, laughs Newby.

Ski cottages used for advertising

The maintenance of the Luppomaja complex costs the Bank of Finland 300,000 euros per year. Most of the money goes to home heating, property maintenance, electricity and taxes.

Some companies refused to cottages in Lapland, but not all. Only in Saariselkä there are dozens of cottages owned by Finnish companies. For example, Altia, the largest alcohol company in the Nordic countries, actively uses cottages to advertise their products. The company welcomes and honors guests here, for example, from Asia.

Cottages contributed to the development of the Saariselkä region

Local entrepreneur Teuvo Katayamaa says that cottages owned by large companies have played an important role in the development of the Saariselka region.

- Of course, their presence has affected. Perhaps the most important are the houses of the Bank of Finland. Ski cottages have also revived entrepreneurship, says Teuvo Katayama, owner of Lapin luontolomat company.

It is possible that another representative cottage will soon appear in Saariselkä. The company Nokian Renkaat plans to build its winter residence here. The company now receives in its center with the ironic name White Hell, located in the region, about a thousand visitors from the Nordic countries, Central Europe, Russia and North America annually.
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Fly flags

According to Finnish law, there are official and recommended days for raising the national flag.

To Finnish law, there are official and recommended days for raising the national flag. White-blue cloths soar upward not only on Independence Day, on May Day, on Armed Forces Day or on Election Day, but also to mark the middle of summer, Father's Day, Finnish poetry and many other holidays. By the way, despite the proclaimed equality of the sexes, Father's Day, celebrated in November, refers to the days when raising the flag is recommended, and Mother's Day, celebrated in May, is the official day of the national flag.

Flags are more often not hung out, namely they are raised on high flagpoles. Wall flags can be seen most often only on high-rise buildings in densely populated neighborhoods.

In the majority of individual farmsteads special poles are set up, intended to hoist the national flag on them. The same poles are in the city courtyards, where there is enough space for this. In recent years, flagpoles are increasingly appearing in suburban areas.

In city yards, the caretaker is responsible for raising the flag and removing it, in the private house the owner of the house. Both must comply with certain rules. Ignoring these rules does not threaten punishment, but, nevertheless, they are almost never violated.

First, the flag should be raised in the morning, at about eight o'clock and lowered at sunset - in the summer no later than nine o'clock. The exception is the midsummer holiday (Juhannus). Then white cloths with a blue cross soar upward on the eve of the holiday at 18 o'clock and descend the next day at 21 o'clock.

The flag should be raised as close as possible to the top of the flagpole. When descending, the flag should not fall to the ground, and, moving along the pole, it should not touch any structures or objects. If the flag gets wet, then it is dried indoors, not on an outer clothesline.

There are certain standards regarding the size of the pole and the flag. The flagpole near a private house should be about one and a half times the height of the building; in urban courtyards, it must reach the level of the third floor.

Most often, flagpoles are made of durable plastic and are practically “eternal”. Flags in size correspond to the size of the pole. They are sold by numbers. For example, the number twelve means that this panel is intended for a twelve-meter flagpole.

The most common combination in Finland is a nine-meter pole with a flag of 1.5 x 2.5 meters.

In addition to the national flag in Finland, there are also flags of the Sami people and the flag of the Swedish-speaking Aland Islands. For these flags, there are additional days of recovery.

There is even a special verb in Finnish that means to raise the flag. It can probably be translated into Russian as “flagging”. I must say that the Finns "flag" with obvious pleasure. In addition to the above general holidays, the Finn in his yard often raises the flag for very personal reasons. They can be a wedding, graduation, childbirth, etc. Many owners of private houses and cottages with flag raising welcome their guests.

In all these frequent flag ceremonies, of course, there is a certain national feeling. But it is not the main thing. Finns do not refer to their flag as a battle flag. Just raising the flag makes for each joyful event even more festive and solemn.

Rare cars come to Helsinki

Helsinki Cruising - every first Friday of the month

Every first Friday of the month lovers of rare cars come to Helsinki Market Square. They stand at the cars, drink coffee, willingly take pictures and answer questions. And then they ride around the city, happily catching on themselves the curious glances of passersby.

Each machine is a "project" - something that spent a lot of time, money and love. Choose a car for years, and then for years to bring it to perfection in his garage. Many have two or even three identical cars. For parts. This is a whole subculture of auto mechanics, auto history and just people who love beautiful and unusual cars.

The season has not yet officially opened, but 40 cars already happened last Friday. May 3, most likely, there will already be a full house - do not miss it!

Speed limiter will be installed

From 2022, a speed limiter will be installed on all new cars in the EU

From 2022, all new cars that are not sold in the European Union will be subject to speed limits. Presumably, the law will come into force three years after its final approval by the European Parliament.

Among other mandatory "chips" presented to new cars, there will be an emergency braking system operating in automatic mode, as well as a kind of "black box".

The emergency braking system will be responsible for reducing the risk of collision with cyclists and pedestrians. The “black box”, in turn, will help the authorities to more accurately identify the perpetrators of the incidents.

New measures are projected to avoid 25,000 deaths in the next 15 years. The law will be submitted for approval to the European Parliament in September of this year.

How will the speed limiter work?

As for the speed limiter, there is still no clear understanding regarding the principle of its operation. Two possible options are being considered: the first is the speed limit using GPS systems. The second is the use of a built-in camera that reads characters online.

Despite the limiter, the driver will be able to bypass the system by pressing, for example, sharply on the gas. Lawmakers do not want to deprive motorists of the possibility of a sharp acceleration, since in some cases it can save lives.

Decided where to spend the weekend?

Have you already decided on the plans for the weekend? Why not skip a glass of sparkling wine with the best view of the city? See our selection of the 4 most popular panoramic restaurants in Helsinki.

Clarion Sky Room

The restaurant is located on the top floor of the Hotel Clarion Hotel in Jatkasaari. The huge windows of the bar, facing all sides of the world, offer a gorgeous view of Helsinki and the archipelago. The bar is quite spacious and if you're lucky, you can take your own box.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, 4 pm - 1 am, Fri-Sat, 3 pm - 2 am, Sun, 6 pm - 12 pm After 20:00 the age limit is 18 years.

Address: Tyynenmerenkatu. 2

Torni Atelje Bar

This bar does not need any special performances and is well known to both citizens and guests of the Finnish capital. To get to the bar, take the elevator from the lobby of the Sokos Torni hotel to the 13th floor, and then go up the spiral staircase to the very last floor of the hotel. The bar is pretty cramped. In summer you can sit on the balconies facing north and south. View of the center of Helsinki and the sea coast.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, 12:00 - 23:00, Fri, 14:00 - 02:00, Sat, 12:00 - 24:00, Sun. 12:00 - 18:00

Address: Yrjönkatu 26

Restaurant Loiste

Loiste Restaurant is located on the top floor of the Sokos shopping center in the very center of Helsinki. And if you want to look at the Central Railway Station and the Cathedral from the height of bird flight, then this is for you. The windows of the western part of the building, in turn, overlook the Lasipalatsi Glass Palace, the Kiasma Museum and the Kamppi Shopping Center.

Opening hours: Mon, 11: 30-22: 00, Tue-Fri, 11: 30-24: 00, Sat. 12: 00-24: 00, sun, closed

Address: Kaivokatu 1

Kortteli restaurants

Kortteli restaurants are located on the top floor of the Kamppi shopping center. One of the best views of the Narinkkatori Square, the Chapel of Silence and the Lasipalatsi Glass Palace opens from their Spanish restaurant Bar Cón.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu, 12:00 - 23:00, Fri, 14:00 - 02:00, Sat, 12:00 - 24:00, Sun. 12:00 - 18:00

Address: Urho Kekkosen katu 1

Тransport to Helsinki will be free

From 2020 transport to Helsinki will be free!

Helsinki decided to abandon the division of the city into transport zones and make public transport inside the Finnish capital free. This means that already from next year, within the regions A and B, buses, trains, trams and subways will be available for free.

You only have to pay when crossing the borders of Espoo and Vantaa. At the same time, the cost of a regional ticket will significantly increase and will be about 10 € / adult and 7 € / child.

When making a decision, Helsinki relied on the successful experience of Tallinn, where residents of the city can use public transport services for free. The reform will take effect on April 1, 2020!

Free entrance to the Museum Sinebryukhov

Free entrance to the Museum Sinebryukhov, April 3

The main treasure of the Museum Sinebryukhov is a unique collection of European art of the XIV - XIX century, collected by the brewer’s brother Nikolay Sinebryukhav Pavel and his wife - actress Fanny Gran.

The museum is located in the family house of the Sinebryukhovs on 40 Boulevard. On Wednesday, April 3, you can look here free of charge from 17:00 to 20:00.

Burst pipe

Yesterday, April 2, on the street. Hämeentier in Helsinki burst pipe. As a result - flooded basements, houses devoid of water, and blocked traffic on the site Hakaniemi Market - 4th line.

The accident occurred at 7 pm, and its elimination will take at least several hours. In addition, the water got into the basement of the Hakaniemi Market, which is under restoration.

We hope that later will not reach the metro station Hakaniemi, located directly below the street.