Finland, the winner of the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest with their song, “Hard Rock Hallelujah” by Lordi, has always been known for their unique heavy metal music genre. However, there is to Finland than just their unconventional music. Although one’s country cannot be so easily defined into one central identity, these are only a few of the many defining aspects of Finland’s National Identity including; their nordic background, their pride in striving for equality for all, their prioritization of gender equality, and a homogenous society.
Finland is one of the five Nordic countries, located between Sweden and Russia. Due to their nordic background, nordic cultural has had an lasting impact on Finnish culture, becoming a central part to the Finnish identity. Finland’s nordic culture is still relevant in modern day times and has created various superstitions amongst Finns. One of the most popular and largest festivals of the year in Finland is Midsummer’s Day. On this day, a number of traditions take place displaying their nordic roots, including setting a bonfire, which is “the central part of the Midsummer tradition is the Midsummer kokko (bonfire). This practice has taken rituals of nature worship concerning fertility, purification, prosperity, and banishing of evil spirits in northern and eastern Finland” (World Trade Center, 21). In Finland, Midsummer’s Day is an official holiday showing the importance they put to their nordic cultural background. However, that is not all that the Finnish base their identities’ off of.
Finland’s national identity also centers around their pride for striving for equality, which is displayed through their progressive social services. For example, in a comparative sociology article, the authors stated,“They [Purhonen et al.] also describe the foundation of the kind of strong social democracy which has come to exemplify the Nordic states, in which notions of equality and a narrowing of income differentials remains a motivation for political decision-making” (Wright, Purhonen, and Heikkilä, 335). Finland’s focus on creating an progressive welfare state is an unique quality in Finnish governmental systems that the majority of Finns take pride in. Finland’s commitment to equality for all has been displayed through their consistent forward thinking policies. In fact, the World Trade Center had reported, “In 1906 Finland was the first European country to give its women the right to vote and to run for elected office” (World Trade Center, 24), a progressive policy at the time. This also shows how Finland’s national identity is centered around gender equality. This is displayed in not only through their country being the first European country to allow women to vote, but in Finland’s policy on parental leave. The World Trade Center also reported that “Parents are also eligible for full or partial childcare leave until a child turns three. During this leave, the jobs of the parents are secure and they are given a home care allowance...and receive an allowance to cover part of the private day-care expenses” (World Trade Center, 24). By putting such a progressive policy in place, they demonstrate their respect for women, as well as their prioritization of families/parents. Finland’s policy allows women and parents to pursue and maintain a career while still upholding a family. The prioritization of women and families is a strong point in their national narrative. The idea of nurturing others is a strong link in developing what is now the Finnish welfare state. Marakowitz stated, “The imagery of female as caretaker/nurturer resonates in Finnish welfare state ideology. Extensive social support...is a key element of the ideology” (Marakowitz, 56). Although Finland prides themselves on their progressive welfare state, the recent recession has called into question whether they can continue these social services, and the redefining of “Finnishness”. BBC reported, “‘We're now being told that this [welfare state] is no longer possible. A major shift has taken place in the rhetoric of how we describe Finnishness,’ he [Kangaspuro] states”(BBC). Despite their current redefining debate about their national identity, Finland will always take pride in their forward thinking social policies.
Another core part to the Finnish identity is their homogenous society. Finland has fought hard to become a sovereign nation. With Sweden ruling over Finland from the 12th to the 19th century, to fighting the Russian rule in the 1800’s, and finally fending off their borders from the Soviet Union during World War 2 (Central Intelligence Agency), maintaining a homogenous national narrative is incredibly important to the Finns. Due to Finland’s homogeneous society, and their recent independence, with Finland officially became their own sovereign nation in 1917 (CIA), protecting their national identity has become a priority. With the current influx of immigrants entering Finland, the topic of immigration has become an increasingly sensitive subject debated amongst the Finns. BBC reported that the “Finance Minister Alexander Stubb tweeted: ‘Multiculturalism is an asset. That's all I have to say.’ Mr Sipila wrote on Twitter that he wanted "to develop Finland as an open, linguistically and culturally international country" (BBC). However, after making that statement, he received massive backlash, “he came under heavy criticism and, in what Finnish newspapers noted was a significant swing, he changed course in an interview on Monday” (BBC). The incoming and acceptance of immigrants into Finland has been a source of fear for a lot of Finns. Finland has started othering immigrants and minority groups in order to help solidify their sense of national identity. BBC stated, “In one protest against a new refugee centre last week, one demonstrator said: ‘Everything has been taken from the unemployed, the poor and the sick. But the coffers are empty. If these centres open, our taxes will go up’”(BBC). Finland’s national identity is centered around their homogeneous society, thus many Finns fear their homogenous society is being threatened. BBC reported that, “Among the most common concerns held by Finns, the state broadcaster says, is that: accepting more refugees leads to more crime, asylum seekers do not look to learn Finnish, reception centres are too expensive. These are concerns, it says, that are generally unfounded but widely shared” (BBC). A fear that the incoming citizens will not learn Finnish is a way Finland is othering these refugees. Although Finland has stayed a homogenous society, many Finns are excited to welcome others into their culture.
Finland has always been a unique country, with a rich, diverse national identity to complement it. It is hard to boil an entire cultural and society down to a singular national identity, however their nordic background, strive for equality,prioritization of gender equality, and a homogenous society is only a few aspects of what makes Finland unique.
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Works Cited
Marakowitz, Ellen. "Women's Studies International Forum." Journal - Elsevier. Elsevier Ltd, 26 Feb. 1999. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
"Migrant Crisis: Finland's Case against Immigration." BBC News. BBC, 09 Sept. 2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
Teivainen, Aleksi. "“Finland Has Lost Its Way on Several Issues”."Helsinki Times. Uusi Suomi, 10 Feb. 2016. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
"The World Factbook: FINLAND." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
World Trade Press. Finland Society & Culture Complete Report : An All-Inclusive Profile Combining All of Our Society and Culture Reports (2). Petaluma, US: World Trade Press, 2010. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 24 January 2017.
Wright, David, Semi Purhonen, and Riie Heikkilä. "Comparing "Cosmopolitanism": Taste, Nation And Global Culture In Finland And The UK." Comparative Sociology 12.3 (2013): 330-360. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
