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Welcome to Finland, the happiest country in the world. With lots of beautiful nature, a wonderful education system, a passionately burning love of saunas, and deep respect for their fellow human beings, Finns are truly great. And you’ll know that if you have any Finnish people in your social circles, dear Pandas.

However, the Finnish can also seem mysterious, even peculiar. For one, they stereotypically love being left alone and social interactions allegedly scare them more than the local wildlife, the biting cold, and the fairytale creatures that lurk in the dark. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what it means to be a Finn, as presented by the ‘Finland Jokes’ Instagram page.

As you’re scrolling down and upvoting your favorite Finnish memes, don’t forget to read through Bored Panda’s interview about introversion and extroversion with Dr. Andrew Spark from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia.

The ‘Finland Jokes’ page has been posting memes about what it’s like to be Finnish since way back in 2017. In the half-a-decade since then, the page has carved out a comfortable niche for itself on Instagram, having drawn in 73.1k followers.

Make sure to follow the account on Instagram if the jokes they post made you chuckle, dear Readers.

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TmKhr
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You should see two of our neighbors. Real stalkers if you ask me 😆

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Most of the memes showcase a slice of Finnish life. From their love of the cold and the great outdoors to learning to embrace the calm, the silence.

It is perhaps this stereotype about Finland, the deep introversion the country’s citizens supposedly live by, that is best known around the world. That and the sweet tooth they have for licorice in all of its forms.

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Dasha Slepenkina
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Russian and grew up with a children's story in which to illustrate the characters going to a "cold place" they go to Lapland, which is a region in Finland.

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Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Spark from the Queensland University of Technology to have a chat about introversion and extroversion. We asked him about the upsides of extroversion and how introverts feel when pressured to act in a different way than their instincts tell them to.

The expert told us that there are several options that introverts can take to reduce the stress they feel when outside forces are pressuring them to act extroverted.

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“We can simply force ourselves to push through it and act out of character (i.e., to act more extroverted),” the expert suggested that powering through an uncomfortable situation is one way to deal with things.

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Kesam
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A sauna isn't a sauna without being drenched in other people's sweat. 😄

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According to Dr. Spark, there are scientifically proven benefits to being extroverted rather than introverted. It’s something that some people might not like hearing, of course. However, there’s also absolutely nothing wrong with being introverted either. Though, at the end of the day, different situations call for different behaviors and mindsets. In short, sometimes it’s very advantageous to act extroverted even if you want to be alone in the middle of a snowy forest.

“Many introverts don’t like hearing this—and I can understand that—but the science is quite clear. When we act extroverted, we experience more positive emotion,” he said, adding that this can, actually, make us feel more tired later on.

“However, if this idea [of pushing through] does not appeal to you (and there has been some research looking at why introverts don’t like the idea of acting extroverted), it may be a better idea to remove yourself from the situation or to reframe how you are thinking about yourself,” the expert told Bored Panda.

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Kesam
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone know where this is? Edit: found it. It's actually in Iceland (Elliðaey Island). Get some fact checkers, BP! 😉

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According to Dr. Spark, even being aware of the research on extroversion and introversion can help alleviate some of the stress that some people feel in situations they’re uncomfortable being in.

“As part of any such reframing effort, try to keep in mind that there is nothing inherently wrong with being an introvert, but you also have to be realistic and accept that there are certain situations that are better suited to either extroverted or introverted behavior,” the expert noted.

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's better to be happy inside and not show it, than the other way round... :/

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Gabby M
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son also has Lyme Disease. Marines almost didn't let him join because of it.

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Russia sells tick insurance too. I get it through my union. I thought it was insane at first but it makes sense.

Kesam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What does a tick need insurance for? (I'm so sorry, I just had to! I'M SO SORRY!!!) 🤣

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Noir
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm landlocked, so still scared of ticks and mosquitos more that sharks. Unless/until there's a sharknado.

deadinside
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ticks and mosquitoes carry disease so compared to alligators and crocodilians, I'm definitely more afraid of those

Shane Carvin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*live in us, never seen a shark or a gator don't care, also has lyme disease. Bad meme

Tigan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because we don't have ticks in the United States? How I wish that were true! Most of these posts joke about how cold Finland is, if thats true then you must have a very short tick season. So... can't be that much of an issue?

Mazer
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am an American and I’m not afraid of sharks, spent decades living near and swimming in the ocean, even in the red triangle where great white shark attacks in California and by traditional garbage dump sites in Hawaii (which attracted sharks and people got bit). When I lived in Hawaii, I lived in the mountains where it rained constantly. Accidentally locked myself out of the house once…I counted a hundred mosquito bites in the time it took for me to try the door realize my mistake and run for shelter in the car less than 20 feet away. Horrible creatures

boredkoala
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ticks (and Lyme disease/ other tick-bourne diseases) are a huge, HUGE problem in the part of the USA I'm from.

Willem Groenewald
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a fellow Australian, I concur. Don't forget pages 2 - 23 of more animals that can kill you.

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Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm I would argue that this is true for most of Europe. We just do not have large predators.

Daria B
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kinda true, but we have bears and wild pigs. Also, the small ones can be nasty too. Black widows and chigoes, for example. Also, some jumping venomous snakes, if you're in the forests. Edit: oh, I see people call them ticks, not chigoes, I see. Learning something new every day.

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Ashley P.
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Garlic can repel any blood sucking animal.. they hate the smell of it.n

Ak artist
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Alaska, the mosquitoes are quite literally the size of birds, and believe me, google it

BORKADYMUSIC
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mosquitoes are terrors. They carry a crap ton of diseases and also suck your blood like mini vampires :0

Poultry Geist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I almost wrecked my car because I had a tick crawling on my face I’m not proud of that but ticks and roaches are my worst !

PADNA
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lithuanians do be scared of tics... BIG TIME. They're in a bloody backyard (literally) ffs!

Cats Rule
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with the finns, though I don't like gators much but I love sharks.

BlackHawk397
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone who had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, I too can relate

Rachel Dolan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We're afraid of the same in Minnesota, US. Maybe that's why so many Finns settled here (including my great-grandmother Sutinen)!

Accio Bacon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not fair. I'm more scared of ticks. Mosquitoes though there's so many when we go camping there they are just annoying

Kim Lorton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, I am with the Fins’. Ticks and skeeters scare me more!

mamafrog
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you, I'm terrified of ticks, had a relative nearly die from a bit from one!

Redwood Rebelgirl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am scared of ALL the above! And, cougars, & grizzly, & polar bear, as well. All of the above in my country!

DuWayne Brayton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huh. I'm an American, and the nearest alligators to me are more than seven hundred miles away, the nearest sharks, five hundred miles away. I'm far more concerned about mosquitoes, ticks and leaches, than I am about most other living critters. Though it we've seen an increase in cougars in the Upper Peninsula (Michigan), and a male cougar was spotted in a fairly central location of the lower peninsula, in 2017.

curuvari
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The lower two pictures actually gave me an anxiety attack

Red
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My best friend is a finn and back in the day I used to tell him he should be afraid of roaming tigers coming from Siberia. He still thinks I was serious. 🤣 People knew so little about Finland, he just assumed every silly joke I made was serious.

Potato
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of people here mentioning ticks and lyme disease, don't forget some ticks carry TBE (tick-borne encaphalitis) Good news is there is a vaccine though.

Nicole Tomme
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2 years ago

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Nicole Tomme
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope from the American South and it is mosquitoes and ticks gere too. Sharks are at the aquarium and my dentist can hypnotize crocs by rubbing their bellies.

Maria Isabel Clason
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mosquitos. I live in thw tropics. Malaria, dengue, zika, chikunguya...all mosquito borne diseases

Lavender Oak
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually Americans are scared of all 4 and then several dozen other things.

Bobby
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So what is the Horror movie in Finland, "A Bug's life"?

Rachel Koch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I've never been in bed in the middle of the night and found a shark or a gator latched on to my neck...

Sandy Kavanaugh
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ha! Too bad there aren't any photos of what Aussies are afraid of! (The photos would be blank.)

Ozymandias73
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The other two I can handle....yeah, but those bugs tho...NOPE!!!

Nubis Knight
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair: Moskitos and ticks kill more people than sharks and gators.

Madb vonMesser
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, I am from the US and would much rather deal with the first two.

Mia D
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to swim with sharks (seriously), alligators are actually cute, mosquitos don't bother or annoy me- but I am really terrified of ticks.

Fred White
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd still recommend that you should be scared of the other two.

deadinside
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as an American, I'm not afraid if sharks or crocodiles/alligators/gharials/water monitors etc. sharks won't attack you on purpose, they just think you're a seal. so look like a person and not a seal. for the latter, they attack if they feel threatened or if you surprise them in their territory (like most animals) so just be careful....

Kayla J
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately, mosquitoes and ticks are a universal issue

Sami Rezler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dunno. Lyme disease scares the hell out of me and I live in the US. Mosquitoes not SO much because I've never been pregnant, so no worries on the Zika front

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“Take heart in knowing that we all have a lot more agency to act out of character if we really want to—and introverts have shown to be quite adaptable when it suits them,” Dr. Spark explained that we are far more flexible than we sometimes give ourselves credit for. Human beings are incredibly adaptable. Whether or not we’re comfortable with change is another question entirely.

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Wistiti
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you wait for the snow to thaw away before going back to the scene.

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Despite the Finnish having a reputation for enjoying being all by their lonesome, their country is actually widely known for its strong feelings of communal support. In fact, it’s one of the things that helped Finland rank as the happiest country in the world in 2021.

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Some other factors that contributed to Finland’s overall happiness index include a thoroughly transparent government with very little corruption, as well as the level of autonomy given to the country’s citizens. The Finns felt like they were free to make their own choices at all times.

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I kinda ... okay yeah, lol relatable here, too. But more like when it gets above -10C in April.

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MyOpinionHasBeenServed
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I had to experience a long bout of not seeing the sun for a while I would do the same.

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TmKhr
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually there's just a little fence. Some random border guards every now and then.

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name sake
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a former prison building, now a hotel in Katajanokka, Helsinki.

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Eevi
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay so the ones in bottom left and bottom right do have blood as their main ingredient. They are blood sausage (musta makkara) and blood pancake (veriletut). They are both served with lingonberry jam and they are delicious. The one in the middle that looks like poop is called "mämmi". It is traditional dessert that we serve with cream and sugar on Easter. It contains rye flour (not blood :D) and is in my opinion also delicious. The one in the top right is called "hernekeitto" (pea soup). It is traditionally served on Thursdays (because before reformation Friday was the day of not-eating in the Catholic culture, and we needed some nutritioning and cheap food the day before.) When you put some mustard in it it also tastes quite good. I have to admit I googled the one in the top left. It is in facr chocolate with fishs, from Finnish trademark Taiga, but it's not a common thing in Finland.

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TmKhr
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First thing you do when you come in, you take shoes off.

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King Kashue
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, all of those are one language family (Indo-European, specifically Germanic) and Finnish is a very different one (Uralic). They're not related in the slightest. Modern geographical proximity isn't terribly meaningful with language.

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Auntriarch
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Goes to Sweden, tries to speak Swedish, my Swedish is so poor that Swedish people beg me to speak English so they can understand me

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Jasper Cool
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So it's introverts who care about their community and like saunas? I was definitely born in the wrong country because I would love this

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Karis Ravenhill
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like the Scottish year. Was the reason I moved overseas, just couldn't take the long dark half a year of cold anymore.

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