10 Things Finns Do to Deal with Darkness

[@kevindaniels7393]

I hope to make it to Finland at some point. I am retired now. My grandmother Aina Kaanta was from Finland. I think it would be great to spend some time in the land that my ancestors came from. I enjoy your videos. Thanks for taking the time to make them.

[@HerFinland]

Hei Kevin! Great to meet you here. Super exciting to hear about your ancestors. I hope my videos and social media can inspire you as much as possible!! 🧡🇫🇮

[@massoudzahedi]

No doubt, even in the deepest darkness, your smile is certainly the brightest sunshine of Finland. 😊😊😊

[@aleksandra6769]

in Poland where I'm from we also experience gloomy winters and I feel like we have so much to learn from Finns... we always complain about it and you somehow manage to be the happiest nation in the world

[@technicolorgiallo1111]

What a pleasant human being. I don't get tired of your videos + I'm learning tons about your culture.

[@barbarabagaric2942]

That white fence is so beautiful.

[@thrashthrasherson3803]

Kiitos paljon ihana suomalainen "fairy godmother". Kaamos tulee kohta, siis kiitos sinun neuvoistasi! 🇫🇮❤️🇫🇮

[@SnowyXx]

yeah I should buy an adjustable lamp to dim the light so I can enjoy reading books also in the darkness with a cup of hot chocolate. and I should get my room more cozy 😍 I really can imagine how this can make the dark month more comfortable. thank you also for reminding me of taking vitamine D every day. thats really important in northern europe. thank you so much 🥰❤️

[@tallieleppala7690]

I love your videos for so many reasons. My husband’s grandfather is Finnish so I have always been intrigued by the culture. Also, we moved to Alaska a few years ago and the environment is so similar to Finland. Your tips really help me to learn and adapt to my new lifestyle here. 🥰 I sure hope to have to opportunity to visit Finland someday.

[@AleksiHimself]

Great tips!

[@HerFinland]

Kiitos Aleksi! Ja kiitos myös mikkivinkeistä, tässä on uusi mikki käytössä.

[@markuswilfinger2717]

when I was in Finnald this winter I slept at 8pm every day and it was so soothing. I miss that sooooo much 🥺

[@PS-ul6mt]

Kiitos!! Love this video. Id like to see video of Lapland. Maybe the train from Helsinki to roveniemi. 🙂❤️🇫🇮

[@reklamy_iq]

I'm glad I found your channel, I'm finnomaniac 😁

[@roytikkanen1065]

I am a Canadian born have ...but...finnish..father mother born in inari...you left out sauna...for winter enjoyment. I have been in finland...and as a canadian...there is something in common with finland...love your posts..kiitos...did i spell that right?0

[@paavoviuhko7250]

Hyvää päivää. Though I am a native born Finlander, I am now living in Canada. So I am no longer living north of 60 but much farther south, closer to the American border. I am definitely waiting for Pikku Joulu so I can put up my Christmas tree and begin baking pulla and other Finnish treats.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for your comment!

[@kari53]

Also now live Canada. Very close to American border.

[@zanevanadzina945]

Päivää. I have a blog where I post poetry in finnish

[@paavoviuhko7250]

@@zanevanadzina945 Kiitos. Paavo.

[@IgorCyclist]

In Ruka i saw those breathtaking colors in the Sky. Ir was amazingly Beautiful.

[@HerFinland]

They are breathtaking indeed! And hei, I'm actually commenting to you in Ruka!

[@pippinschupbach8918]

Helpful tips. I just moved here from Michigan and our winters are very similar. I'm ready for snow! When I get out when there's snow it brightens my mood!

[@HerFinland]

Thank you so much for sharing. 🤩🧡

[@EmSenOiThuong]

I am so looking forward to your next video.

[@HerFinland]

So happy to hear this Em!! 🤩

[@KaiserKiller]

I live in Arizona and have a hard time enough dealing with our winter "darkness". Winter in Finland would probably kill me, but it looks incredibly beautiful

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting! Greetings from Finland!

[@zanevanadzina945]

I live in Helsinki ☕️☕️☕️

[@Philobiblion]

My dad was Latvian and it is interesting how aspects of our life growing up in Pennsylvania reflected some of the behaviors you mention, even though in PA there are only about 14 or 15 hours of darkness in the dead of winter.

[@dailenpena5842]

Kiitos näistä videoista. rakastan Suomea.

[@HerFinland]

Ole hyvä Dailen! 🧡🇫🇮

[@johnlaine2654]

Hey there, Vappu,I’m a Finn who has now lived in Sydney Australia for many decades.I do understand what you are saying as I have made many trips back to my Homeland. Our Winter is nowhere near as dark or as long as yours. Even we get a bit down if Spring doesn’t arrive when it should. Wishing you all back in Finland a wonderful Christmas.

[@almost_harmless]

Greetings from Norway. Love to see the similarities in how to best cope with weather/season sickness. It is often a mindset thing.

[@HerFinland]

Totally!

[@stefandsl]

I'm not from Finland but i would like to live there atleast 1 year. Thanks for advices, maybe someday these will help me.😁

[@HerFinland]

That's great to hear, Stefan! You can make that happen, I'm sure!

[@holoholopainen1627]

You need to get to know someone - WHO can teach You ! #1 How to build a sauna ? # How to like to drink coffee ! # 3 What IT IS with salmiakki - that turns IT to #1 candy in Finland ? # 4 How to play a Sport - that Finns are BETTER - that others - like Ice Hockey / Bandy - Ski Jumping - FLOOR ball - Basketball / Volleyball - or even Finnish NATIONAL Sport called PESAPALLO ! You just need to find out of The RULES Are translated to Your language ? There are many WHO has to first - others Then Can follow Your path ! Sama suomeksi - täytyy tehdä jotakin - mistä muutkin ovat kiinnostuneita !

[@Aidan_Au]

Marina from Dating Beyond Borders just uploaded the first video of the Single's Guide to Finland. Good to see you and Aleksi there!

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for sharing Aidan!

[@marco.trevisan]

I live 55°N in England. In autumn and winter I use to go outdoors to run or walk using a headtorch, which makes a huge difference.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for sharing this information Marco!!

[@marco.trevisan]

@@HerFinland Yes, darkness can't be an excuse for not enjoying time outdoors! Thanks for all the tips.

[@Aidan_Au]

Thank you Varpu for sharing your tips! Hope that this winter will pass sooner than we know.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for your comment!

[@martinscimbulis7124]

Thanks you Varpu. Useful tips. I used to read a good book by the lamp and drinking a tea at the same time enjoying salmiakki

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for your comment!

[@karhukivi]

I worked in the same part of Finland near Kuopio, first in the summer and then in winter and it was like being in two different countries! Everything was different, the landscape, the clothes, the means of getting about - we used skis, snowshoes and snowmobiles as well as driving on snow (easy) and black ice(scary!). I could walk across the lake where I had spent the summer weekends rowing a boat and did cross-country skiing where I had been walking and looking for mushrooms, and had saunas where I had been swimming in the lake. Not just the flag, the whole country is sinivalkoinen!

[@HerFinland]

Hei George! Great to meet you here!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🤩

[@johnearle1]

I grew up in Newfoundland. While we don’t have the darkness of the Arctic, the winter nights are long. By December, the sun sets around 16:30, and doesn’t come up until 08:30. You make the most of it. I love the long evenings with the cobalt blue twilight skies. I miss the peace of skiing through a path lined with tall spruce trees. Long winters make you appreciate summers a lot more than people who never really experience a harsh winter of 5 months. My grandmother was either preparing for winter, enduring it, or getting over it.

[@Geefater79]

Interesting video, although a strange way, I have never had a problem with the dark in the last almost six years since I have lived in Helsinki. The light wears me out more. I don't sleep so well, but unfortunately, my bedroom window faces almost directly to the east. I love it when Finns talk about coffee. They are proud of being one of the world's leading nations in coffee consumption and how many times a day they drink coffee. Let's say it's part of the truth that they put as much coffee in a pot of coffee as Europeans put in a mug. :)

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting!

[@suzanneparker1799]

I feel the same way. Summer starts to exhaust me and when it turns to fall and then even November I breathe a sigh of relief. I live in Northern Lower Michigan and we have a lot of day light way into the early evening hours. Like at 10:00 last night there was still dim light in the sky.

[@lynnlobo566]

Dear Varpu, thanks so much for your useful tips. I live in Australia and am about to go to Finland for the first time. I was wondering about what shoes to take, so rubber boots! I will get a pair 🙏🏾Lynn

[@HerFinland]

Hei Lynn! Great to meet you here! You are welcome 🧡 Hope your trip will be a success!!

[@davehenderson6125]

I really like to slow down and take it easy when the days grow short. I look forward to that.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting! 🧡🇫🇮

[@sandy9504]

That was nice! Thank you if I ever do go to Finland but we also have the same problem in the United States it is dark around 5pm,we love our coffee her as well,we need vitamin D also.But Finland looks very beautiful!💖☕❄️

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting!

[@hurjaukko]

I used to live on Finland as a kid up to almost 11. I always used to think that the darkness was a kind of a magical time. But don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty science bound guy.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for sharing your story Markku! 🤩🧡

[@JiihaaS]

For children it typically is kinda magical because their energy can carry through the darkness no problem, but as an adult it just hits different. Suddenly you start thinking about your diet and vitamin D levels, and religiously going out while there's still light outside. 😅

[@jenn8734]

Love these tips even for where I am in the US 😀 Thanks for sharing!

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting! 🧡🇫🇮

[@snowofandromeda]

Thank you for the list 😊 This is going to be very helpful this winter 😉

[@HerFinland]

Thank you so much Anna!

[@hazelpamintuan1644]

I Love all your videos very helpful and informative. Especially this is my first time here in Lahti to experience snow this year. Kiitos Paljon Varpu😊❤❤❤❤

[@HerFinland]

Thank you so much!!!🫶🏼

[@dykey13]

Definitely. At 4 pm is very dark.... But is good to be here. 😊♥️

[@HerFinland]

Yes we just need to make the best out of it! 🤩🇫🇮

[@lastspoil5547]

On the East Coast it gets dark at 5pm in Winter. What time over there will it actually get dark?

[@MihailKapralov]

Ihan hyvää! Perfect!

[@jessika9488]

Im in Finland now, from australia. This will be my first time experiencing a northern winter. :-) the weather now feels like a Australian winter. Hahaha

[@michasosnowski5918]

Thanks. Your inspired me today to go out and enjoy some nature :)

[@HerFinland]

Awww! Thank you so much Michal!

[@JonesLeFae]

Hi Varpu! I found you because I bought your Finnish course a long time ago. I found out about that through Suzi Whitford (Start a Mom Blog). Just ran across an email with a link to this video. You are adorable! I have Finnish ancestry on my mom's dad's side. My great-grandparents were from Finland and Sweden but I have not been there yet. Anyway, very nice video.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for your comment! 🧡

[@The-real-Alex]

I guess I’m just naturally Finnish lol 😆 we do all of this in Edmonton Alberta Canada lol 😆

[@juhakorpi8372]

Hieno muija ❤❤❤

[@PixiePrincessBrat]

I have to have the lights during many winters even here in the states.

[@PixiePrincessBrat]

Grandparents immigrated to the United States 3 months before my dad was born in the 1930's.

[@Kukako55547]

I love wintertime, because is darkness and lots of snow and freeze/cold

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting!

[@TiktokBeAsTs]

You're doing a great job too thank you I followed you on Twitter

[@HerFinland]

Thank you!

[@KevinDiVico]

Moi Varpu, wishing you a very merry Christmas for you and your family :-) Hyvää joulua!

[@HerFinland]

Thank you Kevin!

[@kristinan6054]

Moi, Varpu! Minä olen Kristina. Minä asun Pietarissa, Venäjä. We have darkness winter too, right now. I do the same things to conquer darkness time, except cold shower 🥶 and coffee. By the way about coffee. It is Finnish magic! Actually I don't drink coffee, I prefer green tea or matcha latte tea, but when I was in Finland two years ago tammikuussa I drunk coffee every day. Unfortunately now we don't have pre-Christmas parties festival because we celebrate Christmas in January. But parties festival now is really super cool idea to support good mood in darkness time. And now I am thinking of small cozy music party with friends. Thank you for the video and tips. It was really interesting to know about Finnish winter darkness lifestyle. Best regards!

[@HerFinland]

Hei Kristina! So glad to meet you here!! Thank you for sharing this! 🤩 Wish you the coziest winter time! 🧡🇫🇮

[@kari53]

As a Finn, Canada is my second home. It is very similar here. Loads of coffee is my favourite tip lol. I drink 4 liters everyday. Hello from Kanada.👋

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for your comment! 🧡 Greetings from Lahti!

[@JF-wp2rz]

I want to do a semester abroad in Finland. The cold and darkness are a bit scary though.

[@flong9033]

sinä olet todella kaunis

[@HerFinland]

Kiitos tosi paljon!

[@nhuck_corris8885]

Thumbs up for the thumbnail😄👍

[@HerFinland]

Yay thank you!

[@scottgrohs5940]

Are open-world internet video games very popular in the winter months? Here in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, when it’s dark before 5pm for three months out of the year, we game a lot during those times.

[@HerFinland]

I do not know so much about gaming. Thank you for your comment! 🧡

[@NoelleSam]

Does finland have a similar cultural idea of drunken Swedish sauna a thing? Is this common? What to expect as an outsider from nordic countries?

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting! 🧡🇫🇮

[@gratnak8618]

Drinking and partying summer like crazy and coping the darkness by drinking more 😶 Who sais kalsarikännit is only few beer. So polished way to see finnish suriving the miserable dark times throughout the life.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting!

[@UltraPatate]

Ok for the lamp, what about supplementary pills of Vitamin D ?

[@IgorCyclist]

Take pills only if your Doc tell you, you have too. Never just because you think you need. Lamp is very good.

[@HerFinland]

@@IgorCyclist @ultra_Patate Thank you for the comments!!

[@elderscrollsswimmer4833]

Well, you might want to eat more fish and drink milk with your meals.

[@EdgarVi1608]

I am not afraid nothing, because where I am now, darkness was and will remain forever.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you so much for commenting! I really appreciate it!

[@kremepye3613]

Are you living in a cave?

[@EdgarVi1608]

@@kremepye3613 nearly with cave, you right.. working on 4 shifts per day 14 hours and interested to finally leave this place for Finland to work tirelessly there and no longer think that once lived in a tent

[@FirstNameLastName-m3e]

Get a Lapp dance too.

[@TheDeniss2004]

how much vitamin D do you take?

[@HerFinland]

One tablet a day! 🤩

[@TiktokBeAsTs]

I love Finland 🇫🇮 and I'm looking for job sponsorship to Finland 🇫🇮 so that I can come and work live in Finland

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting!

[@holoholopainen1627]

Have You ever heard of Finnish Baseball called PESAPALLO ! Watch some KZbinrs - that has been to a game and filmed IT ! Howabout ice hockey - or bandy ? Do You know anybody from a country - Where football Isnt the BIGGEST sport ?

[@anonymous_hito]

I planned to migrate to Finland but I'm afraid of seasonal affective disorder 😨

[@HerFinland]

Oh no!

[@oqqaynewaddingxtwjy7072]

katso kuinka hän joutuu jäiseen veteen konepellin kanssa ja se kiehuu, kuinka kuuma hän on

[@HerFinland]

Kiitos kommentista!

[@robertsolomon5536]

Got one right! I’m in my underwear by 5:15 every night w a six pack of beer.

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for commenting!

[@4rumani]

Do you see any non coffee drinkers in Finland? Is it seen as weird not to drink coffee?

[@turpasauna]

You see them, especially in the younger crowd! 😊 Some regions are still very coffee-heavy, but tea is a valid option in everyday life. Finns like black tea with flavorings such as berries, Earl Grey is pretty popular too.

[@haroldberserker]

Dont know why is this in my recommendations but cool

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@Topsiekku]

The first thing is, Buy a headlamp and make sure it has at least 1000 lumens, preferably 2000.

[@HerFinland]

😂 so true

[@sebastiandenenfeld9886]

Mamma mia it is so grey nowadays :(

[@HerFinland]

😱 yes

[@holoholopainen1627]

Put the lights on ! Its Only two more weeks - and - the darkness starts to get lighter ! DEC 22 - six months to Juhannus !

[@eltonsalvador7620]

Laplandddddd

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for your comment!

[@reinokarvinen8845]

varpu is my godmother

[@calbackk]

Hei Varpu. I like your channel (and you), but I wish you would not strenghten the prejudice about the Finnish "darkness", because that is what it is. It may be true for the very north, but in middle and southern Finland the "dark" period is really no more than about two months, and in that period for a large part we are occupied with the Christmas and New Year season anyway, which really requires some some darkness in order for us to be able to lighten it up with our cultural inventions like Lucia etc. I had a tenant from the US last year and he said he thought the "dark" period went very quickly, and he was exactly right. It annoys me when us Nordics are going on about the "darkness", which is really only true for the very north.

[@brucehunter6915]

I heard you just stocked up on booze and stayed drunk and got into fights with each other during the darkness of winter.

[@Mikuthe]

Moi mitä kuuluu

[@HerFinland]

Hyvää! Mitä sinne?!

[@holoholopainen1627]

Some say that suomi - IS hard to learn ! Way to go - oppiminen on vain itsestä kiinni !

[@Gungnir762]

More coffee… eat more Licorice.

[@HerFinland]

Yes!!!

[@Gungnir762]

@@HerFinland how to make licorice ice cream….

[@mattiasfaldt1725]

i hate snow

[@HerFinland]

oh NOOO!!!

[@mattiasfaldt1725]

@@HerFinland give me salty sea any day like a true viking

[@holoholopainen1627]

You were born in a WRONG Country ? Where Do You live - Do You even have snow - or just LOSKA ? Inland has more - white snow !

[@mattiasfaldt1725]

@@holoholopainen1627 Sweden

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@mattiasfaldt1725 Sweden IS a long country ! Mälmö till Kiruna - and inbetween !

[@oqqaynewaddingxtwjy7072]

Saaþmi giilli

[@HerFinland]

Nyt en ihan ymmärtänyt!

[@davidgeorge7443]

I get drunk in my underpants all the time😛

[@HerFinland]

Thank you for your comment!

[@dailenpena5842]

Kiitos näistä videoista. rakastan Suomea.

[@HerFinland]

Ole hyvä Dailen! 🧡🇫🇮