Little fun facts about Finland (”Rented in Finland”, ep. 1)
The blue berries that grow everywhere in Finland are not blueberries, but bilberries. Blueberries are North American while bilberries are found across northern parts of Europe and Asia. Bilberry is mustikka in Finnish and blåbär in Swedish. Perhaps the most delicious use of bilberries is bilberry pie served with custard. Anyone can pick bilberries in the forest and earn money by selling to private people and businesses—tax free 😊
Reindeer are in fact not afraid of cars, and you need to slow down and pass them very carefully. About 36 % of Finland is reindeer husbandry area, which means in summertime, you must be careful while driving everywhere in the northern part of Finland. Although reindeer herding is an important Sámi tradition, any European Union citizen can have reindeer as long as they are a member of a reindeer herding district and live in the area.
There are tens of thousands of known natural springs in Finland. A big number of them has been altered or destroyed by human activities. Springs are protected by the law (the Finnish Water Act) unless you get a special permit from the state. Springs harbour unique species and have an important place in Finnish folklore.
In Finland, we do take our shoes off inside the house. Depending on the temperature of the floor, we might be barefoot or use socks (wool socks in winter) or slippers. We usually don’t provide slippers for visitors. Please let me know the customs in your country :D
