• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of Finland

Ethnicity

Finland is predominantly ethnically Finnish, however there are ethnic Swedes in the west and smaller groups of ethnic Russians in the east as well as ethnic Sami in the north. The Finnish people are a mix of early Europeans and Uralic people from Central Asia. They are most closely related to the Estonians, Karelians (in the region of Russia bordering Finland), and other people from the Ural and Siberian regions. The Sami are similar in that they are ethnically related to the Uralic peoples, but they are a distinct group from the Finns ethnically and this difference is also noticeable in a cultural sense as well.

Language

Finnish and Swedish are both official languages in Finland, although the overwhelming majority of people are native Finnish speakers. Finnish is unlike most Europe languages as it is a member of the Uralic language family and is most closely related to Estonian and to a lesser degree Hungarian and minor languages found in the Ural Mountains.

Both the Finnish and Swedish speakers tend to learn the other language, at least at an elementary level, as well as English. English is the most common second language in the country and many people are fluent English speakers. Even among recent immigrants to the country, few learn Finnish, but rather live in the country only speaking their native tongue as well as English.

Religion

Most of the Finns are Lutheran, although a small minority of Orthodox Russians exist. There is also a growing number of atheists or people that do not attach themselves to any particular religion.

Lutheranism is a protestant religion that was founded by and named after Martin Luther, who led the Protestant Reformation. Like all Christian and protestant faiths, Lutherans believe there is one God and that His son, Jesus is the savior and forgiver of sins. Lutherans also believe that the Bible, which includes the Old and New Testaments, is the only true word of God. It is generally in the interpretation of the Bible that protestant religions vary and this is true in the case of Lutheranism, which tends to interpret the Bible quite differently from Catholicism, which was the religion Lutheranism separated from.

This page was last updated: May, 2014