More about Finland...

I found some more pictures of my trip to Finland with my family. I thought it would be cool to share some of these, especially for those who are interestered in learning about different cultures. I can proudly say that us Finns have very weird traditions....

For example, the picture of the dude in the ice hole...in the winter time, Finnish people worship the sauna. It's a very popoular thing all year, but winter time is when it's best! (Especially out in the -35 degree weather!) We cut a small hole on top of the ice...and there is a sauna very close by and after you have baked yourself silly in the sauna, you quickly get out and dip in the freezing cold lake water! Sounds nuts I know, but it's quite refreshing, and supposed to be good for you!

Hunting is CRUCIAL for Finns in the winter, especially for men. My family has been huge on hunting ever since I can remember. Every year that I have been there for Christmas, my uncle and my grandpa always bring home a moose. Then, they skin it (and their skin/fur is a very popoular house decoration in Finland), take out the meat, and my aunt and mother make the BEST dishes with all that meat. Moose hunting is the sport that everyone takes a part in during the winter. Along with hunting, ice fishing is also huge. I love ice fishing but it gets WAY too cold for me sitting on top of a frozen lake for hours!

During me stay there, one of my cousins got married, and I thought it would be interesting to share what was served for dinner...once again, this tradition makes us look kind of strange, but for us, this is a perfectly normal meal to be served at a wedding. It's a pig, a whole pig! It might make some of your stomachs twist a little bit but trsut me when I say...there is NO taste better than that! No ham will ever taste as wonderful as our slow roasted piggy!