We know that TikTok gets a lot of bad rep, but honestly the content is not all that bad. Or what do you think about the lessons taught by Felipe Da Silva, an American living in Finland?
@itsfelipedasilva If you’re still doing #5 you have no one else to blame but yourself 🥶 In this video I share a list of 5 things you shouldn’t do in Finland ! #finland #suomitiktok #finnishculture #americaninfinland #dontdoit ♬ Chill Day – LAKEY INSPIRED
In the video, @itsfelipedasilva names five things he would never do in Finland. In the comments, some Finns seem to slightly disagree with a few of the things he mentions, but here at Life in Finland we tend to side with Felipe Da Silva. For those who don’t want to watch the video, here’s a brief recap of the five things not to do in Finland mentioned in the video.
#1 Never Walk Into Someone’s House With Shoes On
In many countries, walking indoors with shoes on is the norm. Not in Finland, though. It is possible to get permission to step inside with your shoes on, but typically this would only be OK in cases where you’re basically just picking something up (or saying hi) and leaving. We have yet to find a single Finnish household where shoes are used indoors regularly and for extended periods.
#2 Take Someone Else’s Drink From a Fridge
In Finland, people definitely keep tabs on what belongs to whom. At the very least, we all know what we brought with us. So, if you bring something to drink to a party, everyone would by default expect you to drink that and nothing else. Unless, of course, if someone offers you a drink. This rule, however, mostly applies to alcoholic beverages (and perhaps some energy drinks or just something more special than your average soft drink). Why are Finns like this? To be honest, we don’t really know. So, if you have a theory just leave us a comment.
#3 Never Show Up Late (Without Messaging the Person)
It is true, most Finns really care a lot about being on time. Being late is generally considered rude, so Finns tend to inform the other party that they will be late more than around five minutes.
#4 Never Litter Anywhere
Finns who travel to other countries often notice how much litter there is lying around everywhere, in stark contrast to the relatively litter-free Finland. It is rather common to even pick up other people’s trash should they see any, especially in the nature. The forest is basically considered holy (in a non-religious way these days), so littering there would be one of the worst offences a person can do in Finland.
#5 Never Go Out in the Winter Without a Pair of Gloves and a Hat
The other things mentioned by Felipe da Silva in his TikTok are a bit more Finland-centered, whereas this thing not to do in Finland really boils down to common sense: no one likes freezing. In other words, no one in Finland will frown upon a person who isn’t wearing weather-appropriate headwear and gloves, but we might find it a bit strange.
What did you think about Felipe da Silva’s list of things not to do in Finland? Have you ever encountered someone breaking these unspoken rules in Finland? How did that go? Leave a comment below.