Finnish proverbs and sayings: features of national character

In Finland, as well as in other countries, the proverbs and sayings reflect the certain qualities most peculiar to the nation. Through language and sense of proverbs their traditions, the Finnish system of values, the Finnish morals, attitude and any rules peculiar to them become their national features are visible. Character of Finns was shaped in the conditions of the north that in the direct image has affected their human relations, on quality of work, on execution of the told word, on thrift of time, on their firmness and patience …

For example, all assert that one of the most prominent features of the Finnish character is their ability to work qualitatively, because the north itself and those conditions in which Finns had to survive, don’t allow to do something improperly. To do a good work once, working slowly, than hundred times to carry out the same laborious work is really Finnish.

Finns are reserved people, their actions are methodical, the effusiveness in them is practically absent. «The person with work is of a single color». «Consider even for a week, but tell clearly».

They are persistent, determination to finish the work they begin, no matter how difficult this business is, are characteristic for Finns and to this day «ability to make bread from a stone» —here are Finns in this proverb.

Conscientiousness, fidelity to a word, honesty, very developed self-respect and responsibility are considered national qualities which have taken roots in the Finnish psychology. Validity and slowness in actions this is the Finnish mentality.

«We will sit down and let the haste to pass by», — that’s what is told in Finnish proverb.

«It is better to consider for a day, than do wrong for a week»

«On the sly you will reach far, with dancing you will soon be tired»

«A loud voice is a sign of emptiness»

In work Finns don’t have fussiness, they work only in borders of necessity with rare exception, not taking excessive responsibility on itself. Finns are careful.

Habits peculiar to Finns are to live in solitude, not to trifle his and another’s time, their relation to visitors is also defined and clear, there is even a proverb. «For the visitor and fish there is one law: in three days fade». Many people may count it for greed, but here is more Finnish thrift, and concerning time – Finns as any other nation, know the price of time in the presence of such short summer and light day. And if they have invited the visitor, they should find time. Though passion to money and materialism is not characteristic for them, but for rainy day at them it is always laid up, and, receiving visitors at their house, Finns don’t differ by their welcoming features.

But besides other proverb says: «Collecting cones, you will not grow rich, treating your guest, you will not grow poor»

Also distinctive feature is independence of Finns. The man, Finns consider, the man should cope with vital difficulties, complaints are not for a real man. The Finnish man does all, for helping the neighbors or addresses other people extremely seldom, tries to be independent in everything. «Not all those men who is in trousers».

Not to correct things that have taken roots, and it is not necessary to lose time.

«The hedgehog cannot be cut up», — is told by Finns if see imperfection in something.

The relation to a family is expressed in such proverbs: «the Man without the wife like a shed without a roof». «The house without the mistress like a bath without steam», «The love loves alone». In these Finnish proverbs the main thing is expressed: the family is the main thing, patience is the basis of relations in a family, and relations not public relations as the modesty inherent in Finns. The man has always been the head of the Finnish family, and the Finnish proverb says «Mother expensive, but father is even more expensive». But nearby such proverbs adjoins also: «At the poor man one support — the wife».

To disturb neighbors it is not accepted, the family «from a log hut doesn’t take out rubbish». Finns are reserved in family questions.

Finns like to live in cleanliness and perfectly understand that it is pure not there where they do general cleanings, but there where the relation to an order — property of daily observance of cleanliness, and popular wisdom has found reflection in such proverb «Cleanliness is not done, but is observed».

Knowing the Finnish relation to the given word, you are not surprised also to a proverb: «to swear is all the same as to make».

The aspiration to be free is one of deep properties of character of northern people and to know the power law. «In one boat there are no two captains». «Don’t abuse old, without having learned habits of the new». «Where the law is powerless, the grief is omnipotent there ».

Finns have a lot of proverbs in which the relation to the way of life depending on a prosperity is accurately visible. For example, «the mouth should be stretched on a bag».

There has never been overindulgence in the Finnish families, the relation to children has been once and for all defined, Finns perfectly understood: bringing up the spoiled child, — you will not bring up the person, capable to maintain all hardship and deprivations which life is full of. To give more independence since the childhood and not to shun any work is thefeature of the Finnish family where tehy knew the price of persistence and endurance of children’s education, hoping for own forces.

«At whom a hand in manure, at that on lips fat». «Learn mother’s darling, and the orphan reels up on a mustache». «Pomuchitsja, and the person will turn out».

The Finn doesn’t want to have enemies, I should protect the house, and the stranger it is not necessary to me.

«At the cheek world round», and this proverb property of Finns affirms that «it is good to collect at the big woodpile of a chip», instead of being at war …

And still some Finnish proverbs and sayings.

«In Finland the pine reigns, and the fur-tree» rules

«Bread is the best greasing for skis»

«Young you happen once, and the child twice»

«Young is getting healthier after meal, the old man after a dream»

«The herd is beautiful in diversity»

«Good neighbors are half of prosperity»

«At the neighbor the house burns — your house in danger»

«What is pure, it is always good»

«Saw also martens, and fiber»

«Wine in a head — mind in wood»

«The small swindler punish — large in feet bow»