The journal

Every essay, in one place.

Short reads about Finnish cities, saunas, food and the long light of the north.

3 of 12 stories · Culture

Ice Swimming in Finland: A Beginner's Guide to the Avanto

A hole in the ice, a wool hat, and the best mood of your life — how Finns turn freezing water into winter's favourite ritual.

There are more saunas than cars in Finland. Here's how to step into one — and why the silence matters as much as the steam.

Cities empty. Phones go quiet. Somewhere on a lake, a bonfire is being built.

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