My old Japanese friend tried to explain me how rice is holy in Japan. Or not holy, sacred. Or not even sacred, you just respect it. He made me think what is holy in Finland.
Bread, certainly. Just like in English we talk about breadwinners. My grandma still draws a cross to the dough (to see when the yeast has worked and dough is ready for baking). And you are not supposed to put bread on floor, or upside down on the table. This is not so strong, and it may be a generation thing or a tribal thing. (Savolainen pullaposki).
Sauna, at least Saturday Sauna, much more. Working Saturday evening brings you extra salary as compensation for missing the sauna at home. Grocery shops are basically closed on Sundays except in December afternoons, and in summer, and this year even Christmas eve morning, and some other exceptions. But they close Saturdays 6 pm. Full stop, no exceptions. Saunatime. People take their cellphones to restaurants, and bathrooms, but not to sauna. In emergency, some can f**t in church, but not in sauna.
What else ?
No comments:
Post a Comment