Hi everyone — City Editor Alina here.

Growing up with a grandmother who moved here from Finland, I was quickly introduced into all things Finland. Everytime a Nokia commercial came on TV or if there was a new Finnish hockey player that joined our local team, it was a must for one of us to point out that they were in fact Finnish.

This has led to two habits — an ongoing inventory of everything that originated in Finland (including an ability to call out Finnish last names with 100% accuracy) and the compulsion to point them out to whomever I’m with whether they care or not.

So now I share with you a short list of things that are Finnish here in Seattle, because I must.

Pirkko. | An essential shop where Finns can pick up Marimekko designs, Moomin coffee mugs, and Fazer bars.
Joonas Donskoi + Eeli Tolvanen| Seattle Kraken players and the reasons for our great success in my not-at-all-humble opinion.
Saunas | Yes, it's originally Finnish and it's pronounced s-ow-nah, not saw-nah. Check out Banya5 or be very Finnish and install your own home sauna with Redwood Outdoors.
Salmiakki Koskenkorva | A salty licorice candy often dissolved in vodka and then drunk straight. It was not made in Seattle, but you can get shots of it at Nue and Screwdriver bar.
The Finlandia Foundation: Seattle Chapter | While we Finns are shy, we do like being around other Finns — as long as no one tries to make too much small talk.
The Nordic National Museum’s Kalevala Day Celebration | The Kalevala is Finland’s national epic poem and serves as the record of Finnish folklore. It is such a big deal that we celebrate its importance every year.
Me | I am very Finnish. In fact, I am named after my great-great grandmother who herded reindeer in Kemijärvi above the Arctic Circle.