Dating Finnish Men

As I come from Sweden I have met a Finnish man or two in my life and my dad’s girlfriend of over ten years is Finnish, so I have some knowledge about the Finns. If you re curious, read on…

They Aren’t Latinos

Right, this is obvious, I’m sure. The point I’m making is that whilst Latin guys tend to get physical within five minutes of making your acquaintance and shower you in hugs, kisses and compliments, Finns are quite the opposite. It’s been said that even making a Finn talk is quite a feat.

Now, this is a gross generalization, I have to admit. Not least because my dad’s girlfriend is very, very chatty. Once you get to know her. The same can be said for many Finnish men, but on the whole they are not the most talkative men you’ll ever come across. Something about long, cold, dark winters maybe?

On the upside Finns tend to make friends for life and when they do say something they mean it. This is not necessarily the case for the Latinos.

There’s Always Vodka

If you want to make a Finnish man talk, there’s always vodka. Don’t overdo it, just give him enough to get him to open his mouth.

They Love Ice

If you date a Finnish man it might so happen that you learn to ice skate. After all, there are a lot of frozen lakes in winter in Finland. If you are a bit unstable on your feet, he will surely help you learn to skate better, which can be romantic as you will hold onto him for dear life making your way on the ice.

What’s more, is that the Finns like saunas. This in turn means that they love running into icy lakes in winter after having had a sauna. Sometimes they also roll around in the snow. And here’s the catch: they are often naked when they do it. Being naked is not something one makes much of a fuss about in Scandinavia. It is, as we say, natural.

If your man starts beating you with a branch of birch or similar in the sauna he is not trying to abuse you. It’s merely an old tradition of getting the blood flowing even more in the hot air.

They Won’t Be Pushy

Chances are if you meet a Finn he is not going to rapidly approach you and chat you up. You might have to be fairly persistent to get him to make a move. You see, in the Nordic countries there is this idea that men who approach women are trying to impose themselves on them, which is seen as sleazy and rude. So if you see a man you like, don’t be scared to really flirt with him. Don’t throw yourself at him, however. Remember that the Finns aren’t the most “warm” people you will ever meet. He will consider you crazy if you launch yourself at him like a missile.

If he’s had some vodka however he might approach you. Or just start dancing with you on the dance floor. It’s just a far cry from the American men who will march up to you and offer to pay for a drink.

They Won’t Pay

Equality in the Nordic countries is humongous. So just as a Finnish man will consider it rude to take charge and approach you, he will think it rude to constantly pay for you. From time to time it might be a gesture of kindness to offer to pay, but as a general rule, you pay for what you bought.

There Isn’t a Dating Culture

In general you meet, you hang out and you become an item. The idea of taking someone on dates till time immortal just doesn’t occur to the Finns. Just because you are a couple though, it doesn’t mean it’s serious. It simply means you are trying it out.

It also happens people meet in a night club and a one night stand turns into something more. You then usually meet for coffee a few days later. In general if someone is interested in you, chances are they suggest you meet up for a coffee. This doesn’t mean it’s a date, nor that it isn’t a date. It’s a coffee. To see where things go.

By Maria Montgomery – Maria is a freelance writer, director and social entrepreneur. She’s also the spokesperson for The Little Angels Community Center and an avid blogger. You can find her somewhere between Cape Town, London and L.A., where you will most likely find her in the hills, looking out over the city she loves. @OhMyMontgomery

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