Everyday life and culture
Practical information and personal experiences for your trip to Lapland. Choose a blog to explore the topic.
Louhi and the Mystery of the North
Meet Louhi, mistress of Pohjola, in a freely retold Kalevala story about the Sampo, a giant eagle and the disappearance of the sun and moon.
Read more ↗
Sauna in Finland and the art of slowing down
Why does sauna mean so much in Finland? Discover Saunatonttu, bridal sauna and old customs, and enjoy your own sauna evening at Mökki Tikka.
Read more ↗
Meet the Kainuu Grey sheep at Riina and Juha’s
Born almost black, later often silver-grey: meet Riina and Juha’s special sheep and discover why their breed is being preserved.
Read more ↗
Lapland through time – from life by the river to holidays by the lake
A wooden house by a lake, a boat on the shore and forest behind it. To us, that sounds like a holiday. For many people in the north, forest and water were long the foundations of everyday life.
Read more ↗
Campfires in Finland: fireplaces, laavus, kotas and huts
A practical guide to Finnish campfire places and shelters: permissions, wildfire warnings, firewood, shared huts and favourite stops near Ranua.
Read more ↗
The Finnish sauna whisk: making and using a vihta
Birch branches in the sauna: the vihta tradition, careful preparation, gentle use, storage and respecting the trees at Mökki Tikka.
Read more ↗
Midsummer in Lapland: Juhannus and the bright nights
Finnish Midsummer traditions, birch branches, sauna, flowers and lakeside evenings: experience Juhannus and Ranua’s bright summer nights.
Read more ↗
Yoga at the cottage: a quiet break with friends
An informal yoga break at Mökki Tikka, with space for your own practice, shared meals, nature and sauna.
Read more ↗
Reindeer welfare and responsible visits around Ranua
Learn about reindeer husbandry, training and welfare questions in southern Lapland, with a respectful visit to Pikkuaho Reindeer Farm.
Read more ↗
Christmas in Finland: traditions, food and Joulupukki
From Advent lights and Lucia to Christmas Eve sauna, festive food and Santa’s visit: a guide to Finnish Christmas traditions.
Read more ↗
Lohikeitto: two Finnish salmon soup recipes
Two Finnish salmon soup recipes, each serving four, with potatoes, carrots, cream and dill, plus serving suggestions and local dining.
Read more ↗
Lakeside cottages in Finland: the mökki tradition
What makes a Finnish mökki special: sauna, lakeside days and your own daily rhythm. Discover Mökki Tikka in Ranua, Lapland.
Read more ↗
Muikku in Finland: pan-fried vendace and a simple recipe
Muikku is called vendace in English. On a Finnish menu, look for paistetut muikut: small lake fish coated in rye flour and pan-fried.
Read more ↗
Finnish woven textiles: ryijy, raanu and rag rugs
Discover Finnish ryijy wall hangings, Lapland raanu textiles and rag rugs: their materials, household uses, craft traditions and care.
Read more ↗
Life in Ranua: tourism, small businesses and heating
How tourism, practical skills and seasonal work shape life in Ranua, with a closer look at the questions around local energy and heating.
Read more ↗
Mölkky: the Finnish throwing game at our cabin
Finland has a playful side as well as a quiet one.
Read more ↗
Finnish everyday food: dishes and flavours of Lapland
Fish soup, rye bread, berries, reindeer and a simple lettu pancake recipe: an introduction to Finnish food for a self-catering stay.
Read more ↗
Beer-battered pike with homemade mayonnaise
A pike recipe for two to three people: crisp beer batter, homemade mayonnaise and simple serving ideas for your fishing holiday.
Read more ↗
Fish stock by the campfire: making use of your catch
Turn fish bones, heads and trimmings into a simple stock for soup, at the cottage or during a fishing trip.
Read more ↗
Reindeer husbandry in southern Lapland: a way of life
How reindeer work shapes families and seasons around Ranua, and how visitors can respect herds, roads and the people who care for them.
Read more ↗
Marimekko: Finnish design in colour and pattern
Armi Ratia, Maija Isola and Unikko: the story and everyday appeal of Finnish design brand Marimekko.
Read more ↗
The Moomins: Tove Jansson and Finnish everyday culture
Discover the Moomins, their characters and themes, from Tove Jansson’s books to mugs, Moominworld and the museum in Tampere.
Read more ↗
Pentik: Finnish ceramics and design from Posio
The story of Pentik, nature-inspired ceramics and a visit to Pentik Hill in Posio, Finnish Lapland.
Read more ↗
Salmon by an open fire: cooking on a wooden board
Prepare salmon beside the embers with a salmon board, salt and patience: an outdoor meal at Mökki Tikka.
Read more ↗
The Finnish sauna ritual: a calm guide at Mökki Tikka
How to enjoy the wood-fired lakeside sauna: heating, washing, löyly, cooling down and considerate Finnish sauna habits.
Read more ↗
Sámi culture in Lapland: joik, language and living traditions
An introduction to Sámi culture, joik, duodji and reindeer husbandry, with respectful ways to learn from Sámi voices and institutions.
Read more ↗
Learning about Sámi culture around Rovaniemi
Museums, joik, craft and respectful encounters: how to approach Sámi culture from Rovaniemi without confusing every reindeer visit with Sámi tourism.
Read more ↗
Lapland’s eight seasons: noticing the smaller changes
Explore the idea of eight seasons in the North: changing light, thaw, growth, berries, autumn colour and winter, with respect for Sámi knowledge.
Read more ↗
Ranua and the wider world: roads, services and trade
How rural Ranua connects with Rovaniemi, Oulu and the wider Finnish economy through roads, services and local businesses.
Read more ↗
Working in Ranua: what supports the local economy?
Forestry, farming, public services, tourism and small businesses: a look at everyday working life in Ranua.
Read more ↗
Coffee, cloudberry liqueur and glögi: Finnish drinks
Finnish coffee, cloudberry liqueur, lingonberry juice and spiced glögi, with simple recipes for a relaxed evening at the holiday house.
Read more ↗
Lingonberry jam in Lapland: picking season and a simple recipe
Lingonberries around Ranua: when to look, ways to use the harvest and a simple cooked berry mixture with sensible storage guidance.
Read more ↗
Chanterelle cream sauce: a simple Lapland mushroom meal
A forest-inspired mushroom sauce for two or three people, with potatoes, cream and herbs, plus careful identification and cooking advice.
Read more ↗
Mustikkapiirakka: Finnish blueberry pie
Bake a Finnish blueberry pie at the cottage with fresh or frozen berries and a simple sour-cream topping.
Read more ↗
Marjapussi: a Finnish card game for a cottage evening
Discover Marjapussi, a Finnish partnership card game, and make time for an unhurried evening around the table at Mökki Tikka.
Read more ↗
Shopping in rural Finland: practical tips for a stay in Ranua
Plan groceries, payment and opening hours for a self-catering holiday in rural Finland, where a little preparation saves extra driving.
Read more ↗
Why Lapland keeps drawing us back
A quiet walk, the light on the snow and space to be ourselves: why we return to Lapland.
Read more ↗
Meeting local people in Finland: conversation and respect
In Finland, silence is often comfortable. It can mean giving someone space rather than imposing on them.
Read more ↗
Sisu: Finnish determination in everyday life
Sisu is an important concept in Finnish culture, and no single word translates it fully.
Read more ↗
Slow travel in Lapland: taking time to experience a place
Slow tourism means travelling thoughtfully and taking time to experience a place.
Read more ↗
Restaurants in Lapland: planning your meals
Eating out around Ranua and Impiö, cooking at Mökki Tikka and enjoying simple Finnish food together.
Read more ↗
Understanding Finnish habits: silence, sisu and coffee
Our impressions of Finnish everyday life: comfortable silences, quiet determination and an invitation over coffee.
Read more ↗
Living costs in Lapland: a realistic holiday budget
Historical price examples and practical budgeting for groceries, transport, accommodation and eating out during a self-catering holiday in Lapland.
Read more ↗
Why do Finns value a simple life, and what can we learn from it?
Wood, water, fire and time: much of cabin life comes down to these four elements.
Read more ↗
Eight reflections on Finland and happiness
Social trust, everyday freedom, nature, sauna and sisu: eight reflections on the Finnish approach to a satisfying life.
Read more ↗
Living with the seasons in Lapland
How light, everyday tasks and local food shape the rhythm of the year in Lapland.
Read more ↗
Finnish woven textiles: ryijy, raanu and rag rugs
Discover Finnish ryijy wall hangings, Lapland raanu textiles and rag rugs: their materials, household uses, craft traditions and care.
Read more ↗
The Finnish sauna whisk: making and using a vihta
Birch branches in the sauna: the vihta tradition, careful preparation, gentle use, storage and respecting the trees at Mökki Tikka.
Read more ↗
