The happy Finns | Island Senior
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 7, 2026
By Peggy Sue McRae
Journal contributor
Winter has arrived. Today the sun is out, and Mount Baker is gleaming with a fresh layer of snow, yet the forecast says we are due for more rain, meaning more dark, wet, overcast days. Before you rush off to Hawaii or Mexico seeking relief from the cold and dark, consider this: According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the eighth year in a row. Finland, bordering Russia, Sweden and Norway, reaches well beyond the Arctic Circle. In the capital city of Helsinki, located at the southern end of the country, the sun sets at 3:20 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. If it is so dark and so cold, how can the Finnish people be so happy? The happiness report, published by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Center, asked people around the world to evaluate their levels of satisfaction in life. Factors taken into account include proximity to nature, strong social supports and levels of trust.
The Danish, who are the second-happiest people in the world, have a concept called hygge (pronounced hoo–gah) that embraces coziness, the enjoyment of simple pleasures, conviviality and homey comforts. While not an exact equivalent, the Finns have what they call kalsarikannit (pronounced KAL-sar-ee-KAN-neet), a word that literally translates to “drinking at home in your underwear.” My American sensibilities tell me to stick a warning label on this cultural phenomenon, and yet after the inevitable stress of the holidays, I do see the appeal.
Some of you probably know hearty islanders who enjoy taking a cold dunk in the Salish Sea. Coldwater swimming is popular in Finland (check with your doctor before you jump into our cold water). The advantage Finns have is that in Finland, there are more saunas than cars. According to the BBC, almost 90% of Finns use a sauna every week, considering it beneficial to both their physical and mental health. Finland also has universal health care, another plus on the happiness scale.
Globally, sharing meals with others is one of the primary factors leading to happiness. Director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Center, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, said, “In this era of social isolation and political polarization, we need to find ways to bring people around the table again – doing so is critical for our individual and collective wellbeing.” From my observations, I’d say we islanders are pretty good at fostering world peace through lingering over meals.
What makes Finns so happy? Forging in forests, swimming in lakes or marveling at the Northern Lights, Finns enjoy being close to nature, even minutes away from their biggest city. Finns take saunas. They linger over meals and enjoy companionable silences. They drink coffee and hot chocolate, and sometimes they drink at home in their underwear.
