Finland is a small northern country with a unique flavor. The birthplace of Santa Claus, the land of a thousand lakes - such associations arise at the mention of Finland. As well as a sauna, fishing, and special Finnish humor.
However, few people know that "Finland" is not a Finnish word at all. What do Finns call their country if not Finland? Suomi is the name of the state. Let's figure out where it came from.
A bit of history. Formation of the State
For almost seven centuries Finland was ruled by Sweden. All this time, the Russian Empire fought for the Finnish lands. Only at the beginning of the 19th century, Finland was ceded to Russia, and gained independence in 1917. Nevertheless (or maybe that's why), the Finns are very sensitive to the issue of self-determination and national identity. Reverently, but patiently, accepting the fact of a multilingual and multinational society. Swedish has the status of a second state language, and Russian, although not officially recognized, is studied in many schools and used in everyday life. Pointers, price tags in stores, announcements in Russian are the norm, especially in border areas.
Why Suomi?
The way the Finns call their country has several interpretations. According to one version, the name comes from the word "suomaa" - swamp, swampy land. On the other - from the word "suomu" - fish scales.
In modern Russian there is also a consonant word "Saami", the name of a small people living in Lapland, as well as in the northern part of Norway. The Saami are a nomadic tribe of reindeer herders who have retained their language (in Norway it is the second state language), traditions and customs.
If you dig deeper, the root of the word "suomi" echoes the B altic "zeme", which simply means "land".
Finland vs Suomi. What Finns think
There is no clear explanation of where the word Finland comes from. Historians agree only that it is rooted in the days of Swedish rule. The Scandinavian word "finnland" literally means "beautiful land". That is how the Swedes called part of the territory of modern southwestern Finland back in the 12th century.
The Finns themselves, with their characteristic equanimity, accept both names. Loving your country is a national trait. Moreover, this love is deep, not subject to a sense of false patriotism. What is the Finnish country? Homeland for Finns is thousands of lakes, endless forests, northern lights and self-esteem. What word it is called outside the country is a secondary thing.
Nationalan idea is not a political system or territorial integrity. For Finns, this is, first of all, silence, peace and respect for nature.
