Finland is known as the happiest country in the world, but there is much more that makes it special than the top spot in this ranking.

The sparsely populated country has just over 5 million inhabitants, who endure harsh winters, drink a lot of coffee and can be a little pessimistic.

Finland is also known for its saunas and strong welfare state and has many unusual traditions and customs.

Here are five of the most surprising things about the country:

1. Speeding summonses are based on income

In Finland, speeding fines are based on how much money a resident makes, as well as how fast they were driving.
The country has a “day fine” system, which is calculated by the offender’s daily disposable income and how much the speed limit was exceeded.

The system has resulted in some incredible fines. Earlier this year, a Finnish multi-millionaire was fined €121,000 for speeding.

2. It corresponds to about half a sauna for each person

Tourism website Visit Finland estimates that there are three million saunas in Finland — which equates to just over half a sauna per Finn.

Sauna culture is an important part of Finnish daily life and cultural heritage, and there are saunas in apartment buildings, houses, restaurants and even government buildings.

3. The Finnish government gives all new families a box to put their baby in

Finland’s maternity package — known as äitiyspakkaus or “baby box” — is a kit sent by the government to parents of newborn children.

The box contains essentials such as clothes, bibs, diapers and bath products, among others. The box itself is equipped with a small mattress and a sheet so that it can act as a safe place for a newborn to sleep.

The boxes have proven popular in other countries, including the US. However, unlike in Finland, parents in the US have to pay for them, Business Insider reports.

4. The country hosts a sport called “wife-carrying”

Spouse carrying is now an international sport, but the world championships are still held in Sonkajärvi, Finland.

The sport traditionally involves a male partner carrying his wife on his back as they complete an obstacle course. The rules have evolved slightly over the years and participants do not have to carry their real wives.

However, the “wife” must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 49 kg. If the female partner is lighter, she will have to carry a rucksack, to add to the… marital burdens.

5. Finns have a word for staying in and drinking in your underwear

“kalsarikännit” translates as drinking at home, alone, in one’s underwear.

Other Finnish words include “kääänilo”, which means to enjoy someone else’s misfortune, and “sisu”, which is a kind of stoic determination.

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