Is there anything more over-romatisized than spring? Maybe Paris. Or worse: spring in Paris.

Maybe in warmer climates spring bursts in to flower the moment winter ends, bringing sunshine, birdsong  and love. But not in Finland.

After 6 months under snow, there is not a lot colour in Finnish nature in early spring. The frozen ground needs time to thaw before anything green dares to show up. It’s wet and brown. It is a challenge to find much beauty anywhere.

Those warm, sunny moments can be glorious, though. Finns peel off their winter jackets and run out with the first signs of milder weather – enthusiastic for light and already waiting for summer to begin.

In other words, the best thing about Finnish spring is its proximity to summer.