10 Reasons Finland People Love to Laugh (and What It Does to You)

You ever wonder why Finnish people are always smiling even though they live in one of the coldest, darkest countries in the world? I used to think laughter was just something you do when someone cracks a joke. But then I started digging. And what I found about Finland changed the way I saw happiness and myself.

Let’s get to the point. The reason Finnish people laugh a lot is because they choose to. Not because life is easier over there. In fact, it’s tough. Long winters, barely any sunlight for months, and everyone’s kind of quiet. But instead of letting that crush them, they lean into small moments like laughing with strangers at the bus stop, or smiling when their dog slips on the ice.

I know it sounds simple. But when I watched a Finnish YouTuber explain it, it clicked for me. Laughing doesn’t mean life is perfect. It means you’ve found a way to handle the pain better.

And the moment that really hit me? I used to think I had to earn joy. Like only after I succeed, I’m allowed to smile. That’s what I grew up thinking. But one night, I was scrolling, and this Finnish guy said something like, “Laughter is not a reward, it’s a tool.” That stayed with me.

I tested it myself. Next time I messed up something like forgetting to submit my tax info and getting a…