The Dreamy Finnish Summer Life at the Cottage - How to mökki the Finnish way!

This blog post is part of my article series in The Finnish American Reporter newspaper.

Notice the hidden mökki (summer cottage) in the picture above - that's where you can find the true Finnish summer bliss.

Summertime in Finland is more than just a season; it’s an experience, a cherished pause from the busy everyday life.

As we Finns are hardworking, the annual summer vacation is well-earned and everybody waits for it like a long-lost friend.

This is the time when we escape to our beloved mökki (summer cottage), where the magic of the Finnish summer unfolds in a blend of tranquility, labor, and timeless joy.

Phase 1: The Midsummer Exodus

As Midsummer (juhannus in Finnish) approaches, cities across Finland transform into near-ghost towns. Imagine this: even Helsinki suddenly turns silent as Finns pack their cars to the brim and head for their summer sanctuaries.

The highways become a snaking river of brake lights, each vehicle a tiny world filled with anticipation. Kids squabble in the back seat, the dog pants in the heat, and you glance at the clock, hoping this year’s traffic won’t be as epic as the last.

But this slow crawl is a small price to pay for the paradise that awaits!

Phase 2: Stocking Up for the Stay

Before the true relaxation begins, there’s a critical stop: the local small supermarket.

This isn’t just a shopping trip; it’s a competition event where everybody else seems to want to grab all the same things as you.

The aisles are crowded with fellow vacationers, all intent on securing the essentials of Finnish summer cuisine: new potatoes, herring or other fish, fresh dill, eggs and butter (for egg-butter of course), viili for the mornings (just add some berries from the forest!), rye bread and, of course, the Makkara (sausage). And an extra packet of coffee just in case you’ll need to visit the neighbor, to have something to bring along.

Perhaps a few cans of pea soup, because it’s so easy..  It’s a hectic and uncomfortable, quick-as-possible event packed with sweaty people trying to secure the last packet of their favorite sausages.

Phase 3: Arrival and Settling In

Finally, you arrive at the cottage. The first breath of crisp, pine-scented air is intoxicating, signaling the start of your summer haven.

But before you can kick back and relax, there are immediate tasks to tackle. Windows are flung open to chase away the winter's mustiness, and after the chimney is checked for no bird nests or dead squirrels, fire is kindled in the hearth to ward off any lingering chill.

The kids bolt outside, eager to explore their kingdom, while you make sure the fridge is loaded with supplies. Drinks go to the lake in plastic bags because, let’s face it, there’s never enough room in that tiny fridge.

If you are lucky, you might have extra space under the floor that is an old-type of handy cellar, covered with a rug of course or maybe a separate root cellar to store more food. 

Phase 4: The Cottage Chores

The real work begins here, and it’s where the romantic idyll of mökki life meets the reality of Finnish practicality.

There's wood to chop, a lawn to mow—if you can call the jungle of wildflowers and knee-high grass a lawn—and endless repairs to tackle. Maybe the pier needs fixing, or the roof requires a sweep.

Washing the räsymatot (rag rugs) in the lake with the traditional mäntysuopa (pine soap) is a task as delightful as it is laborious. The sudsy water glints in the sunlight, and your hands turn red and pruney in the refreshing lake water.

Then there’s the necessary berry-picking —blueberries, strawberries, black and red currants, raspberries, and in the north, also the golden cloudberries—this a treasured part of the experience and a possibility to save the summer vitamins for the autumn and winter. 

Making vasta/vihta (birch whisks, called vasta in the Eastern Finland and vihta in the Western Finland) for the sauna is both a craft needing some skills and a ritual, with the fresh, green scent of birch leaves filling the air. 

Kids love this task too, they can make a smaller one for themselves. Because what is sauna without a vasta/vihta - well, a shadow of a sauna!

Phase 5: Finally Relaxing—The Elusive Dream

After the hard work, it’s time to finally relax, or so you hope.

Swinging in a hammock, swing chair or a rocking chair, you listen to the gentle rustling of birch leaves, old music from the old radio and the distant calls of cranes.

The Finnish bright nights of the summer that are never dark, cast a golden glow over everything, as you drift into a state of blissful contentment.

A game of mölkky (need to explain this later) or tikka (Finnish darts) might follow, laughter ringing out as the family competes for bragging rights.

The grill sizzles with sausages, their savory aroma mingling with the sweet scent of wildflowers.

Later, the sauna invites you to enjoy —an essential part of the mökki experience. The cycle of sauna, terrace, and lake repeats in a soothing rhythm, each plunge into the cool water.. A late night song of a nightingale.. so refreshing! 

But beware, the mosquitos are relentless. Just when you think you’ve achieved a zen-like state, a buzzing swarm drives you indoors.

As you settle into bed, the faint hum of the forest lulls you to sleep, wrapped in the comforting softness of those old, cherished sheets.

Ahh, that’s life! These are the times when the Finnish soul really rests in the tranquility of the countryside. 

The Reality Check

In truth, reaching this phase of complete relaxation can be as elusive as catching a glimpse of the mythical sauna spirit.

The mökki experience often can feel like a well-disguised labor camp, with endless tasks and chores.

But these very rituals are what make the Finnish summer so uniquely satisfying. Some physical work instead of sitting in an office makes a Finn feel totally different!

There’s a deep contentment in the work and accomplishment, a sense of connection to the nature and its rhythm. 

And after a few weeks of mökki life, it’s time to pack up and head back to the city.

The journey home is a mirror of the trip out: the car full, the traffic heavy, but the heart light.

You return refreshed, ready to face another year of hard work with a mind full of summer memories.

After all, spending time at the cottage is the most precious way of using the summer vacation time.