Invitation Etiquette

The worst mistake a guest may make while entering a Finnish home is to leave their shoes on. The majority of the year, muck or snow will be carried around in shoes. So, even in the heat, it is common to take them off. You might ask to have your shoes left somewhere to dry while you are there during the rainy season.

These laws do not apply to very formal gatherings that take place in private houses, such as baptisms (which are frequently held there in Finland) or someone's 50th birthday party. This can occasionally entail that visitors bring their own pairs of clean shoes for the winter and wear those instead of leaving their outside footwear in the hallway. While it is nice, it is not necessary to give the host presents like flowers, wine, or baked goods.