Finland

Finland (フィンランド, Finrando) is a supporting character in the series Hetalia. He is the personification of Finland.

In 2007, Himaruya gave human names to some of the characters and he received the name Tino Väinämöinen (ティノ・ヴァイナマイネン, Tino Vainamainen).

Appearance

Main article: Uniform Guide: Finland

Finland has short platinum blond hair with long bangs, and violet eyes (brown or very rarely blue in earlier media). His signature outfit is a light blue WWII military uniform with a cross neck-charm on the jacket, and a white beret. Another iconic part of his wardrobe are the Santa costumes, which slightly vary depending on the strip.

A doodle sheet^[2] from 2008 describes him as "round" and "plump".

Even before Hetalia☆Collezione officialized many characters' heights, a strip from Comic Diary Summary Part 7^[3] mentionned that there was approximately a 12cm height difference between him and Sweden.

Personality and Interests

Finland is described as being a gentle, simple young man with a soft and mellow appearance, which hides an unexpected strength. He is said to be exceptionally resilient, especially when faced with extreme wheather (Volume 2 mentions him being strangely strong in the cold, and World☆Stars Chapter 105: Finland’s Idea of a Holiday is Doing What…!?^[4] reveals that he's so cold-resistant that General Winter does not affect him in any way). He's also quite chatty, though he might appear otherwise at first.

Among the Nordic Five, he's often seen as the odd one out, due to his eccentric tastes (even described as rivaling with England's^[5]) and more largely the fact that his language is completely different from the others'.^{[Note 4]}

He loves to think of interesting and unusual festivals that no other country has imagined, and actually likes the taste of salmiakki. His most infamous trait is his love for saunas, sweets, alcohol, and the Moomins.

Finland used to be an underling for Russia during the time of the Russian Empire. Out of the five Nordic nations, it is said that he suffered the most hardships in his past.

He often has trouble with speaking right when feeling awkward, nervous, uncomfortable or too concentrated, which causes others to misunderstand him. This sometimes leads him into trouble with others. Finland cares for everyone and is very kind. It hurts him deeply when he is betrayed by another or when a conflict happens, however he forgives easily.

Santa

In the Hetalia universe, Finland fills the role of an actual Santa Claus. Although he sometimes gets help from other countries for delivering presents (such as in Finding Santa adapting the Christmas 2009 Event^[6]), they are always portrayed as putting on an act, unlike Finland who has the real responsibility of carrying out Christmas every year.

This second identity is not a secret to most of the other Nations given that Finland himself openly asked them for help with present deliveries, but he showed reluctance revealing himself to Ladonia.^[7]

Santa Finland first appears during the Christmas 2007 Event^[8] and in Episode 28 of the anime adapting :) In The World,^[9] in which he rides a sleigh with an engraved plate that reads "Finland airline".

Biography

Under Swedish Rule

Under Russian Rule

WWII

Modern Era

Relationships

America

Main article: America

Their first encounter was when baby America peaked over behind a bush to catch a glimpse of Finland. After Finland notices him, America runs away. In Episode 38, Finland, alongside Sweden got pummeled by Netherlands in the New World. Finland warns England and France about the Netherlands and then tells them about a cute and mysterious kid wondering around. Finland shares his worries about America getting hurt by the Netherlands. The three claim America to be their little brother and discuss which traits America has from them. Finland ask which features did America get from him. In the end, England claimed America as his little brother, nonetheless, Finland is open to the idea of being his family.

America started the rumor that Santa originated from Finland. Hetalia World ☆ Stars, Chapter 334 Finland mentions how busy he during Christmas, since he is Santa. To which Norway grows concerned and tells him that he doesn't need to match America's expectations. America is seen giving him a Santa Suit. Finland replies with being Santa does have its perks.

In the Christmas 2010 Event, Finland offers America to refer him as "papa" when the latter mentioned how jealous he felt that kids get presents from their dads. Finland says hence America has Finnish genes, he can be considered as America's dad. America agrees if Finland looked older.

America shows Finland a Christmas cake with green icing and Finland is disgusted, with America simply saying "isn't it normal for people to decorate goodies like this?" Finland asks America to dress up as Santa in the Halloween 2011 Event and drives the sleigh past his house to convince Ladonia that Santa exists. After the plan works, Finland apologizes to America for making him arrive late to the Christmas party the Axis were hosting. America complains that even a few things could make him embarrassed.

In Finding Santa, Santa has mysteriously disappeared and Finland asks England for help. America breaks through England's window and is the to first volunteer to help Finland on delivering the presents to save Christmas America sat on Finland's lap when he was dressed as Santa Claus, to ask him for a bazooka.

Denmark

Main article: Denmark

Finland lived with Denmark, but made the decision to flee with Sweden, having grown tired of being surrounded by stronger nations and wanting to be free. Finland occasionally refers to him as Ta-san (short from the Finnish name for Denmark), as heard in the third interval CD.

Estonia

Main article: Estonia

Finland and Estonia are very good buddies, having known each other for a long time. After fleeing Denmark's rule, Finland stopped by to visit him, while Sweden offered the Baltics to come join them as family. Poland refused to let them go, but in the end, Sweden and Finland eventually gained partial ownership over both Estonia and Latvia.

The two men are known to come up with strange festival ideas together, though Estonia snatched the "leader" position away.

Sweden

Main article: Sweden

The two ran away together after not being able to handle living with Denmark. Though Sweden considers him his "wife", Finland insists that he's not (even in the present day, as shown in Christmas Rampage 2007). The two of them also own a dog named Hanatamago.

Finland found Sweden to be frightening at first, though warmed up to him over time. It is revealed that Sweden knows how to sew, and he managed to alter some of his own clothing so that Finland would have extra clothes, as their difference in height was very noticeable.

It has been said by Hidekaz Himaruya that Sweden is homosexual, and only has strong feelings towards Finland. It is unconfirmed as to whether or not Finland returns these feelings.

Appearances

Manga

To avoid excessively long pages, the following list only contains Finland's most notable appearances. It also doesn't include content from the Bamboo Thicket blog posts that are not reuploads of pre-existing strips.

• Pact of Steel^[1]
• :) In The World^[9]
• Mr. Sve And The Dog^[10]
• The Nice Products that Come from Scandinavia are…^[11]
• The Creation of Dambolis^[12]
• Christmas 2007 Event^[8]
• Christmas 2009 Event^[6]
• Comic Diary Summary Part 7^[3]
• World☆Stars Chapter 105: Finland’s Idea of a Holiday is Doing What…!?^[4]

Anime

Finland first appears in Episode 01, seated next to Sweden. He gets his first speaking role in Episode 14, when he offers to tell Sweden a joke to pass the time in the long line at the supermarket.

He appears quite a few times in Hetalia: Axis Powers (anime) already, delivering presents as Santa Claus in Episode 28, being interviewed in Episode 31 and informing France and England of his whereabouts in America in Episode 38. He later gets more of a proper introduction in Episode 69 and Episode 70 where he flees Denmark's house together with Sweden. Finland appears briefly at the beginning of Episode 83, and then in Episode 79 and Extra Episode 1 along with the other Nordics.

In Hetalia: The Beautiful World, he only shows up in Gakuen Hetalia: Go Forth! Newspaper Club!! Second Half as part of the "Nordic Club", and briefly in Our Failure. However, Hetalia: The World Twinkle has a few Nordics-centric episodes, such as Meeting of the Nordic, The Nordic Five +α and Nordics à la Carte. He also features in The Ruler of Scandinavia and the King of Eastern Europe.

So far he's already made a speaking appearance in Hetalia: World★Stars (anime), complaining about Estonia in Get Better!

Finland's character design was slightly altered in the anime adaptation. In Axis Powers and World Series, his hair was changed to a yellow shade just like other blond characters, and his eye color changed to brown. But from The Beautiful World onwards, his eyes and hair were changed again to match his appearance in the manga.

Name

Though his name is rendered as Tino in katakana, some fans opt to use the more common Finnish name Timo when referring to him by his human name, as Tino is rarely used in Finland.

His surname Väinämöinen is probably inspired by the Finnish folklore character of the same name, a demigod and the main character of the Kalevala.

Character Songs

Hatafutte Parade (Finland)

Always With You... Nordic Five! (featured)

Moi Moi Sauna♪

Trivia

• In Episode 79 Finland was shown to be drawing with his left hand, although it is currently unconfirmed as to whether or not he is left-handed. This also only appears in the anime, and not in The Nice Products that Come from Scandinavia are…^[11] which is adapted in that episode.

Notes

References