WORLD / DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY
Sinologist’s Spring Festival couplets written in Finnish: Counselor celebrates in ‘respectful way’
Sinologist’s Spring Festival couplets written in Finnish
Editor's Note:
There is a Chinese idiom, "conform to local customs," which is similar to the saying in English, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." In this edition, Global Times reporter Dong Feng interviewed five foreign diplomats in China who shared their stories of celebrating the Chinese New Year and experiencing its festive customs.
Laine told the Global Times that she has been maintaining her own tradition of writing Chinese Spring Festival couplets in Finnish for four years in a row. For the 2026 Spring Festival, she has written a brand-new set of couplets:
Fond of the zodiac culture, Laine selects Chinese poems relevant to the Chinese zodiac approaching Chinese New Year.
As 2026 is the Year of the Horse, she chose horse-related poems and translated the lines into Finnish and wrote them as couplets.
"The selection of words during the preparation is very interesting," said Laine.
"It's kind of fun to also use my own language. Sometimes Chinese poems might have different words to describe the same animal."
For instance, there are different words for horses, such as fine horse, foal, pony, lead horse and dark horse in both Finnish and Chinese.
It turns out to her that writing the selected poems in the form of couplets makes it even more festive.
"I use the Chinese method and enjoy the Chinese painting and calligraphy. I also post them in the embassy's office to share Spring Festival customs with my Finnish colleagues. After all, it's not just random words, but it's something quite special, something that brings people joy and even makes them smile a little bit," she added.
As a diplomat, who is away from her homeland, Laine told the Global Times that she has been celebrating the Spring Festival in both Finland and China.
"I enjoyed Chinese New Year both in Helsinki and here in Beijing," and she still remembers the festive atmosphere of the school holidays in details, especially the Chinese lanterns that light up the nights.
"No matter where I am, I really like this [occasion] of the year. My kids go to school and they prepare for the Chinese New Year and learn about it. So it's easier to share it with family here," Laine explained, adding that the season is so special that even if diplomats like her do not have the holiday, they enjoy the lights and lanterns as well as the atmosphere that the city is decorated for the Chinese New Year.
"If I'm in Finland during the Chinese New Year, it's also a good excuse to have some Chinese food. I usually invite some of my friends to share with them how Chinese New Year work [is celebrated]. They usually also find it interesting and fun," recalled Laine.
In China, the entire family get together and prepare meals. Laine said that there are many commonalities between the cultures of China and Finland.
Some friends think people need to stick with original traditions, while Laine, in her own words, is "quite eager to adopt the occasion in a respectful way."
"I think when we compare the traditional customs of the two countries, we can also promote mutual understanding between our peoples, as we all share a lot of common ground," added Laine.
In Laine's office, there is a game of championship for the Chinese New Year decoration each year. Seeing this year's Spring Festival couplets, Laine's colleagues liked them and told Laine that she has won the Chinese New Year decoration this year.
There is a Chinese idiom, "conform to local customs," which is similar to the saying in English, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." In this edition, Global Times reporter Dong Feng interviewed five foreign diplomats in China who shared their stories of celebrating the Chinese New Year and experiencing its festive customs.
Janna Laine Photo: Chen Tao/GT
Press and Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Finland in China Janna Laine has been working as a diplomat in China for five years. She is also a sinologist.Laine told the Global Times that she has been maintaining her own tradition of writing Chinese Spring Festival couplets in Finnish for four years in a row. For the 2026 Spring Festival, she has written a brand-new set of couplets:
Spring Festival couplets for the Year of the Horse by Janna Laine
年酒杯中满 The Chinese New Year's wine cup filled; 春风马上来 The spring breeze approaching with the Horse.Fond of the zodiac culture, Laine selects Chinese poems relevant to the Chinese zodiac approaching Chinese New Year.
As 2026 is the Year of the Horse, she chose horse-related poems and translated the lines into Finnish and wrote them as couplets.
"The selection of words during the preparation is very interesting," said Laine.
"It's kind of fun to also use my own language. Sometimes Chinese poems might have different words to describe the same animal."
For instance, there are different words for horses, such as fine horse, foal, pony, lead horse and dark horse in both Finnish and Chinese.
It turns out to her that writing the selected poems in the form of couplets makes it even more festive.
"I use the Chinese method and enjoy the Chinese painting and calligraphy. I also post them in the embassy's office to share Spring Festival customs with my Finnish colleagues. After all, it's not just random words, but it's something quite special, something that brings people joy and even makes them smile a little bit," she added.
As a diplomat, who is away from her homeland, Laine told the Global Times that she has been celebrating the Spring Festival in both Finland and China.
"I enjoyed Chinese New Year both in Helsinki and here in Beijing," and she still remembers the festive atmosphere of the school holidays in details, especially the Chinese lanterns that light up the nights.
Janna Laine (left) and her son write Spring Festival couplets in Beijing. Photos: Courtesy of Janna Laine
Being a mother, Laine shared her children learning more about Spring Festival in school."No matter where I am, I really like this [occasion] of the year. My kids go to school and they prepare for the Chinese New Year and learn about it. So it's easier to share it with family here," Laine explained, adding that the season is so special that even if diplomats like her do not have the holiday, they enjoy the lights and lanterns as well as the atmosphere that the city is decorated for the Chinese New Year.
"If I'm in Finland during the Chinese New Year, it's also a good excuse to have some Chinese food. I usually invite some of my friends to share with them how Chinese New Year work [is celebrated]. They usually also find it interesting and fun," recalled Laine.
In China, the entire family get together and prepare meals. Laine said that there are many commonalities between the cultures of China and Finland.
Finnish cuisine for the Chinese New Year prepared by Janna Laine
"Families are important. We also value the family reunion and cook for each other, just the shapes of the dumplings appear to be different," she said, showing some pictures in her mobile phone.Some friends think people need to stick with original traditions, while Laine, in her own words, is "quite eager to adopt the occasion in a respectful way."
"I think when we compare the traditional customs of the two countries, we can also promote mutual understanding between our peoples, as we all share a lot of common ground," added Laine.
In Laine's office, there is a game of championship for the Chinese New Year decoration each year. Seeing this year's Spring Festival couplets, Laine's colleagues liked them and told Laine that she has won the Chinese New Year decoration this year.
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