Climate -- Spring arrives in May, and the summers are short. A standing joke is that in Helsinki, summer lasts from Tuesday through Thursday. July is the warmest month, with temperatures averaging around 59°F (15°C). The coldest months are January and February, when the Finnish climate has been compared to that of New England. Snow arrives in southern Finland in December; in northern Finland in October. In Lapland, snow generally lasts until late April.
The Midnight Sun -- In Lapland the midnight sun offers the visitor an unforgettable experience.
The following places and dates are the best for seeing the midnight sun in Finland: Utsjoki, from May 17 to July 28; Ivalo, from May 23 to July 22; Sodankylä, from May 30 to July 5; on the Arctic Circle and Rovaniemi, from June 6 to July 7; Kuusamo, from June 13 to July 1; and Kemi, from June 19 to June 25. Helsinki has almost 20 hours of daylight during the summer months.
Holidays -- The following holidays are observed in Finland: New Year's Day (Jan 1); Epiphany (Jan 6); Good Friday; Easter Monday; Labor Day (May 1); Ascension Day (mid-May); Whitmonday (late May); Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day (Fri and Sat of weekend closest to June 24); All Saints' Day (Nov 6); Independence Day (Dec 6); and Christmas and Boxing Days (Dec 25 and 26).
