Maikka Väinämöinen

Maikka Väinämöinen is the human personification of the Republic of Finland. Maikka is described as being a gentle, simple young woman with a soft and mellow appearance, which hides an unexpected strength. She is said to be exceptionally resilient, especially when faced with extreme weather. She brags that she is especially strong in cold weather and that even General Winter himself can do nothing to her. She is often quite shy and can come off as a little standoffish or awkward at first, but once she warms up to someone, she can get pretty chatty. A good way to break the ice is to bring her to a sauna, hand her a lihapiirakka, or talk about Moomin.

Among the Nordic Five, she's often seen as the odd one out, due to her eccentric tastes. Her peculiar interests include unusual festivals that no other country had imagined, and salmiakki, which she loves the taste of. She's also known for her love of saunas, sweets, coffee, alcohol, and Moomin.

As the country of lakes and lush coniferous forests, Maikka Väinämöinen shows a strong connection to nature. She is described as loving to be completely surrounded by nature in order to study, daydream and be alone with herself, to the point where it becomes hard to locate her. By extension, she also loves camping.

Maikka's relationship with Sweden is long, complicated, and yet overwhelmingly positive and warm in the modern era. Like many Finns and Swedes, it could be said the two nations view each other as close siblings who have each other's backs, even if there is the occasional poke or tease or two. Maikka, in a sense, feels warmly about the other Nordic nations (Norway, Denmark, and Iceland) as well, but not quite to the same brotherly/sisterly level as she might with Sweden due to their long entwined histories.

Russia on the other hand... Maikka will never say her feelings directly about her Eastern neighbor, but since the 1940s, it is clear she holds a certain bitterness. When asked how what she felt after the war, since she replied, in a rather cold tone " only slight recoil". Some old wounds don't heal quite so easily...

Estonia is like a little sibling to Maikka. They often get along on many topics, share various interests, and even have similar languages. The two of them enjoy making sweets together especially.

While Maikka Väinämöinen is often defined as one of the happiest and most peaceful nations in the world, it should also be noted that she can have her scary moments if she is angered (which can be difficultto do). If angered, often only done by threatening her, she can produce a rather scary aura around herself. She is quite known for her impressive sniper skills from World War II, especially in snowy terrain. There is a rumor that says she she knows over a thousand ways to end someone. And yet, despite this, she smiles and carries on peacefully. Maikka, in this sense, is a good example of some who can be your best friend if you are kind to her, but your greatest foe if pushed.

Appearance: Maikka Väinämöinen is often seen wearing a simple yet elegant light blue dress with white foax fur around the collar and cuffs. Atop her head is a white beret with her hair being shoulder-length and platinum blonde in color with long bangs. Her eyes are violet in color and her skin complexion is pale. Under her dress she wears black leggings and her feet are adorned with tall brown boots. Her entire appearance captures a rather gentle yet resilient Finnish spirit.