3 ms·

There are a number of books about supposedly “unique” cultural phenomena like this one: - Niksen (Dutch) - Sisu (Finnish) - Döstädning (Swedish) - Lagom (Sw

There are a number of books about supposedly “unique” cultural phenomena like this one: - Niksen (Dutch) - Sisu (Finnish) - Döstädning (Swedish) - Lagom (Swedish) - Réussir sans forcer (French) - Raising Self-Reliant Children (German) - Wabi Sabi (Japanese) I wonder what other unique cultural concepts HN users have come across (perhaps from their own culture)?

cwmoore 2y ago
- Freedom (US) I would like to see the Venn diagram for it? Here’s ikigai’s: https://performanceexcellencenetwork.org/pensights/finding-lifes-meaning-quest-discover-ikigai-pen-august-2017/ https://performanceexcellencenetwork.org/pensights/finding-l...
- 082349872349872 2y ago
  > the Venn diagram ( ijawfnltl: ( f ) af ) ijawfnltl = is just another word for nothing left to lose f = freedom af = ain't free Lagniappe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLZtnqnV2Jc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLZtnqnV2Jc
d-trieu 2y ago
> Döstädning I've never heard of this despite living in Sweden for over 30 years
- wodenokoto 2y ago
  I would have thought the Swedish word encapsulating a better life, would have been “fika” Anyway, death cleaning seems more like a small Maria Kondo moment for Sweden than an actual cultural thing https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/cleaning/a45190/what-is-swedish-death-cleaning/ https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/cleaning/a451...
marttt 2y ago
Estonians as "forest people" -- Estonian researchers tracing the roots of this myth here: https://keeljakirjandus.ee/en/archives/26316 https://keeljakirjandus.ee/en/archives/26316 A full-length article by the same scholars: https://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol81/remmel_jonuks.pdf https://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol81/remmel_jonuks.pdf FWIW, I'm by no means trying to be cynical, especially considering that I do some (lighter) forestry work myself, have done lots of tree planting and definitely love being in the wilderness. Forest and nature do play a central role in our cultural heritage. Currently, however, other members of this same society carry out massive clear-cuttings in our forests. So... this is "us" as well, I guess. Demolishing and praising, side by side. That's why the work of these referred two scholars is really interesting, maybe even corageous in a way, considering that "forest wars" are a huge topic in Estonia these days.
fuzztester 2y ago
Susegad in Goa. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susegad https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susegad
spidersenses 2y ago
In Russian culture there is this concept called 'smekalka' (смекалка). It roughly means ingenuity or wit and is very often used in the context of MacGyvering a solution to an urgent or embarrassing problem.
mickeyfrac 2y ago
In Māori there is the concept of mana. It’s like your status, honor, dignity and authority. You can get it through action, ancestors, lucky experience (being blessed by the supernatural). I’m not Māori so can’t claim full understanding but it’s like a social ranking system covering birthright, merit, fame all in one.

cwmoore 2y ago

- Freedom (US) I would like to see the Venn diagram for it? Here’s ikigai’s: https://performanceexcellencenetwork.org/pensights/finding-lifes-meaning-quest-discover-ikigai-pen-august-2017/ https://performanceexcellencenetwork.org/pensights/finding-l...

082349872349872 2y ago
> the Venn diagram ( ijawfnltl: ( f ) af ) ijawfnltl = is just another word for nothing left to lose f = freedom af = ain't free Lagniappe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLZtnqnV2Jc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLZtnqnV2Jc

d-trieu 2y ago

> Döstädning I've never heard of this despite living in Sweden for over 30 years

wodenokoto 2y ago
I would have thought the Swedish word encapsulating a better life, would have been “fika” Anyway, death cleaning seems more like a small Maria Kondo moment for Sweden than an actual cultural thing https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/cleaning/a45190/what-is-swedish-death-cleaning/ https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/cleaning/a451...

marttt 2y ago

Estonians as "forest people" -- Estonian researchers tracing the roots of this myth here: https://keeljakirjandus.ee/en/archives/26316 https://keeljakirjandus.ee/en/archives/26316 A full-length article by the same scholars: https://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol81/remmel_jonuks.pdf https://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol81/remmel_jonuks.pdf FWIW, I'm by no means trying to be cynical, especially considering that I do some (lighter) forestry work myself, have done lots of tree planting and definitely love being in the wilderness. Forest and nature do play a central role in our cultural heritage. Currently, however, other members of this same society carry out massive clear-cuttings in our forests. So... this is "us" as well, I guess. Demolishing and praising, side by side. That's why the work of these referred two scholars is really interesting, maybe even corageous in a way, considering that "forest wars" are a huge topic in Estonia these days.

fuzztester 2y ago

Susegad in Goa. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susegad https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susegad

spidersenses 2y ago

In Russian culture there is this concept called 'smekalka' (смекалка). It roughly means ingenuity or wit and is very often used in the context of MacGyvering a solution to an urgent or embarrassing problem.

mickeyfrac 2y ago

In Māori there is the concept of mana. It’s like your status, honor, dignity and authority. You can get it through action, ancestors, lucky experience (being blessed by the supernatural). I’m not Māori so can’t claim full understanding but it’s like a social ranking system covering birthright, merit, fame all in one.