Kalsarikännit: the art of drinking alcohol alone in your underwear

Kalsarikännit: the art of drinking alcohol alone in your underwear

Far from being shameful, this Finnish drinking ritual is, on the contrary, all about enjoying some "me time".

‘Kalsarikännit’ is Finnish for ‘drinking at home, alone, in your underwear’. (Rawpixel pic)

[NON-HALAL]: The Nordic countries are known for their cocooning rituals and hygge lifestyles, with throw pillows, thick sweaters and soothing hot drinks. But a custom from Finland proposes a somewhat less stylized approach to hunkering down at home.

Called Kalsarikännit — or “drinking at home, alone, in your underwear” — this practice involves enjoying a glass of alcoholic tipple while wearing minimal clothing.

This apparently allows you to enjoy a precious moment of “me time,” to relax and be alone with just yourself for company. Be aware, however, that getting drunk is not the goal here.

Given the Finnish climate, it’s not hard to see how the tradition has taken root in the country, with its interminable winters, where it’s more often night than day, and with sub-zero temperatures. None of that is particularly conducive to leaving the house.

But Kalsarikännit is more than just a forgotten tradition or local folklore.

Two emojis were launched in 2015 by a public diplomacy unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — one of a man in underwear with a beer, the other of a woman with a glass of red wine. And it’s a concept that’s easy to export too.

It even has an equivalent English name, “Pantsdrunk.” Maybe Homer Simpson was on to something after all…

With Kalsarikännit, socializing is out, at least for one night. Seeing friends in a bar rarely involves just one drink. But here, you’re fully in control of your consumption, as well as what time you finish and go to bed.

So, don’t feel bad if you refuse to go out on a Friday night and choose instead to spend the evening with a drink in your hand, your best underwear on, and a good show on TV.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.