Some people actually kiss while doing it.

September 6, 2010 3:51 PM

Letkis is a Finnish dance. Oh, here’s the music. And here's the history. Some people (the French, of course) actually kiss while doing it. Many other nationalities have picked it up, like the Japanese and the Hungarians. Here's Finland's baddest rap group doing their take. But the clip that prompted me to delve into all this letkiss-ania in the first place, were these sharp Italian twins (via Schadenfreudian Therapy).

Here’s how to dance the letkiss. Try it in a bikini! You can go up in the attic and play in on the accordian. So c'mon everybody, let's letkiss.

posted by Faze (18 comments total)

You know, after reading about Simo Hayha and watching Mika Hakkinen on Top Gear and getting the idea that the Finns are a bunch of insane, hard-bitten badasses, it's nice to have a data point on the other end of the badass scale.

Seriously though, great post.
posted by pts at 4:35 PM on September 6, 2010

Finland is so near to Russia, so far from Japan. Quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 5:11 PM on September 6, 2010

This dance explains high suicide rate in Finland.
posted by mert at 5:14 PM on September 6, 2010

actually I didnt mean that at all..no need to be mean spirited about a charming little dance
posted by mert at 5:15 PM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

Prior to this posting, I knew bubkis about letkis.
posted by milnak at 5:20 PM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

Duchamp surprised!
posted by Astro Zombie at 5:20 PM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

It's the bunny hop, no?
posted by rainbaby at 5:32 PM on September 6, 2010

The music sounded really familiar to me, and it was driving me crazy until I figured out that it's used in the Cave Story soundtrack.
posted by Stove at 5:35 PM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

Finland is so near to Russia, so far from Japan. Quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam.

Here are your internets, sir, for you have won them.

Also, considering they're Finnish, and I've met Finns, I bet they do not, in fact, talk to each other while doing this.
posted by WidgetAlley at 7:00 PM on September 6, 2010 [2 favorites]

Funnily enough, in Finland where we usually crave for even the smallest morsel of international recognition, the popularity of the letkis is no point of pride, rather considered something best to be forgotten.
posted by Authorized User at 7:38 PM on September 6, 2010

Thanks, WidgetAlley. I like how you get favorited!
posted by uncanny hengeman at 7:40 PM on September 6, 2010

@uncanny hengeman I favorited not due to his quoting you but the last sentence:

"Also, considering they're Finnish, and I've met Finns, I bet they do not, in fact, talk to each other while doing this."

I have also met Finns and this made me laugh.
posted by msjen at 9:25 PM on September 6, 2010

Um, yeah, that's the Bunny Hop.

[Insert joke about Finns kissing rabbits here.]
posted by erniepan at 9:53 PM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

I live in Sweden, and that looks somewhat similar to the mid-summer's dance here. Not to mention the Bunny Hop in the States (as someone already mentioned).
posted by mdbronco at 3:24 AM on September 7, 2010

Letkajenkka wiki.
posted by slimepuppy at 5:38 AM on September 7, 2010

Also, considering they're Finnish, and I've met Finns, I bet they do not, in fact, talk to each other while doing this.

In fairness, this is only because Finnish, as a language, is virtually impossible to speak. (Double-ä? WTF?)
posted by Sys Rq at 9:19 AM on September 7, 2010

Dub dub dubi dubi aaaargh... I think the badass rappers might actually be German. They have a habit of embracing the strangest things us Finns have to offer. This may be because Finns are typically more than happy to perpetuate myths, well-grounded or not, about being crazy badasses.
posted by ikalliom at 11:31 AM on September 7, 2010

This and Loituma makes me love Finland.
posted by divabat at 2:20 PM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]