A Finnish Drinking Game...

A couple nights ago I went to a house-warming/going-away party for some friends and I was excited because - I haven't been to a Finnish house party yet.  Well, I've been to "family-friendly gatherings" but I have never consumed alcohol at those ones and I certainly did not plan to drink that night either!  (Mostly because I am still breast-feeding and partially because I did not have time to go out and buy anything).
So I showed up with a bowl of freshly baked cookies and after a few minutes of awkwardly standing there not knowing anyone - or what they were saying  - as it was all very fast - someone decided it was time for a drinking game.
Oh boy.  "I'll just watch and join later" was my excuse.
Well, they weren't having it!  The husband was away for a few days attending a conference in Germany - so surely I needed a break and someone gave me a cider!
We all sat in a circle and they began to explain the rules as best as they could remember it in English.

Now - the thing with Finns who are drinking or have had a lot to drink - is that they tend to be very brave and speak A LOT of English...even though it's not their first language or one they practice often.
And so far - every drunk Finn I have encountered, has had pretty great English!  I think it's something in the drink - that just helps them shed away the modesty and shyness and they really let loose with their language skills!

So a deck of cards was found and we all sat in a circle...
I cannot remember the rules perfectly (I only had 1 drink!!) but I will try my best to describe it and some of it may be wrong but at least you get an idea of their version of a drinking game!
*I have never participated in a drinking game in Canada...so this was a first for me!*


One person at a time flips the top card of the deck and whatever card is shown, determines what the action is required.
* means I can't remember the colour - black or red.
** means opposite colour!

• #2-6 in red (*): the person flipping the card has to drink their beverage ___ times as the number shown on the card 
• #2-6 (**): the person gets to choose who has to drink __times as the number shown on the card.  Also it's possible that they divide it like "3 sips to John, 1 sip to Melissa and 1 sip to George!" (5 is shown)
• Queen (any colour): "Waterfall" - so when this card is shown, the person who flipped the card must begin drinking and not stop...the whole circle (think like a "wave") begins to drink one after another in order that they sit (clock-wise) and you must continue to drink until the last person in the circle chooses to stop.  Then the circle reverses order as they stop drinking.  So either way, the flipper has to drink the most.
• #8 (any colour): You have to keep this card and do some sort of signal (i.e. play with your hair) throughout the game and the last person to "get it" and copy you has to drink ("penalty")
• #7 (any colour): Everyone holds 3 fingers up and the flipper goes first.  You have to say something true about something you have NEVER EVER done before.  (I.e. "I have never ever smoked before")  So those in the circle that HAVE done this thing - they have to "lose a life" and put down a finger....and each person goes in the circle and says something they have never done before.  Then whoever "loses all 3 lives" first - has to drink.
• Jack card (any colour) - you have to smack your forehead and everyone has to do it.  Whoever doesn't or is the last one - has to drink.
• #10 (any colour) - everyone has to agree on making a rule like "You have to say 'Cheers'! before taking a drink or else you have to have another drink!"
• King - I think it was you could make a rule everyone had to abide - like above.
• #9 was a break card.  You could use it whenever you wanted to use the bathroom or have a smoke.

Phew.  And that is how they do it in Finland.