SuFin

Pairing
Pairing:	SuFin
Alternative name(s):
Gender category:	M/M
Fandom:	Hetalia
Canonical?:	One sided
Prevalence:	Common
Archives:	Works at AO3, Works at FF.net
Other:
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SuFin is a ship from Hetalia between Sweden and Finland. It is the most popular ship for both characters.

Canon

Finland used to be a part of Sweden, but was incorporated into the Russian Empire and eventually declared independence. Sweden calls Finland his wife, but Finland thinks that is nonsense.

Fandom

SuFin is a common ship among the Nordic characters in Hetalia, and it is the most popular ship for both characters. SuFin fanwork usually includes depictions of the two on a historical battlefield or a domestic setting. A lot of fanwork include the SuFin family, that is, Sweden and Finland as the parents and Sealand their son. In common Hetalia fashion, there is also a lot of comedy and playful country stereotypes.

Finland is often the stereotypical uke of SuFin fanwork but there is a significant section of the fans who prefer a more strong-willed Finland; he has, after all, faced the most hardships out of all the Nordic characters, as per the creator's word.

Criticisms

SuFin ship has, for the most part, been received well by fans, including fans in Finland. Among Finnish fans it is likely among the most popular ships. However, there have been opposing voices as well. Criticism of the ship is usually focused on the way Finland as a character is depicted in Hetalia canon, as well as how fans usually depict the ship: with the tall, masculine Sweden coming to save his "wife" Finland. This rubs some people the wrong way especially because it is historically inaccurate.

Moni on täällä varmaan kuullu tästä tanskalaisesta henkilöstä joka kulkee netissä nimimerkillä humon? Se piirtää kans tällaista Hetalia tyylistä sarjakuvaa mutta pohjoismailla (Scandinavia and The world). Mun mielestä SIINÄ on Suomi sellasena ko se olla pitää. Lähes mykkä, harmaahiuksinen juoppo ja aina puukko mukana Ruotsille "rakkautta" osoittamaan.
(English translation: Many here have probably heard of a Danish person who uses the name humon online? They also draw this Hetalia style comic but with the Nordics (Scandinavia and the World). In my opinion, Finland THERE is how Finland should be. Nearly mute, grey-haired drunkard and always with a knife to show Sweden his "love".)

Satou, July 11, 2011

Kuten joku jo mainitsi, Suomi on aika epäsuomimainen.. : / Onhan Tino hahmona ihana, mutta Suomeksi hän ei juurikaan sovi.
Mielestäni Suomen pitäisi olla tyttö (SUOMINEITO!!), ujo, epäsosiaalinen, synkähkö ja hiljainen sellainen. Vähän niin kuin GenderBender Norja tai Islanti. XD Koska suurin osa suomalaisista on kuulemma epäsosiaalisia. Ja mielestäni Suomen ei juurikaan kuuluisi olla niin läheinen Ruotsin kanssa. (Itse ainakin tunnen kasoittain ihmisiä, jotka eivät pidä Ruotsista -siis maasta, ei henkilöstä- ja ruotsinkielestä, ym.)
(English translation: Like somebody already said, Finland is pretty un-Finnish.. : / Of course Tino is lovely as a character, but not very fit to be Finland.
In my opinion, Finland should be a girl (THE FINNISH MAIDEN!!), shy, unsocial, gloomy and the quiet kind. Almost like a genderbent Norway or Iceland. XD Because most Finns are unsocial, I heard. And in my opinion, Finland should not be very close with Sweden. (At least I know lots of people who don't like Sweden -the country, not the person- and the Swedish language, etc.)

Shichiro-chan, May 4, 2010

Some of these criticisms were voiced by Finland in the fan comic m' goddamn wife by EfronDaRabbit: "I'd just really fucking appreciate it if you would stop referring to me as your goddamn wife. Seriously, the Soviet Union couldn't even occupy this piece of ass, while yours was being walked over by Germany like it was their bottom bitch. Ahaha! I hope I sounded clear enough! ♡"

Kinnie on Hetalia! Amino made a long post detailing their dislike of the ship, listing multiple reasons ranging from how the ship went against their personal headcanons, as well as analyzing Finland's reactions and uncomfortableness around Sweden in certain episodes and talking about how the ship is portrayed in fanon as oversexualized. They also went into detail about some the historical criticisms one could have:

another reason why i dislike sufin is because of historical reasons. the swedish colonization of finland occurred during the northern crusades, which was from the 12th century and into the 1350s. the colonization focused on the finnish archipelago and costal regions, hence the swedish-speaking population of finland. now, even though sweden had also colonized other areas (part of the americas, guadeloupe, etc) this is still not a good thing. usually, colonies aren’t very liking of the mother country/colonizer, as you would know if you pay attention in school. and no, the finnish are not „uwu submissive” in this scenario. get your head on straight.

Kinnie, August 4, 2020.

Oof replied:
I'll add to this that most Finnish Hetalia fans really dislike SuFin, because of history and because from a lot of Finnish people's POV, Sweden has always been more of an arrogant bastard who forced the language and culture on us

Example Fanworks

Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples.

Archives and Communities

• Finland/Sweden on AO3.
• SuFin on Fanfiction.net.