The Most Important Source of Support for Finnish Culture in the United States
|
|
Photo by Pete Heck courtesy VisitFinland.com
|
|
Did You Know...
...that the statue of Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-1877), Finland's national poet, carries no indication of the subject of the monument?
Runeberg authored the lyrics of Maamme (Vårt land in Swedish, Our Land), the national anthem of Finland, and his identity was presumed self-evident, according to the Helsinki Art Museum.
Sculptor Walter Runeberg, his son, created the tribute, which stands in Helsinki's Esplanadi. At the base, the Maiden of Finland holds a tablet with the words of Maamme.
J.L. Runeberg's birthdate, February 5, is a holiday in Finland. For more information about him, click here.
Helsinki Art Museum photo
|
|
Greetings!
As we round the corner on winter and head toward spring (at least on the calendar), we are making the most of the longest-shortest month of the year.
On February 5, many of us enjoyed Runeberg cake in honor of Finland's National Poet J.L. Runeberg, and on Shrove Tuesday indulged in laskiaispulla, a sweet pre-Lenten tradition. February 28 is Kalevala Day, or Finnish Culture Day, in recognition of the national epic poem. For the third year, Finlandia University will host its 3rd Annual Kalevalathon, a marathon reading of The Kalevala online (see item below).
A brief but busy month. For Valentine's Day we premiered a beautiful concert of romantic music (see below). Next week we present the second in our monthly "My American Dream" interviews and concert from Nurmes, Finland featuring cellist Jussi Makkonen and pianist Nazig Azezian. Please check out these offerings at our YouTube channel's Finnposium, where you'll find a variety of programs that will continue to grow.
It's the goal and the role of FFN to virtually share the culture and stories of Finnish America and Finland with the wider audience we now have the potential to reach. Complemented by programming presented by FFN affiliated organizations, we are building awareness of our shared heritage and what's happening in Finland today.
Our network of chapters is to be commended for carrying on and adapting to the challenges caused by COVID-19, as we learned during our well-attended virtual Joint Chapter Meeting on January 21. We look forward to increased cooperation and connectivity with FFN affiliates across the U.S.
Anne-Mari Paster
President
|
|
February 28 is Kalevala Day. Click here for more about Finland's national epic poem The Kalevala, compiled by Elias Lönnrot and first published in 1835.
Finlandia University is hosting Kalevala Week February 23-27, with some online events; for details: Kalevala Week
|
|
|
Chapter Spotlight: Finnish American Heritage Society of Canterbury
|
|
The Finnish Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places
The Connecticut Connection
Lured by cheap land, Finnish immigrants found their way to Connecticut as early as the 1920s.
Aided by sisu, many set about farming the rocky terrain in the area of Canterbury, in the heavily forested northeast corner of the state.
The influx of Finns included those departing FinnTown in Brooklyn, which had been---along with the earlier FinnTown in Harlem---a first home for emigrating Finns who chose to stay in New York, where work in carpentry and the construction industry was plentiful.
|
|
FAHS worked with the Connecticut Historical Society on a special exhibit
A large number of those who left the city for Canterbury started poultry farms for egg production and broiler chickens. Soon, they established agricultural cooperatives and social halls, including the building that today is the home of the Finnish American Heritage Society (FAHS).
The Canterbury Finnish Hall was built by the Finnish American Education Association, and dedicated on Christmas day of 1925. A stage was soon added for theatrical and musical productions that were an important part of the tightly knit community's social scene.
|
|
Light Up Long Winter Nights
|
If you live in a winter wonderland, warm up cold nights with the glow of candlelight in a Finnish ice lantern.
Photo by Colleen Smith, special to The Denver Post
|
|
|
|
FFN Hosts New Monthly Interview Program
|
In "My American Dream," tech investor Michel Wendell chats with Finnish and Finnish-American entrepreneurs who are pursuing success in the U.S.
On Thursday, February 25 you'll meet Thuong Tan, who grew up in Finland and founded the plant-based instant noodles company Noodelist in Palo Alto, CA. Watch it at the FFN YouTube channel.
|
|
|
|
Finlandia Foundation brings you a special concert by pianist Ruusamari Teppo (right) and soprano Maria Männistö (below). The program at the FFN YouTube channel features stunning visuals to accompany romantic music and words of love by composers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Music, Books, Food, Discussions & More
Finnposium is Finlandia Foundation National's virtual symposium featuring a variety of online chats, webinars, musical and other presentations related to Finland and Finnish culture in the U.S.
|
|
|
|
PO Box 92046
Pasadena, CA 91109
Phone: 626.795.2081
Fax: 626.795.6533
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|