Wishing a Hyvää Joulua to all!

Since Finnish Independence in 1918, it has been a tradition for families in Finland to place two lighted candles in each window of their homes on Dec. 6 to celebrate Itsenäisyyspäivä (Finnish Independence Day). Many people of Finnish descent in the U.S. also do the same. However, did you know that this long-time tradition actually came from an even earlier tradition?

Legend tells us that in the 1800s and early 1900s, two candles were used as a sign to young Finnish men — who were on their way to Sweden or Germany to join the infantry — that the house offered shelter and a place to hide from the Russians. In the years before the Independence of Finland, this candle lighting became a tradition as a silent protest against the Russians and their oppression of Finnish people. During those years, Finnish families placed candles in their windows on Feb. 5, the birthday of poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg who wrote the Finnish song, “Maamme,” which has long been considered the national anthem of Finland. After Finnish Independence was declared on Dec. 6, 1918, though, this tradition was changed to Dec 6.

Tradition is very important to the Finns, especially during holidays, whether they are in Finland or the U.S. Although some of the December events have come and gone, it’s not too late to the celebrate Pikkujoulu (Little Christmas) and Itsenäisyyspäivä (Finnish Independence Day).

Enjoy the Sami Cultural Center’s annual Holiday Open House on Sunday, Dec. 9, from 2-5 p.m. at the Sami Center, 4915 East Superior Street, #205, Duluth. A special program, Telling the Alaska Sami Story: An Exhibit History, will begin at 2:30 p.m. and cover the creation of the exhibit and its many travels throughout Alaska, the United States and Sápmi. Portions of the Sami Reindeer People of Alaska exhibit are now on display at the Center and will be available for viewing. This exhibit tells the little-known story of the Sami people hired by the U.S. government in 1894 and 1898 to teach reindeer husbandry to Alaskan Natives. Along with the program, you can enjoy the Christmas spirit, the camaraderie of Finnish friends, and delicious refreshments. This is one of the few Finnish Christmas events in the area that is free and open to the public and for which you don’t need reservations or a ticket.

A Finland Independence Day celebration is planned for Monday, Dec. 10 at Zeitgeist Arts, 222 East Superior Street, Duluth. As part of Zeitgeist’s “Spirit of Duluth” film and dinner series, the celebration will include a three-course Finnish-themed dinner for up to 50 people at 5:30 p.m. followed by a free showing of a Finnish film (with English subtitles) at 7:15 p.m. (The dinner is now sold out, but there may still be film tickets available.) The film theater can accommodate 120 people so those who don’t participate in the dinner may still be able to view the film with a free ticket. Find more information about the event at http://www.zeitgeistarts.com or by calling 218-336-1413. Zeitgeist has been featuring several other countries/cultures for the past year and a half and we are thrilled that they have offered to feature Finland!

Most of us have Christmas and other holiday traditions that we carry on with our families and friends and communities throughout the year. I encourage each of us to consider adding the “two candles in the window” tradition on Dec. 6 in honor of our Finnish heritage. This would be equal to the tradition of honoring and waving the American flag on the Fourth of July. Although it will be past Dec. 6 by the time you read this, lighting the candles during the Christmas season would result in a beautiful and peaceful memory for you and others. It would also give you the chance to proudly display and talk about “maa kallis isien,” your “precious father’s land” to your children, grandchildren and others.

Hyvää Joulua! Merry Christmas!