FINN news

Well, It's now February, the month of Laskiainen, the Finnish sliding party. And it's almost March, the month of St. Urho, the patron saint of Finland. And it's getting really close to the start of spring .... And, after the winter we've had in the Northland, most everyone is very, very eager to have spring get busy getting started!

Here are some upcoming events and meetings in the Finnish community in the next couple months to help you get out and enjoy the last of winter and the (finally! hopefully!) start of spring!

The Ladies of Kaleva Aallottaren Tupa #15 will be hosting their annual Kalevala Day celebration Sunday, Feb. 24 at Kenwood Lutheran Church, 2720 Myers Avenue, Duluth. The doors will open at 1 p.m. with the program starting at 2 p.m. The program will be a skit about "The Kalevala" as well as music by Jaana and Ralph Tuttila, of the Finnish music group Finn Hall Band. And, of course, a coffee and refreshment time will give you a chance to catch up with Finnish friends! In addition, there will be a tori offering items items for purchase, including treats of baked goods and pulla, handcrafted items, artwork, white elephant items, and more. Kalevala Day is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend.

On Thursday, Feb. 28, Kalevala Day will also be celebrated at the historic Kaleva Hall, 125 Third St. North in Virginia. The event will start at 1 p.m. with Kahvi (coffee) and goodies. The 1:30 p.m. program will feature the tale of the great pike fish that got away. Find out what happened to those mammoth fish bones and how they still bring music to our hearts today! We will also learn how "The Kalevala" influenced our Finnish-American ancestors as they migrated to northern Minnesota, and how it is intertwined with the Knights and Ladies of Kaleva still today. While there is no admission fee, a donation is requested to help support the preservation and maintenance of Kaleva Hall. Come and enjoy! Learn more about and celebrate Kalevala Day!

The Finlandia Beach Club will host its annual Laskiainen on Sunday, March 3 at the Cloquet Armory, 801 Hwy 33 South, Cloquet. A pea soup meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Kanteleen Soittajat group will provide music. In addition, you can buy tickets for the raffle drawing and also get in on drawings for prizes.

The Ladies of Kaleva Aallottaren Tupa #15, Duluth, will hold their next meeting on Monday, March 11 starting at 6 p.m. at the Kenwood Lutheran Church in Duluth. They will have a short informal meeting which will end about 6:30 p.m., and then they will be joined by the members of the Sampo Beach Association for coffee and goodies. At 7 p.m., the Sampo Beach annual membership meeting will start, and all members are invited and highly encouraged to attend. Annual Sampo membership dues can be paid at the meeting. If you are interested in joining either group, you are heartily welcome to attend both meetings.

The Knights and Ladies of Kaleva Pohjolaisen Maja #25 and Soinnuttaren Tupa #32, Virginia, will be meeting on Thursday, March 14 starting at 6 p.m. at Kaleva Hall in Virginia. The agenda will include the election and installation of officers. The second meeting of the month will be held on Thursday, March 28 and will include a short meeting as well as a program. Both the Knights and Ladies invite and encourage all members to attend their meetings and programs, and they are excited to welcome all visitors and people interested in joining the group.

The Friends of Finland Community is holding its 44th annual St. Urho's Day celebration Friday-Sunday, March 15-17 in Finland, Minn. Although Saturday will be the main celebration day, the weekend will be filled with a parade, music, a beauty pageant, snow sculptures, food, face painting, and other community activities. This year's theme is "Catching Hoppers: St. Urho Builds a Thingamajiggy!" and they encourage everyone, including children, to come and check out the "thingamajiggy!" You can see what the group is up to on Facebook (St. Urho's Celebration in Finland MN) or on their website (www.friendsoffinland.org). Everyone is invited to join in celebrating St. Urho and to have some fun!

The Ladies of Kaleva of Kaleva III Degree Perintö Tupa #8, Duluth, will sponsor a St. Urho's Day celebration Sunday, March 17 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the community building at Zenith Terrace in Proctor. The afternoon will include games, contests and prizes in honor and recognition of St. Urho, along with green and purple foods. Dress up in your cutest or most unusual St. Urho's Day costume (or at least in green and purple) and come have some St. Urho FinnFun, plus time to laugh and visit with Finns and friends. All III and II Degree Kaleva sisters from the Duluth and Cloquet tupas are invited and encouraged to attend and to bring a friend or two, including spouses and children. For more information, contact Kim at 218-428-3281 or [email protected].

The Ladies of Kaleva Vellamon Tupa #4, of Ely, will celebrate their annual St. Urho's Day potluck on Tuesday, March 26 starting at noon, at the Grahek Apartments Community Room in Ely. Bring your favorite Finnish dish to share (and the recipe, too). Members and guests are encouraged and welcome to attend!

Kettle River's Kim Samuelson is a fan of all things Finnish.