This is the twentieth friend’s day in Finland accordin to YLE’s text-tv

Sorry. The first *official* friend’s day was in 1987
http://www.yle.fi/cgi-bin/tekstitv/ttv.cgi/10201/next

But according to mtv3′s text-tv this is the twentieth time we celebrate it

http://www.mtv3tekstikanava.fi/ (page 103)

Not too sure about those positive sides of American cultural imperialism.

Not too sure about those positive sides of American cultural imperialism.

If Finns didn’t love the American culture, it wouldn’t be here.

That’s so funny and so true!!

If Finns didn’t love the American culture, it wouldn’t be here.

Yeah, that’s true, but the majority of any people are more or less ignorant anyway

Ah, the friend’s day is an import by the finnish red cross and the post office. The former was selling cards for the good purposes and the latter was delivering them.

My sweetest friend’s day was in the 90′s. I was a rookie in the army (or actually at air force) in Tikkakoski, while my gf had all her lady friends to send me a card with lipstick stains etc. The card offensive left my corporals wondering, how that bloody nerd-looking physicist ever did that.

“Not too sure about those positive sides of American cultural imperialism.”

Yeah, what are they, Phil?

I’m also interested in those positive things?

I’m not there isn’t any, but what do you think those are?

Phil, no Conan posts lately? Grew tired of him already?

Finnish Red Cross “invented” the Friend’s Day in 1987.

http://www.redcross.fi

Funny post. I kinda like Valentine’s day – it’s always fun to surprise your girlfriend with a present. Doesn’t need to be too fancy either.

What’s wrong with a few chocolates and beers? My husband, I don’t think, even remembered what day it was but ironically my employer had bags of fazer chocolates and cards on everyone’s desk this morning which was awfully nice. Hallmark holidays are annoying but harmless.

Phil, no Conan posts lately? Grew tired of him already?

You know when you’re on a trip or holiday and you say to yourself, “yeah, i’ve had enough of this, I’m ready to go home” and you just happen to be leaving…it’s like that.

Yeah, what are they, Phil?

You don’t like what other cultures have to bring? Or just American culture?

What’s wrong with a few chocolates and beers?

Normal women don’t go for that.

I have a question for you all- how can an American girl meet a Finnish man? Are there websites, etc? I’m coming to Finland in the summer and would like to get to know some Finns before I come over.

There are many positive sides of American culture. We only take them for granted.

Anymay, I do not like import of American holidays. Exchange students and restaurant owners tried to start Halloween here without much success. Nobody has tried to import Thanksgiving, thanks.

i’m with the guys on the flower thing (i’m a girl). i wouldn’t want my guy to get me any. i’m not particularly fond of them. you get them and they die. woohoo.

#17 “how can an american girl meet a finnish man” try posting your email on this website. ha ha. or, try perfuming yourself like beer and deep fried kielbasa. it seems like there must be lots of available finnish men since most of the finnish women seem to be hooked up with foriegners.

“I’m gonna be honest here – I cannot for the life of me understand why women like flowers.”

My excuse for forgetting flowers is that I found presenting reproductive organs [of plants] somewhat obscene.

I wouldn’t be too worried about “American cultural imperialism”. After all, the Finns took the sauna from the Russians and the tango from Argentina and made those things part of the “typical Finnish culture”. People in all countries do that sort of things all the time. America itself being the best example. Most Americans believe in a middle eastern god, in the 20th century they built a society dependent on a moving vehicle invented in Germany, and they got their ideas of freedom from French philosophers.

Allthough i’m not overtly possitive towards american cultural influences(Christmas decorations i oktober) i for one enjoy fast food and movies from hollywood and “rock and roll”.

If Finns didn’t love the American culture, it wouldn’t be here.

Yeah, that’s true, but the majority of any people are more or less ignorant anyway
—————————-
It makes money. Nothing more

USA’s independence day as a public holiday in Finland (or anywhere in Europe as that matter)… I think not. Unless of course it is up-taken in an ironic way and American flags and puppets of George W Bush are burnt… that could catch on I suppose.

In India they object to Valentines Day as well.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=249843&cat=India
goodness gracious me!”

# 17 unless you want to email me, try http://www.finlandforum.org -its been a bit of a lonely hearts club lately

BTW – thanks guys for reminding! -
http://www.nullwave.net/lovebug.jpg

#17 meet Hank. Hank, #17.

I’m gonna be honest here – I cannot for the life of me understand why women like flowers.

Neither do I, except its always resulted in a snog

“Mark my words (I’m dead serious when I say this) – July 4th American Independence Day will be a national holiday in Finland by 2010. This country will be littered with American flags, fireworks and BBQ grills starting very soon. ”

It won’t happen because the government and the cities are have almost totally banned the use of fireworks. Only once a year, a single day, and they keep restricting the rule even more. I wouldn’t mind some good BBQ parties, though!

Beer brats… mmm…

I’m gonna be honest here – I cannot for the life of me understand why women like flowers.

Because they’re sensually stimulating – smell, touch, sight…. Their scent perfumes the air of lovers, and of friends; their colors and feel excite or calm the eye and flesh. Because they are gorgeous and give their beauty naturally, willingly. And because they are transitory, marking the moment of their receival.

My armchair psychology would would also endeavor to say that women have long been described as flowers, and so to give a woman enchanting flowers is to express an appreciation of a her beauty (inner and outer). Nevertheless, I also know many men who enjoy receiving flowers.

When I look at the flowers my husband gave to me today (and, formerly, at the ones I gave him last month), I find myself bewitched by them. It’s a simple pleasure, a joy. They needn’t cost much – a $7 cutting of opened stargazers that perfume my entire living room is one my greatest pleasures.

As for chocolate, it needn’t cost much either. Cacao has over 200 different flavors, and so it is one of the most complex foods on the planet. As an aphrodesiac, it stimulates a lover’s tongue…. Supposedly Montezuma drank over 20 cups over cacao a day before entering into his ‘harem’s’ chamber. P

So, my husband and I sit here after a inexpensive, but sumptuous dinner at home (take-out), having just finished watching Steve Martin’s hilarious, but romantic L.A. Story, and lounge casually on the couch enjoying our fresh flowers and candles while he now watches old episodesDr. Who. C’est magnifique! And cheap ($35 for everything)… and very un-commercial!

Oops, I forgot to include this quote I love:

I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck. –Emma Goldman

Funny. When I was in Helsinki last March for a day and a half, more than half of the stuff I saw had roots in American culture. Finnish guys can whine about America all they want because they know when an American guy is walking back to the hotel, there is probably a Finnish girl on their arm.

Please, please, please, I’m begging you to heed Phil’s warnings about the Friend’s Day! This is a slow sneaky and slippery road to financial ruin and eventually suicidal depression. Fight it with all you got, dear brothers, for North-Americans it’s already too late.

“You see, I screwed up bigtime years ago”

Obviously this depends on the likes of the woman you are with, but the main screwup men have is due to a lack of imagination. Any stranger can buy those things for a woman. You are right, Christmas was like fucking yesterday, so Valentine’s doesn’t need to be about expensive gifts. If you want Valentine’s to be meaningful, all you have to do is simply demonstrate two things:

1. You have been listening to her
Unless you have heard your better half say “I wish I had diamond earings”, buying her them will only make her feel happy because she knows you spent a lot of money on her. But that emotion fades fast. On the other hand, if you heard your better half say “Work is getting me down, I wish I could just call in sick and spend the day at the spa”. Plan it out, make it happen, and that emotion can last a lifetime.

2. You have been thinking of her
Instead of buying a card, take the time and effort to make one. Instead of just writing “To X, Happy Valentine’s Day, Love Y” on it, write about 200 words. If you notice her favourite coat has little rips that could spread, get it repaired. Stuff like that. It is the little things that matter.

You see, I screwed up bigtime years ago

Obviously this depends on the likes of the woman you are with, but the main screwup men have is due to a lack of imagination. Any stranger can buy those things for a woman. You are right, Christmas was like yesterday, so Valentine’s doesn’t need to be about expensive gifts. If you want Valentine’s to be meaningful, all you have to do is simply demonstrate two things:

1. You have been listening to her
Unless you have heard your gf say “I wish I had diamond earings”, buying them will only make her feel happy because she knows you spent a lot of money on her. But that emotion fades fast. On the other hand, if you heard her say “Work is getting me down, I wish I could just call in sick and spend the day at the spa”. Plan it out, make it happen, and that emotion can last a lifetime.

2. You have been thinking of her
Instead of buying a card, take the time and effort to make one from scratch. Instead of just writing “To X, Happy Valentine’s Day, Love Y” on it, write about 200 words. If you notice her favourite coat has little rips that could spread, get it repaired.

Finnish guys can whine about America all they want because they know when an American guy is walking back to the hotel, there is probably a Finnish girl on their arm.

Obviously this is the reason why I never get laid. You damn yankees.

Ah, outside of ring 3 there are at least two oficial firework times. Midsummer and New Year.. and if the authorities are not watching.

My BF and I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s day because our anniversary is only a week from it.

Had he bought me some stupid earrings on our first Valentine’s day, I would have been pretty disappointed. The only thing that a gift like that would have proved would have been that he had been paying no attention to the kind of person that I am and that he is all-round clueless.

I’ve never been the kind of girl to go for the flowers-candy-big car -type of wooing anyway. It’s so fake. Yesterday my BF sent me a very simple e-card that was yet so heartfelt and genuine that I totally melted. It’s like mapleleaf said, it’s the little things that count.

Besides, Valentine’s day is not an American holiday. It was originally celebrated in Italy, then in most of catholic Europe, then in Britain, and then in the US.

“Besides, Valentine’s day is not an American holiday. It was originally celebrated in Italy, then in most of catholic Europe, then in Britain, and then in the US.”

Actually, *in America* Valentine’s day is an American holiday. In Finland it’s an Finnish holiday. (I think that was Söderberg’s point at #22.) You all seem to have a pretty essentialistic concept of what is “real” culture in a country.

That was me.

I feel obliged to point out that Valentine’s Day is European, not American:

“The first recorded association of St. Valentine’s Day with romantic love was in the 14th century in England and France, where February 14 was traditionally the day on which birds paired off to mate. This belief is mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Parlement of Foules (1381). ”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day

Despite not being female (nor christian for that matter), I actually like St valentine’s Day. I sent my ife roses to her workplace (cliched I know, but she likes it), then we went to see a play and have dinner in the evening. What little romance there is in me I save for Feb 14.

-BM

Edit: I took so long writing a reply that I see Anzi beat me to the punch. Bah! ^_^

-BM

Let’s be precise:
Valentine’s day is *originally* European and not American.

The French celebrate it, too, so it cannot be all that American now can it?

Let’s be pedantically precise:
Valentine’s Day is originally *and still* European *as well as* American.

And the French eat at McDonalds, watch MTV and go to Disneyland just as much as the rest of us.

-BM

One thing I can’t really understand is why the whole Valentine’s Day thing is so one-sided… it’s always the chick who wants and gets the diamond earrings, chocolate, the cards, etc. And god help us if we can’t figure out what she likes, i.e. is she looking forward to getting the old school package like the one above….. or something totally opposite. Ok, the guys may (or may not) get laid…. All the time we hear about the chauvinist world and how us men are supposed to put down the toilet seat eventhough chicks should in theory share that responsibilty in an equal world, right Men just never bitch about all this stuff.

It’s time for a change……… you women can keep your Valentine’s Day. But from now on Sept 15th will be the global Steak & Blowjob Day. We’ll spend the day on the couch eating animal flesh and watching Ultimate Fighting…. with an occasional visit to the bedroom. Capiche?

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