Finnish Independence Day
Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää!! Happy Independence Day. Today is a supposed to be solemn day when Finland takes a day off, lights blue & white candles, and sits in front of the TV to gaze upon Finland’s elite partying at the Presidential “Palace”. Here’s some comparisons of the holiday from last year’s blog entry…
|
Finland
|
U.S.
|
|
| Date of independence |
December 6, 1917
|
July 4, 1776
|
| Mood |
Solemn, commemorative, |
Boisterious, casual, informal
|
| Weather |
Cold
|
Hot
|
| Parades? |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| What to watch? |
Presidential ball
|
Baseball
|
| What to drink? |
Glögi
|
Beer
|
| What to do? |
Sauna
|
BBQ
|
| Where to go? |
Home, graveyard
|
Park, neighbor’s house
|
| What to light up? |
Two blue/white candles
|
Fireworks
|
| Who gets invited to a party? |
The President’s friends and the Finnish elite
|
Everyone
|
| Whom to honor? |
Veterans
|
Hot Dogs & Hamburgers
|
| Day after independence |
December 7th
|
My birthday
|
Gotta disagree with your “who gets invited to the party.” For one thing; Yes, there’s the “elite”, goverment, diplomatic staff, and so on, but also ordinary citizens.
In the US, it’s not everyone, it’s “no one”. The White House *used* to host such events comparable to the Finnish ball. However, they were dropped during FDR’s (or Hoovers) time and not reinstated by Truman or any president ever since.
From Wiki:”Jefferson also permitted public tours of his home, which have continued ever since, except during wartime, and began the tradition of annual receptions on New Year’s Day and on the Fourth of July. Those receptions ended in the early 1930s.”
Comment by Zarr — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 2:34 pm
I got invited to a party to sit around, drink and eat some and watch the Presidential ball
..and I guess I’m not the only one. This seems to be some kind of tradition atleast around my family, friends and relatives.
Comment by laur — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 3:12 pm
Yeah!
Looking forward to the reception at the embassy tonight!
Comment by Fred Fry — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 3:41 pm
One “tradition” is to watch is the B&W “Unknown Soldier” on the TV. Just popped into my local sports pub and it was on the “big screen”.
Comment by Hank W. — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 4:29 pm
I am going to an Independence Day party here in Stockholm organised by FRIS (Finlandssvenskarnas riksförbund i Sverige)… sadly the Embassy did not invite me… I suppose there are rather a lot of Finns in Sweden, so they’d need a bigger embassy…
Trevlig självständighetsdag!
Comment by JG — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 4:35 pm
Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää. Happy 89th Independence Day Finland
Comment by Blah — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 4:38 pm
infinndel has been quietly observing the commentary and strong debate on F.F.T.,about Finland’s complex historical actions during those terrible times of WW2….WAR brings out the worst and best actions by mankind engaged in horrific history….
Finnish people can only look back and reflect on their confusing history during that time..
Somehow,whatever happened at that timeline enabled FINLAND to become one of the greatest and most respected countries on this planet!!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO FINLAND…innfinndel from massachusetts
Comment by inFINNdel — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 5:11 pm
Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää!
Trevlig Självständighetsdag!
Happy Independenceday!
Comment by Mikael — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
Well, this dismal season doesn’t exactly lend itself to wild street festivities… The presidential ball is slightly less interesting than watching grass grow, but in general I like this understated way the independence is celebrated. It is a valued thing here for many good historical reasons and in this culture you don’t shout about valued things from the rooftops as such boasting would devalue them.
Comment by mjr — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 5:25 pm
The presidential ball is slightly less interesting than watching grass grow
Sure, if you’re a heterosexual male.
Then again, it is moderately interesting to see how many veterans can still make it there. Some day, there will be none.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 5:33 pm
Hey, if I forget to tell you tomorrow, Happy Birthday, Phil.. if it really is your birthday on the 7th…
And Happy Independence Day, Finland!
Comment by Mo — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 7:36 pm
Do English speakers understand glögi? It’s usually translated to mulled wine in menus.
Comment by Suviko — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 7:49 pm
Do English speakers understand glögi? It’s usually translated to mulled wine in menus.
Mulled wine is glühwein, oder nicht? Not the same thing as glögi/glögg.
Glögi as we know it would appear to be a 100% Nordic thing. We have taken a liking to the (at least) German way of having glühwein with a dash of amaretto.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
Btw, I thought you might like the bizarre news item, related to independence day in a way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsjOLvYcuTc
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Veteraani+kuoli+panssarivaunun+alle/1135223486035
An elderly war veteran was calmly seated to watch the official military parade in Jyväskylä and suddenly ran in the middle of parade street, lay down and was run over by an armoured vehicle.
Comment by Suviko — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 8:03 pm
Glögi came to Finland through other Nordic countries from the German-speaking region. Mulled wine has many local standards and common variations in Europe. It can be made of wine or juices, it can have alchocol (vodka, cognac, brandy, liqueurs like cherry…).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulled_wine
Comment by Suviko — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 8:10 pm
Although they are the same in principle—for the most part, I’m sure—there’s a difference in taste. Glögi is sweeter (but not too sweet), whereas glühwein is usually more sour; maybe some exceptions exist though.
In Germany, most towns/cities have elaborate, outdoor Christmas markets. I normally look for a Swedish or Finnish stand that sells glögi, since I usually prefer it over glühwein. I guess warm-and-sour drinks don’t appeal to me.
I like sour bier though, if it’s cold.
Comment by Kristian (in Espoo) — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 10:59 pm
Phil.. if it really is your birthday on the 7th…
Mine’s the day after the American independence day.
Comment by Phil — Wed, Dec 6th, 2006 @ 11:45 pm
Just back from party.
For those of us who can laugh at ourselves (and can understand Swedish), here’s joke…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL-S2JdCDHU&mode=related&search=
Also, I know this is off topic, but it made me laugh so much I have to share. A Swedish joke about the Danes… (you need to understand Swedish, well mock Danish):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YFmCAdhdNQ&mode=related&search=
Comment by JG — Thu, Dec 7th, 2006 @ 1:24 am
OH, well.. then.. un-happy birthday to you tomorrow
save it for later, I suppose…
Comment by Mo — Thu, Dec 7th, 2006 @ 4:46 am
JG: You don’t need to speak those languages to get some of the references!
)
That parody of a Finn is perfect!
As to the Danish ones, I remember reading somewhere that the Danish Film Institute had figured out an Oscar winning formula (Babette’s Feast, Pelle the Conqueror), and began churning out these cookie cutter nostalgic films about quaint Danish country bumpkins and how terrific things were in a European past, knowing that it would appeal to those blue-state American audiences that lap that stuff up. This little clip hits the spot on that one.
Comment by Finnpundit — Fri, Dec 8th, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
Trevlig självständighetsdag to all. In a muted tone my good friend O. Markkonen and I will be toasting the fallen heroes of the civil, winter and continuation wars, with Finlandia and my homespun Applejack while we watch the epic Talvisota.
It is noteable for those that are unaware that Finland actually won the Talvisota from a nationalist perspective as She did not go the way of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, etc.
Comment by L Gustafsson — Fri, Dec 7th, 2007 @ 12:17 am