July, August 2024 Events:
Tuesdays, July 23, 30 & August 06, 13, 20, 27 at 6:30-8:00pm: Dr. Hildur Schilling and the Fitchburg State University Community Orchestra invite you to attend their open rehearsals under the Saima Park- Sirkka Liukkonen Memorial Pavilion. Bring a picnic! Free parking and admission; Donations are always welcome. Safe weather permitting.
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Saturday, July 27, 8-10am. Pannukakku breakfast and humor: Finnish oven pancake, bacon, sausage, Finnish coffee bread, fruit, juice, coffee/tea/cocoa. $10. Loaves of coffee bread for sale. Vendors. Bring a Finnish joke and share some laughs after the breakfast! Finnish Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Rd, Fitchburg. https://www.saima-park.org/calendar2024.html#current
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SUNDAY, JULY 28,2024 53rd Annual CHICKEN BBQ
Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja
Finn Park Rd, off Pleasantdale Rd. Rutland, MA
SERVING 1:00-2:00 PM At Finn Park
Tickets must be purchased by July 17,2024
by calling 508 365-4062 to secure your tickets
Tickets will NOT be sold at the door
$18 for THE best Chicken BBQ:
MENU: 1/2 chicken, potato salad, 3 bean salad, fresh tomatoes & cukes, cranberry sauce, watermelon, bread, coffee, punch and dessert!
Tuesday, August 6 at 5:45pm. Nature walk. Mike Potsaid will share his knowledge about some of the wildflowers at Saima Park. Free parking and admission. Safe weather permitting.
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What can Finland teach us about democracy, happiness, health and sustainability? The finest facets of Finland will be on display at the 41st annual FinnFest this summer in Duluth.
FinnFest 2024
July 24-28
Keynote Speaker & Schedule
Pekka Haavisto was just confirmed as the keynote speaker for FinnFest 2024. A member of the Finnish Parliament, Haavisto served as the Foreign Minister when Finland joined NATO in 2023. He is a peace negotiator and a defender of democracy, the environment and human rights. A prominent and popular Finnish politician, Haavisto represents the Green League party and has also served as a Minister of the Environment and Minister for International Development. His FinnFest presentations will cover environmental and foreign affairs topics.
FinnFest has been North America’s foremost annual celebration of Nordic culture for more than 40 years. The family-friendly festival comes to the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) July 24-28.
The FinnFest 2024 schedule was just released. The five-day fest will include a plethora of performances, speakers and activities to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds.
FinnFest will feature more than 100 activities and events. Here are some of the highlights:
- Finland and Russia Panel: Featuring high-level military and cybersecurity expert Jarno Limnell, a member of the Finnish Parliament (National Coalition Party) and an Aalto University professor.
- Photo exhibit, “From Vietnam to Ukraine,” by Rauli Virtanen, acclaimed photojournalist and foreign correspondent.
- NAFL Floorball Season Finals Tournament featuring some of the best floorball players from nine different countries.
- Women in Leadership panel discussion featuring Hanna Snellman, vice president of the University of Helsinki, and additional panelists to be announced soon.
- Tori Nordic Fair, a traditional Finnish marketplace with food, music, vendors, exhibits, artisans and demonstrations.
- Sauna-oriented activities, including a Sauna Seminar and a Sauna Village as well as sauna merchandise at the Tori Nordic Fair.
- Family History Seminar, with new insights into how to use Nordic genealogy data.
- Finnish language seminars and historic area tours
- Architecture + Sustainability, with a focus on wood as a building material
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Mondays, August 5, 12, 19, 26 at 6-7pm. Gentle Yoga with Ellen Daoust under the Saima Park- Sirkka Liukkonen Memorial Pavilion.. Please bring a yoga mat and a towel. Free and open to the public. Rain or shine. Finnish Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Rd, Fitchburg. https://www.saima-park.org/calendar2024.html#current
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Finnish conductor and Finnish violinist at Tanglewood in August
Dalia Stasevska conducts Sibelius and Stravinsky featuring Leila Josefowicz, violin
Saturday, August 10, 8:00pm:
Follow this link for more information and to purchase tickets:
https://www.bso.org/events/sibelius-stravinsky?performance=2024-08-10-20:00
Tickets range from $22-$90 ($22, $27, $30, $50, $70, $90).
Sibelius, Stravinsky | Tanglewood
This concert is supported in part by Finlandia Foundation National,
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Saturday, August 24, 8-10am. Pannukakku breakfast: Finnish oven pancake, bacon, sausage, Finnish coffee bread, fruit, juice, coffee/tea/cocoa. $10. Loaves of coffee bread for sale. Vendors. Finnish Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Rd, Fitchburg. https://www.saima-park.org/calendar2024.html#current
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Now On Line Forest Finn Finnposium recorded and posted (FFN) Zoom session.
Finlandia Foundation National, in partnership with FinnFest, invites you to join the online “Finnposium” webinars that continue in 2024, highlighting the nationally recognized Forest Finn minority abroad and their current affairs in both Norway and Sweden. The webinar is moderated by Sarah Kammlah from Facebook’s Forest Finns in America, …. Register for the Zoom session. RSVP to the Finlandia Foundation. Missed it? Tune in to the recorded sessions
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The Summer – Fall sessions of Finnish Language Classes continue Below is the complete list of what is also offered online in August through October.
ELOKUU/ AUGUST
Morning Coffee/ Aamukahvi
Mondays 8/5-8/26 9-10 AM EST $60/ month
Aamukahvi is a relaxed new way of approaching learning Finnish. We are using the book Suomen Mestari 1, but very loosely. This class is based on participants’ own interests to express themselves and diving into grammar if needed. In August, we are taking a deeper look into language used in literacy; diving into Nancy Drew:)
Listen & Understand
Wednesdays 8/7-8/28 at 5.30-6 PM EST $30
30 minute weekly class with listening exercises, texts and questions provided a week ahead. You will hear the same text 3-4 times, and then you can answer the questions.
Sanakirja
Wednesdays 8/7-8/28 at 6-6.30 PM EST $35
30 minute weekly class about vocabulary given, making your own sentences. You will be given sentences in English and you will translate them in Finnish.
Suomi-kertaus
Wednesdays 8/7-8/28 at 7-8 PM EST $80
Reviewing chapters 4-7 in Suomen Mestari 1. This is a continuation for Suomi-kertaus 1 but if you have any previous studies and need a review about prepositions in, at, on, by, from… etc. or word and verb types and partitive usage, this class is for you.
SYYSKUU/ SEPTEMBER
Finnish Basics
Thursdays 9/19-10/31 at 7.30-8.30 PM EST $120
Beginner-level online class using the book Suomen Mestari 1. Chapters 1-6.
Sanakirja
Sunday Evenings 9/8-9/29 6.00-6.30 PM EST $35
30 minute weekly class about vocabulary given, making your own sentences. You will be given sentences in English and you will translate them in Finnish.
Easy Reading
Sunday Evenings 9/8-9/29 6.30-7.30 PM EST , $80
New texts with syllables helping your pronunciation and getting your emphasis right when speaking Finnish.
Morning Coffee/ Aamukahvi
Mondays 9/9-9/30 9-10 AM EST $60/ month
Aamukahvi is a relaxed new way of approaching learning Finnish. We are using the book Suomen Mestari 1, but very loosely. This class is based on participants’ own interests to express themselves and diving into grammar if needed.
LOKAKUU/ OCTOBER
Morning Coffee/ Aamukahvi
Mondays 10/7-10/28 9-10 AM EST $60/ month
Aamukahvi is a relaxed new way of approaching learning Finnish. We are using the book Suomen Mestari 1, but very loosely. This class is based on participants’ own interests to express themselves and diving into grammar if needed.
Sanakirja
Sunday Evenings 10/6-10/27 6.00-6.30 PM EST $35
30 minute weekly class about vocabulary given, making your own sentences. You will be given sentences in English and you will translate them in Finnish.
Listen & Understand
Sunday Evenings 10/6-10/27 at 6.30-7.00 PM EST $30
30 minute weekly class with listening exercises, texts and questions provided a week ahead. You will hear the same text 3-4 times, and then you can answer the questions.
September-November weekly classes:
Suomi-koulu of New England continues with a possibility of 3 adult groups on Zoom. (Beginners, Advanced Beginners and Advanced) in September.
9/11-11/27 for 12 weeks and continues 2/5-5/21/2025
Saima Park in Fitchburg is also offering in-person lessons on Monday evenings for Beginners and Advanced, 2 separate groups, starting 9/16-11/18 for 10 weeks.
If you are wondering which class might suit you best, please don’t hesitate to email me.
Terveisin Saija
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Wednesday, BIRCH BARK WORKSHOPS with ELAINE MOE*;
For more workshop information and much more see https://saima-park.org/index.html (near bottom) which includes two informative YouTube videos on birch bark harvesting and weaving.
*These workshops were supported in part by the Mass Cultural Council (MCC).
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WESTMINSTER JUHANNUS PROGRAM ON PUBLIC SERVICE
Wednesday June 19 at 7 pm, the Westminster Historical Society is inviting the public to attend its annual Juhannus program at the Westminster Farmers Cooperative building on Leominster Street. The program will be a presentation created by Mary Lyons about the history of town residents’ participation in public office for the past 100 years.
The first Finnish-American to serve in public office in the town was Henry Waltanen, who was elected Surveyor of Boards and Shingles at the annual town meeting in 1924, making this the 100th year since the first Finnish immigrants stepped into these public roles. Since then at least 175 persons of Finnish heritage have served Westminster in various capacities: elected town officials; appointed members of boards, commissions, and councils; and town department employees.
Knowing the historical background of these Finns while living in Finland will help us understand how they developed into citizens willing to serve the public with their inspiration and drive. Although we will focus on elected town officials, we have researched everybody we have become aware of with Finnish heritage and who has held any position in our town government.
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