Itsenäisyyspäivä

It's Finnish Independance Day!  Jen is Finnish so she's educated me on the proper celebration of this important holiday.

On this day Finns gather together quietly to remember their fallen soldiers and to celebrate their independance from Russia, which was finally gained in 1917.  It is traditional to dress up nice, behave well and light candles on this day.  It is also the premier social event in Finland where the President will host a lavish social bash at her castle.  The fashions displayed there will be discussed for weeks to come.  Finns all over are quietly crying right now because they did not get an invitation.

They will eat Karjalanpiirakka or Karelian Pastries, a savory pastry made of rye flour filled with potatoes.  If you're a Terävä you'll gather around the television to watch the President shake hands with anyone-who-is-anyone for three hours while eating burritos.  That's right, those Finns eat traditional Mexican food on their Traditional Finnish Holiday.  Jen says it's a rather boring holiday, though as a scout she gets to participate in a Torch Parade, "With real flaming torches!"

At 6pm tonight, Finns around the country will place two lit candles in every window.  They do this because during World War I, many young Finnish men were making the dangerous trek through Finland on their way to Sweden or German to become Jagers--or volunteer soldiers who fought the Russians.  They looked for the candles in the windows to know where they could be hidden safely from the Russians for the night.

We will not be placing any candles in our windows tonight, since open flames are forbidden in our historical and wooden Chalets.  We will however be watching a film about the Unknown Soldier and we may even eat some Karjalanpiirakka.

Jen is from Heinola and she says:  "Heinola laajentaa!!" or Heinola Rules!!!

Heinola is a town of approximately 20,000 and is famous for holding the Sauna World Championships.  The rules are simple:

1. Men and women compete separately
2. The temperature in the sauna is 110 degrees celcius
3. The moisture and temperature are increased every 30 seconds when 1/2 liter of water is thrown on the stove
4. Whoever can stand it the longest wins.

Jen says you can sail to Russia from Heinola if you like, and there are lots of beautiful lakes and trees there.  Her grandparents own a summer cottage where they like to go for long hikes.  One day Jen will get a pony to keep at the summer cottage and then I will visit her there and take the pony on long rides.

Happy Itsenäisyyspäivä!!

In other news:  POD has been updated.