Today is suomalaisuudenpäivä — The Day of Finnish Identity. In Finland, flags rise in honour of J.V. Snellman, the statesman and philosopher who championed the Finnish language and helped shape the soul of a nation. He believed in a Finland that could speak — in its own language, with its own voice. For those of…
Tag: Helsinki
Nineteen- Fiftysix
In the gentle rhythm of 1956 Helsinki, my grandfather, a man of meticulous habits and refined taste, commenced his daily journey. From my grandparents’ snug home on Näkinkuja, he embarked on his morning routine, preparing carefully for the day ahead. Then a vibrant 15-year-old, my mum filled their home with her youthful exuberance, and it…
Roots & Wings
As Finns living overseas, our identity is a delicate dance between the past and present, a symphony that resonates with the echoes of our homeland while embracing the richness of foreign lands. The Finnish term “ulkosuomalaiset” encapsulates those of us born in Finland but living overseas, each of us sharing a common thread despite our…
Apples of Gold 