Happy Independence Day, Finland!

[GordMay]

On this day, in 1917, the Finland declared its independence from Russia.
Finland had been a grand duchy of the Russian Empire since 1809, and it was part of the Swedish Empire for the previous 600 years. However, during the Russian revolutions of 1917, Finnish nationalists saw their chance to establish an independent nation. After several months of negotiations, Finland declared independence on December 6.

[TeddyDiver]

Thanks Gord!

[GordMay]

Finnish is such a beautiful language.
There's a word, “Kalsarikännit” [alt: ‘päntsdrunk’], which basically means “drinking at home, [more or less] alone, in your underwear [with no intention of going out]”.
This tells me all I need to know, about Finland.

In Finnish, Independence Day is: "Itsenäisyyspäivä".

FWIW: Thunder Bay [my home port] and area claims to have the largest population of Finnish people, anywhere, outside of Finland.
In addition to having the highest proportion [11.04%] of people with Finnish Ethnic Origin, Thunder Bay District also has the highest nominal number in Canada, at 15,785, compared to the Greater Vancouver district in second place at 14,085.

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Finnish is such a beautiful language.
There's a word, “Kalsarikännit” [alt: ‘päntsdrunk’], which basically means “drinking at home, [more or less] alone, in your underwear [with no intention of going out]”.
This tells me all I need to know, about Finland.

In Finnish, Independence Day is: "Itsenäisyyspäivä".

FWIW: Thunder Bay [my home port] and area claims to have the largest population of Finnish people, anywhere, outside of Finland.
In addition to having the highest proportion [11.04%] of people with Finnish Ethnic Origin, Thunder Bay District also has the highest nominal number in Canada, at 15,785, compared to the Greater Vancouver district in second place at 14,085.

My guide for my last moose bow hunt brought me to a private Finnish club in Thunder Bay for a meal. The meals were somewhat exotic by our standards but authentically and carefully prepared. Truly a taste of Finland in a foreign land. Finnish is a language like no other I’ve ever heard but everyone was very warm and welcoming.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

My guide for my last moose bow hunt brought me to a private Finnish club in Thunder Bay for a meal. The meals were somewhat exotic by our standards but authentically and carefully prepared. Truly a taste of Finland in a foreign land. Finnish is a language like no other I’ve ever heard but everyone was very warm and welcoming.

The landmark Finnish Labour Temple, and the historic ‘Hoito’ Restaurant were destroyed by fire, in December 2021. Reconstruction began in 2022, but has since stalled.
In the meantime, the Finlandia Co-op continues to serve up some popular items from the former restaurant, at the Thunder Bay Country Market.

[svhydra]

hi gord ; my mom, who is Finnish thanks you! all the best; roy

[grantmc]

Whilst it’s wonderful that Finland has remained an independent nation. The country did fight a vicious and costly war against the Soviet Union. Whilst ending the Winter War, the Moscow Peace Treaty (signed 12 March 1940) resulted in huge losses to Finland and her people.

Finland ceded the Karelian Isthmus and most of Ladoga Karelia. The area included Viipuri (Finland's second largest city), much of its industrialised territory– all in all, nine per cent of Finnish territory. The ceded territory included 13 per cent of Finland's economic assets, and 12 per cent of her population. About 450,000 Karelians, were evacuated and lost their homes. Finland also ceded a part of the region of Salla, the Rybachy Peninsula in the Barents Sea, and four islands in the Gulf of Finland.
The map below displays the ceded territory in red.

My point being that sadly, not all Finns get to celebrate their national day.

I can’t help but postulate that in 70 years historians will be saying something similar about what we today know as Ukraine.