nationaldagen

[cimorene]

the prime minister who, right after finland's independence from russia, vigorously pursued a plan to model the government and army on germany's - his name literally means pighead. (this plan made the war's military hero, mannerheim, so sad that he went into self-imposed exile in sweden.)

for once quite germanely: tomorrow is finland's independence day. everything is closed and everyone is supposed to burn two special finnish candles in the window. "what else are you supposed to do?" i asked my classmates. "watch a lot of tv," said noora. "you have to look for tuntematon sotilas when it comes on. and watch the president's ball on tv and talk about everybody's dresses."

Comments

[anglepoiselamp.livejournal.com]

Yep. There are no independence day traditions in Finland, except watching the ball and mocking everyone's dresses. I haven't done that in years, though.

As a kid I got really angry when I figured out that the US independence day involved fireworks, and ours didn't. I thought it was terribly unfair. :D

[cimness.livejournal.com]

not just fireworks. it's one of the american holidays that comes closest to european pagan festival traditions - widespread outdoor celebrations, many in public places. of course, all the grocery stores expand their hours rather than closing and the employees get paid double time, for people who forgot their barbecue ingredients (other stores are closed of course). it's a time for family reunions including long cross-country trips and also a time for vacations, particularly camping vacations, so popular tourist destinations are full of rvs. as a child i went to a lot of day-long parties, both with my extended family and with my church, and when we happened to be camping over fourth of july weekend there was invariably some kind of public celebration in the campgrounds.

[morningfine]

I could totally do the ball-mocking. Except for how we should let Wax sleep, alas.

More importantly, shifts next week: Sun-Tue night (as in ending Wed morning), Fri-Sat morning. Otherwise free for stuff unless too emo to get out of bed!

(I need to find a dingbat of a pig's head and make a Svinhufvud icon now. And by 'now' I mean after work, but anyway.)

[cimness.livejournal.com]

sugar is going home when her money runs out, so i guess the early part of the week is better for her. i still have thursday busy and a chunk missing tuesday afternoon.

svinhufvud was kind of an asshat, man. "we're still offended that we used to be a colony of sweden even though unlike the russians they didn't really bother to oppress us, so let's model ourselves on, uh, fascism instead! yes, fascism looks cool!"

[special-trille.livejournal.com]

The only things I know about Finnish politics involves internet dating and text message dumping.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

and now you also know that there used to be a german-patterned ultra-right fascist movement which was eventually outlawed in 1944! and that the first prime minister's name was pighead. (actually svinhufvud.)