Last weekend's X-Factor saw the Finnish singer, Saara Aalto, wow the judges, so I thought I'd give you ten things you need to know about her (and my) native Finland. Finland is a land of thousand lakes. At last count there were 187,888 of them - more lakes in relation to a country's size than … [Read more...]
Five things you should know about a Finnish sauna
Image: Visit FinlandI was three days (yes days!) old when my parents took me into a sauna. It was early spring, and we were visiting our summer cottage near Kangasala in the Häme province of Finland. By all accounts I loved the heat and gurgled away on my mother’s lap.I’ve been an avid sauna-goer … [Read more...]
CoScan magazine is now online
Just a quick note to let you know that a magazine for which I write articles about Finland, is now online. CoScan, or confederation of Scandinavian Societies of Great Britain was set up in 1950 and acts as a coordinating body for societies which work for cultural exchange between UK and Ireland … [Read more...]
Finnish Christmas and Heirloom restaurant, and the Savoy…
I rashly promised someone over on Facebook that I'd blog the recipes for my Finnish Christmas vegetable bakes... sadly I never got round to it this year, but perhaps in 2015? I see from my archives that I have blogged several times about my Finnish food traditions (with pictures), so until next … [Read more...]
Sylvian joululaulu – my favourite Finnish Christmas song
Since I introduced you to one of the most common Finnish characteristics, melancholy, below, I though I'd share with you my favourite Christmas song which never fails to make me weep (yes, weep, not cry).This carol, called Sylvia's Christmas Song, is based on a poem by Finnish poet Zacharia Topelius … [Read more...]
Christmas preparations…
Michael Bubbles Christmas CD on; Daughter making mince pies, ginger bread biscuits and Finnish christmas star pastries; a full glass of some rather excellent M&S mulled wine on table in front of me...Christmas must be getting close.Micheal Buble - isn't he just lovely?As always, at this stage, … [Read more...]
Happy Easter!
I hope you all have a great holiday weekend! I'll be enjoying some mämmi (Finnish Easter dessert), Finnish Mignon chocolate eggs and Lonkero (not so traditional Easter fare, but hey, it's a holiday, right?).But while I'm away enjoying the Easter break, you can find me talking about what it's like to … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas – Hauskaa Joulua!
Today is Christmas Eve, which is when we Finns (and all the other Nordics) celebrate Christmas. In our household we've been doing two Christmases (Finnish and British) pretty much since I moved to the UK some 30 years ago. This year, Daughter has been cooking most of the Finnish foods. Her … [Read more...]
Happy Independence Day!
Today Finland celebrates its independence. I have written before about the history of my country of birth, and about what being in independent means to a Finn, here. But this year, today is even more special for me, because the main celebrations are being held in my home town of Tampere.Finnish … [Read more...]
Scandinavian Christmas comes to London
The weekend when the Scandinavian Christmas fairs come to London is always when I start to feel festive. The Finnish Church in Rotherhithe opened its doors this Wednesday with wonderful Finnish foods, sweets and Christmas decorations, while the Scandinavian Christmas market on the street between the … [Read more...]
