| FINNFEST 2009 IN THE NEWS ALREADY Have you heard the rumor? FinnFest on a cruise ship? Yes, indeed! As FinnFest USA begins its second 25 years of annual festivals, it’s time to stretch, to “think outside the box,” about how and where a FinnFest can occur. In that spirit, the FinnFest USA Board of Directors has booked the 2009 festival on a cruise ship to Alaska, leaving Seattle on May 17 and returning to Seattle on May 24, 2009. Click here for more information. |
FHM WILL BE BUSY FOR REMAINDER OF YEAR Not only are the displays changing, making new and interesting displas to see, but other events will shape our future. Elections are coming and we will elect a new treasurer and vice president. (See Elections page). Also, Pikku Joulu and Indepence Day celebrations are in the planning stages to continue an already successful yearly event. HARBOR HOLIDAYS LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Check out all the people participating in this year's event. |
| The John Morton Project |
November and December's Story  On display now and for two months are regional Finnish costumes which are noted for their color and distinct designs. The Museum has received a number of donated costumes which will be in the "permanent colllection." You can help too, if you have one collecting dust and never displayed or worn. Contact us here at the museum. |
| THE SECOND FINNISH CLASS STARTS Finnish II classes starting November 18 for 10 weeks. New students welcome (we will review Finnish I materials first). Take your first steps (or continue what you learned in Finnish I class) towards speaking and understanding the Finnish language. at the Fairport Harbor Public Library Community Room in the basement. Classes run on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:45 For more information, call 440-354-4146. |
WALKING TOURS AVAILABLE This is a guided historical walking tour which starts at the Museum and ends at the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse and Marine Museum. Tour begins on Saturday, 2 PM and there is no fee. Donations are accepted, however. |
| Time for some Historical fun. Click here to see a Zion Lutheran group picture and see if you can identify the people shown there. Amazing to see how many of us are still as cute as we were in the 1950's. Bring your ID list to the museum and check it against the master. | |
Wishes from the Museum to all
FINNISH NATIONAL COSTUMES ARE A RICH SOURCE OF FINNISH HERITAGE
Laura and Veikko Malkamäki presented the program “Finland’s Many National Costumes” for the Finnish Heritage Museum’s November meeting. Finnish National Costumes (kansallispukuja) are a source of Finnish heritage and pride. There are over 500 officially recognized costumes by The Finnish National Costume Council, although there are many more costumes under consideration. The Finnish National Costume Council was established by six organizations in 1979 in order to maintain Finnish folk costume tradition, and to guide the manufacture, development, research, and usage of national costumes. Finnish national costumes are classified as Karelian (eastern Finland) while the rest are classified as western Finland costumes. There are more womens costumes than men’s.
The costumes are representative of villages, towns or regions, although not every village or town has a costume. Since there is a wide variety of colors, woven patterns, lace work, head coverings etc., there is no typical Finnish national costume.
National costumes are based on the traditional festive costumes worn by peasants from the 1700-1800-time period. Local costumes were developed based on local weaving, embroidery, lace making, jewelry, and knitting traditions. These designs were also influenced by prevailing fashion. Most materials were obtained locally, but some materials such as silk and certain dyes were imported. These festive costumes were considered the best clothing, to be worn on special occasions such as baptisms, marriages, funerals, and midsummer festivals. Costumes were never used for common daily dress.
Extensive research has been under way for over 125 years. Theodore Schvindt is considered the “father” of Finnish national costume interest and research, writing about them in the 1880s-1890s. Research is ongoing and based upon comparisons of costumes existing from these time periods. Costume finds have been recently discovered and old museum pieces have been re-examined. Costumes or parts of costumes have been found in graves, or even turned up in old trunks in barns. Drawings, paintings, sketches, weaving diagrams and notes, household inventories and other sources have been used to authenticate Finnish National costumes.
A recently developed men’s and women’s costume called the Suomi puku is a modern design intended to be worn by any Finnish national or anyone of Finnish heritage. In this costume only, colors were selected symbolically. Green represents Finland’s forests, red for the blood shed for Finland’s freedom, blue and white for the lakes and skies, and black is for the sorrow which is in all of our lives.
Also, notable is the development of Middle Ages costumes. These are based primarily on clothing and jewelry found in graves. These are not Finnish national costumes (kansallispukuja) as they are from a much earlier era. Pictured above on the mannequin is the Tuukkala Middle Ages costume. Elsa Heporauta, who is the founder of Ladies of Kalevala, developed this costume for herself and use in a museum, based on materials found in graves in Tuukkala and Mikkeli area. This was one of the costumes first used by the Kalevala Ladies. Elsa wore this costume on a visit to President Roosevelt and his wife in 1939 in Washington D.C.
Since Finnish national costumes are traditional formal wear, care and consideration should be made when wearing or displaying the costume. As each costume is unique and is a source of beauty and heritage, only the elements of the actual costume should be worn or displayed. Black low-heeled shoes with turned up toes or buckle-shoes are worn with most men and women’s costumes. Beige shoes are only worn with Karelian costumes. Only jewelry that is part of the costume should be worn. Earrings and bracelets are not a part of any Finnish national costume. Unmarried women or girls wear a hair ribbon specific to the costume; married women wear the appropriate headpiece. The type and design of each element in men and women’s costume varies according to the costume. Missing elements such as jewelry or aprons should not be replaced with those not belonging to the costume. It is better to have an incomplete Finnish national costume than an incorrect Finnish National Costume.
Today, Finnish national costumes are still appropriate for celebrations, special holidays, folk dancing and folk music performances as well as the traditional uses cited above. Finnish national costumes (kansallispukuja) are all made completely by hand and of the best materials, so they last from generation to generation insuring that this rich tradition will continue into the future.
The museum will have original costumes on display for November and December in the main gallery.
Text © by Laura Malkamäki, photo © by Lasse O. Hiltunen
PROGRAM Saturday, Dec.13, @ 4 pm, Fairport Harding High School, WRB Auditorium Color guard: Virpi Buck, Heikki Penttila National Anthems and Pledge of Allegiance Invocation: Rev. Joseph Kovitch Kantele concert: Harvey Horton Keynote address: Finnish Nobel Laureates by Anja Vincent Quartet: Karen Cardina, Milly Laituri, David Katila, Tim Hadden Introduction of 2008 FHM Hall of Fame candidates: Lasse Hiltunen Introduction of the FHM Board Officers for 2009: Sue Troutman Recitation: Legend of the Christmas Tree by Kathy Pierce Kuivinen Sing-A-Long led by Jane Hiltunen and Nina Boyette Interview with a Finnish exchange student: Anne Pohto Silent Night: all Benediction: Rev. Larry Mackey Reception will follow in the Fairport Harbor Public Library Meeting Room directly down the hall. Everyone is invited. |
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SEE YOU THERE FOR THE FESTIVITIES. THIS MARKS THE FOURTH PIKKU JOULU AND FINNISH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS WE HAVE HAD. |
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IN OTHER NEWS………
The Pikku Joulu celebration will occur at Harding High School in Fairport on December 13th, four p.m. A program commemorating Finnish Independence Day will be observed. Anja Vincent is program chairman.
Ballot voting by mail for new officers is being observed and the results will be announced.
Elaine Lillback reported on The John Morton Project Advisory Board Meeting conducted in Philadelphia Nov. 10-12, 2008 at Constitution Hall. Morton was among the most respected statesmen in Colonial America, and signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Strategies and papers are being presented to focus on an academic conference in 2009.
The ultimate goal of the project is the publication of a biographical book. The Honorable Marilyn Ware, former United States Ambassador to Finland, chairs the International advisory Board. Text © by Elaine Lillback
