soc.culture.nordic FAQ, part 4/8 (Finland)
Antti Lahelma
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Last-modified: 01/10/95 (dd/mm/yy)
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) -file for the newsgroup
S O C . C U L T U R E . N O R D I C
*** PART 4: FINLAND ***
------------------------------
Subject: 4.1 Fact Sheet
Name: Suomen Tasavalta / Republiken Finland
Telephone country code: 358
Area: 338,127 km2 / 130,125 sq mi
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes
and low hills; fells and some mountains in the extreme
northwest.
Highest mountain: Haltiatunturi (1,328 m).
Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land boundaries: Russia, Sweden, Norway
Population: 5,004,273 (1992)
Population density: 14.8 persons per sq km
Distribution: 62% urban, 38% rural. (1989)
Life expectancy: women 80, men 72. (1992)
Infant mortality: 6 per 1,000 live births. (1992)
Capital: Helsinki/Helsingfors (pop. 501,514. Metropolitan area:
ca. 1 mill).
Other major towns: (note: many places in Finland have two names,
Finnish and Swedish)
Tampere/Tammerfors (174,859), Turku/ bo
(159,916), Espoo/Esbo (179,054), Vantaa/Vanda
(159,213), Oulu/UleÕborg (103,358) (1992)
Flag: a blue Nordic cross on white background.
Type: Republic
Head of state: President Martti Ahtisaari
Languages: Finnish (93%), Swedish (6%) (both official), small Sami
and Romani minorities.
Currency: markka (Finnish mark, FIM). For the current exchange
rate, see the URL http://www.dna.lth.se/cgi-bin/rates
Climate: cold temperate. Gulf stream warms up parts of the country,
Lapland is sub-arctic. Average temp. in Helsinki:
-9C - -4C in Feb., 12C - 22C in July.
Religion: Evangelic-Lutheran (87%), Greek Orthodox (1%) (both
churches are official state-churches)
Exports: paper, metal, machinery, ships, timber, textiles, chemicals,
electronics, furniture
------------------------------
Subject: 4.2 General information
4.2.1 Geography, climate, vegetation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finland (Finnish: Suomi) is the fifth largest country in Europe, excluding
the Russian federation. Roughly 1/3 of the country lies north of the
Arctic Circle. Finland shares a common border in the north with Norway, in
the east a long border (1269 km) with Russia, on the south it is bordered
by the Gulf of Finland, and on the west by the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden.
Most of Finland is lowland, but in the far northwest (the 'arm' of Finland)
some mountains rise to over 1000m. Most of Finland is made of ancient
granite bedrock, which has been shaped and fractured by numerous ice ages,
the marks of which can be seen e.g in the complex lake system, the
equally complex archipelagos and the huge boulders scattered all over the
country.
Finland has three main physical regions: the coastal lowlands, the inland
lake system, and the northern uplands. The coastal lowlands extend along
coasts of the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia, off which lie thousands of
rocky islands; the principal archipelagos are the land (in Finnish:
Ahvenanmaa) Islands and the archipelago of Turku. The lake district is
an interior plateau of southern central, heavily forested and studded with
lakes, swamps and bogs. The northern upland, much of which lies north of
the Arctic Circle, has rather poor soils and is the most sparsely populated
region of Finland. In the far north, arctic forests and swamps eventually
change to tundra.
Finland's climate shows both maritime and continental influences.
Surrounding seas cool the climate on the coast in spring but on the other
hand warm it up in the autumn.The climate becomes more continental, i.e
more extreme, the further east and north one goes. The furtherst north,
however, has a rather marine climate because of the influence of the
Arctic Ocean. The summer lasts 2 to 4 months, the growing season 4 to 6.
The tourist cliche of Finland as 'the country of thousands of lakes' has
some basis; in one count, a numnber of 187,880 islands was reached (but
it all depends on what counts as a lake). They are often connected by
rivers and canals to form large lake-systems. Finland's largest lake,
Saimaa, is in fact a system of more than 100 interconnected smaller lakes.
Finland's rivers are short and shallow, the longest being located in
the north. Finland has about 30,000 coastal islands, of which the
especially the southwestern archipelago is known for it's beauty.
The country is situated entirely within the northern zone of coniferous
forests. Forests cover about 65% of the total area (45% pines, 37% spruces,
15%). Oaks, lindens, elms, and ashes appear mostly in the southwest corner.
Among the large wild animals are e.g ear, elk, deer, lynx, wolverine
and wolf.
4.2.2 Economy
~~~~~~~
Forests are Finland's most important natural resource, and paper, timber,
etc. are a major source of national income. The granite bedrock contains
a diversity of minor mineral deposits, including copper, nickel, iron,
zinc, chromium, lead, and iron pyrites. In recent years, diamonds have
been found in eastern Finland, but they aren't mined yet. In addition,
limestone, granite and sand are quarried for building materials.
Wood processing has traditionally been the most important economy. The
metal and engineering industries have developed rapidly and today are the
largest source of industrial employment. Since the 1950s large-scale swamp
drainage, fertilizing, and reforestation have improved woord production.
The state owns 20% of the forests; the rest are privately controlled. The
chemical, graphics, and food industries are also significant to the
economy, followed by textile and electrochemical enterprises. Mining
activity has decreased in importance, although Finland still produces
one-half of the copper and nickel needed for the domestic market.
In 1960, 30% of Finland's work force was engaged in farming; by 1990
the figure was less than 10%, and only 7% of the total land area was
cultivated. Nevertheless, the agricultural sector produces a surplus
of dairy products, meat, and eggs. Wheat and rye are the most important
bread grains; other major crops include hay, potatoes, oats, and barley.
Finland's climate and small farms favor dairy and livestock production,
which account for most of the farm income. The problems created by
overproduction have led to soil banking (a policy of purposely leaving
farmland uncultivated) and reforestation.
4.2.3 Population and language
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finland is a bilingual country (with a Swedish-speaking minority living
mostly in the coastal areas), except for the autonomous island-province of
land, which is monolingually Swedish-speaking. land, with ca. 25,000
inhabitants, is a demilitarized area which has a flag of its own (a red
Nordic cross outlined in yellow, on blue background) and a separate
legistlation.
The origin of Finns is still subject to a lot of discussion; the
traditional theory is that Finns emigrated from the Urals to Finland
ca. 2000 years ago, but the current view seems to be that the Finnish
people have evolved into what they are in Finland as a result of numerous
successive waves of immigration coming from east, south and west. Whatever
the roots of Finns are, a fact is that they speak a language that isn't
Indo-European like the other Nordic languages, but Finno-Ugric; it's
closest major relative is Estonian (but even those two languages aren't
really mutually intelligible), and it's distantly related to Hungarian,
Sami, and several minor languages spoken in European Russia and Siberia.
The Swedish-speaking minority of Finland descends chiefly from the settlers
that arrived with the Christian missionaries and crusaders in the early
middle ages. They speak a dialect called 'finlandssvenska' that differs
slightly from Swedish spoken in Sweden ('rikssvenska'), most notably for
its Finnish intonation and some archaic vocabulary.
In Lapland (the northernmost province of Finland), a small Sami (Lapp)
minority still survives. Their number is only ca. 2500, but nowadays there
are schools for Sami-speakers and the language is considered official in
municipalities with at least 7% of the population speaking Sami. For more
information about the Sami, see section 2.1. The Romani or Gypsies who
arrived to Finland in late 16th century have long had to experience the
prejudices of the majority population, but in recent years their
situation has been improving, Romani language is taught at schools, etc.
They number ca. 5500.
4.2.4 Culture
~~~~~~~
Finnish culture could be characterized as a mixture of Swedish and Finnish
elements, with a touch of Russian influence especially in the eastern pro-
vinces. Mikael Agricola (1510-57) established Finnish as a written language.
The national epic Kalevala, collected from Karelian oral poetry by the
scholar Elias Lũnnrot, has had enormous effect on the forming of the
Finnish culture in the last century, as did the poetry of Johan Ludvig
Runeberg (1804-72) and the drama of the author Aleksis Kivi (1834-72).
The scholar H.G.Porthan (1739-1804) awakened the public interest in
Finnish mythology and folk poetry, and laid a firm basis to humanist
sciences. Tove Jansson (b. 1914) has won popularity with her books about
the Moomins.
Music has had a special place in Finnish culture, the best known
and loved composer being of course Jean Sibelius (1865-1957); others
include Fredrik Pacius (1809-91), Oskar Merikanto (1868-1924), and
Aarre Merikanto (1893-1958), Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947), and Uuno
Klami (1900-61). Aulis Sallinen, Joonas Kokkonen and Magnus Lindberg are
major contemporary composers. Hundreds of music festivals draw large
crowds in the summer; among the best known are Kaustinen Folk Festival,
Savonlinna Opera Festival which is held in a medieval castle, and Ruisrock
in Turku.
Finnish architecture has won international fame; it is represented by
people such as Eliel Saarinen (and his son Eero Saarinen, who worked
chiefly in North America) Wivi Lũnn (1872-1966), and Lars Sonck (1870-1956)
who were pioneers of the national romantic style. Neoclassicism was
introduced by J. S. Siren (1889-1961), and functionalism by Alvar Aalto
(1898-1976). Aalto is also well known as an urban planner, interior
designer, and industrial and furniture designer. Reima and Raili Pietilõ
are contemporary architects well known for their unconventional,
expressionistic style.
Among painters, Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905) and Akseli Gallen-Kallela
(1865-1931) are the best known representatives of the golden era of Finnish
painting; their styles were naturalism, realism, and symbolism, the themes
often being taken from Finnish history or mythology. Helene Schjerbeck
(1862-1946) was a leader in the break with realism, Hugo Simberg (1873-1917)
was one of the foremost symbolists, and Tyko Sallinen (1879-1955) was one
of the first expressionists.
4.2.5 Government
~~~~~~~~~~
The Finnish constitution was adopted in 1919. Finland is a republic,
headed by a president elected for a 6-year term. The president is
chosen by the general electorate (all citizens over 18). Supreme executive
power is vested in the president, who heads the country's foreign policy.
Legislative power is shared by the president and the one-chamber parliament
of 200 members. The government which is headed by a prime minister, is
responsible for the country's general administration. Judicial power is
vested in independent courts of justice. Finland has had an ombudsman
(oikeusasiamies), an impartial public officer whose duty is to handle
public complaints against actions of the government, since 1919.
The constitution of Finland allows freedom of religion, but the Evangelical
Lutheran church is an official state church to which 87% of the population
belongs to. The Orthodox church is also a state church, 1.1% of Finns are
members (chiefly in the east); those with no church affiliation consti-
tute 9.6% of the population.
See section 4.4 for more information about the current parliament, cabinet
and political parties.
------------------------------
Subject: 4.3 History
4.3.1 A chronology of important dates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(for the period 1155-1809, see also the Swedish history section)
800-1050 Viking age. Finns don't participate in Viking raids outside
the Baltic.
1155 The First Crusade to Finland, launched by Swedes and led by
the English bishop Henry and the Swedish king Erik (later
canonized and made Sweden's patron saint, St.Erik). By
this time Finland was, however, already mostly Christian so
the real motivations of the 'crusade' are obscure. SW Finland
appears to have been allied with central Sweden already in
the Viking age, so it has been hypothesized that the campaign
was a punitive expedition against an ally that become unre-
liable, perhaps because of the influence of Greek Orthodox
missionaries. In due time, Finland becomes an integral part
of the kingdom of Sweden.
1156 According to the legend, bishop Henry is murdered by the
peasant Lalli on the frozen surface of lake Kũyliũ. He is
canonized St.Henry and becomes Finland's patron saint.
1229 The bishop's seat is moved from Nousiainen to Koroinen in
the vicinity of modern Turku; the year is considered to be
the founding year of Turku, which becomes the capital of
the eastern half of the kingdom.
1249 After a pagan uprising, the Second Crusade to Tavastia
(a province of western/central Finland) is launched and the
pagans are defeated.
1293 The Third Crusade to Karelia, a province of eastern Finland,
establishes the borderline between Catholic/Lutheran West
and Orthodox East for the centuries to come. The castle and
town of Viipuri/Viborg are founded to defend the border.
1323 The peace of Nũteburg (Põhkinõsaari) between Sweden and
Russia. Finland's eastern border defined for the first time.
1362 Finns receive the right to participate in the election of
the king.
1396- The era of the Kalmar Union, with Finland, Sweden, Denmark
1523 Norway and Iceland united as a single kingdom.
1495-97 War against Russia. During a siege of Viipuri, just as the
Russians are about to get over the city walls, St. Andrew's
cross appears in the sky and the frightened Russians flee
from battle. In reality, what happened was probably the
exploding of a gunpowder tower.
1527 Reformation. Finland becomes Lutheran with the rest of Sweden.
1550 Helsinki founded by Gustav Vasa, but remains little more
than a fishing village for more than two centuries.
1551 Mikael Agricola, a bishop of Turku, publishes his transla-
tion of the New Testament in Finnish.
1595 The peace of Tõyssinõ (Teusina); Finland's borders are
moved further east and north.
1596-97 The so called Cudgel War. Manipulated by the usurper duke
Karl, Finnish peasantry rises into a rebellion prompted by
the worsened living conditions; after short-lived success,
the poorly armed peasants are brutally defeated by the
troops of Klaus Fleming, a Finnish aristocrat and regent
of Finland.
1617 Karelia joined into Finland in the peace treaty of Stolbova.
1630-48 Finns fight in the Thirty Years' War in the continent. The
Finnish cavalry, known as hakkapeliitta's, spreads fear among
the Catholic troops who're used to more orderly warfare.
1637-40 Count Per Brahe as the general governor of Finland. Many
and important reforms are made, towns are founded, etc. His
1648-54 period is generally considered very beneficial to the deve-
lopment of Finland.
1640 Finland's first university founded in Turku.
1714-21 Russia occupies Finland during the Great Northern War. The
period of the so called "Great Wrath".
1721 The peace of Uusikaupunki gives Karelia to Russia.
1741-43 The "War of the Hats". Adventurous politics by the "Hat"
party leads to a new disastrous war with Russia and a new
occupation of Finland, known as "The Lesser Wrath", which
ends in the peace treaty of Turku in 1743.
1808-09 "The War of Finland". Russia attacks Finland in Feb. 1808
without a declaration of war; Finnish troops retreat all the
way to Oulu, which forces Russians to leave a large part of
their army as occupation forces, giving the Swedish general
Klingspor superiority in force. A reconquest starts in June
and Klingspor receives several victories; however, the
baffling surrender of the mighty Sveaborg fortress and
the fresh Russian troops received in autumn of 1809 force
the Swedish-Finnish troops to retreat all the way to Sweden
and Russia once again occupies Finland.
1809 In the diet of Porvoo, while the war still goes on, the
Finnish estates swear an oath of loyalty to Emperor
Alexander I, who grants Finland a status of an autonomous
Grand Duchy, retaining its old constitution and religion.
A few months later the peace treaty of Hamina (Fredrikshamn)
is signed and Finland becomes under Russian rule.
1812 Helsinki, being closer to Russia than the Swedish-oriented
Turku, is made the new capital. Karelia is joined to the
Grand Duchy as an act of goodwill.
1809-99 Finland prospers under the extensive autonomy and more liberal
conditions than in the rest of Russian Empire. National
identity and nationalism awakens.
1827 The great fire of Turku destroys most of the former capital.
The university is moved to Helsinki.
1835 The first publication of the _Kalevala_, the Finnish national
epic. It was collected by Elias Lũnnroth from traditional
Karelian oral poetry, and became the most important source of
inspiration to Finnish nationalists when it appeared in its
final form in 1849.
1866 Finnish becomes, alongside with Swedish and Russian, an
official language.
1899 Russia starts a Russification policy of Finland with the
so called "February manifesto". After the initial shock and
disbelief, a well-organized passive resistance follows.
1904 The dictatorical general governor and active adherent of
Russification of Finland, Nikolai Bobrikov, is assassinated
by the young clerk Eugen Schauman.
1906 Finnish women receive the right to vote and to run for
parliament. Finland was the first country in Europe (and
second in the world, after New Zealand) to grant women an
equal right to vote in elections. The Finnish diet, which
up until now had been a system of four estates (nobility,
clergy, merchantry, peasantry), becomes a unicameral
parliament and a universal suffrage is declared.
1917 As Russia plunges into the chaos of the October Revolution,
Finland seizes the opportunity and declares independence
on the 6th of December.
1918 A civil war erupts between "whites" and "reds", and ends in
"white" victory under the commander C.G.Mannerheim. Even
though the war is relatively brief, the casualties rise high
because of 'red' and 'white' terror, poor conditions at
prison camps and random executions of prisoners. The war
leaves bitter marks on the nation, which are eventually
healed in the Winter War of 1939-40, when both sides have to
unite forces against a common enemy.
The civil war increases scepticism towards the effeciency
of democratic institutions, and monarchists in the parlia-
ment succeed (chiefly because the Social Democrats had
not been allowed to partake in the parliament) in turning
Finland into a monarchy, and the German prince Friedrich
Karl of Hesse is invited to become King of Finland. However,
as Germany soon lost the World War I, Friedrich who had
delayed answering to the invitiation refused the crown so
Finland never officially had a king; as a result monarchism
in general suffered an inflation. In 1919 Finland gets a
republican constitution, with a strong position for the
president as a concession to the monarchists.
1920's- Finland prospers after the war and adopts a neutral Nordic
30's profile in its foreign policy, although with strong German
sympathies. In early 1930's fascism in the Italian fashion
emerges and the so called Lapua-movement attempts a coup
d'etat in 1932, but fails and is banned (ironically, using
the laws the movement was itself most eager to push
into force). The IKL ('Patriotic Movement'), an extreme right
party, is formed to continue the legacy of Lapua-movement,
but it never gains significant support and Finnish fascism
remains a fringe phenomenon.
1939-40 Soviet Union attacks Finland. Fierce Finnish resistance
surprises the overwhelming but poorly prepared Soviet
troops and the "Winter War" lasts for roughly three and
a half months, causing heavy casualties on the Soviet side.
Eventually Finland has to give in and cede Karelia to the
USSR, causing some 400,000 people to lose homes.
1941-44 The Continuation War; Finland attacks the Soviet Union
with Germany, hoping to regain the lost areas, but
eventually has to accept the borders of 1940 and, and also
cede Pechenga, lease Porkkala peninsula as a military base
for 50 years (SU returns it already in 1956) and pay war
reparations.
1944-45 The War of Lapland. As a part of the peace treaty, Finland
has to force all German troops to leave Finland. Germans
put up a fight and burn much of Finnish Lapland as they
retreat.
1947 Paris peace treaty. Finland assumes a policy of careful
neutrality (e.g declining to receive Marshall aid) and
realpolitik, taking into account Finland's geographical
location next to the USSR. This policy becomes known as
the Paasikivi-Kekkonen line.
1944-48 So called "Years of Danger" ('vaaran vuodet') when a
communist takeover was hanging in the air. Some leading
Finnish communists proclaimed that the "Czechoslovakian
model" was to be Finland's future as well. This ends in
the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation
and Mutual Assistance ('YYA' is the Finnish acronym)
with the Soviet Union in 1948. In it, Finland among other
things commits itself to defend its territory against
Germany or any other country allied with Germany that might
use Finland as a way to attack Soviet Union. The treaty
guarantees Finland's sovereignty in the years to follow,
but places Finland in between the two blocs of the Cold War,
trying hard to please both sides.
1950's- "Finlandization" era. Finland remains an independent western
80's European democracy, but falls into exaggerations in keeping
the eastern neighbour pleased. On the other hand, the
bilateral trade arrangements with the Soviet Union are very
beneficial to Finnish economy, which make possible the
emergence of Finland as a rich welfare state.
1952 The Olympic Games held in Helsinki.
1955 Finland joins the United Nations and the Nordic Council.
1960's- A time of intensive urbanization, Finland turns from a
70's predominantly agrarian state into an urban one almost
"overnight". This results in severe unemployment, and large
numbers of Finns emigrate to Sweden in search of jobs.
1973 Finland signs a free trade treaty with the EEC (a precedent
of the European Union), but remains outside the community.
1975 The first CSCE conference in held in Helsinki. The 'spirit
of Helsinki' becomes to epitomize the process of detente
between East and West after the Cold War era.
1987 Finland becomes a full member of EFTA (European Free Trade
Association). A special FINEFTA customs treaty had been in
effect already since 1961.
1989 Finland becomes a member of the European Council.
1994 On 16th of October Finns voted YES (57% vs. 43% NO) to
membership in the European Union; the parliament ratified
the result after a long filibustering campaign by the
NO-side.
1995 As of January 1st, Finland became a full member in the EU.
4.3.2 Grand Dukes and presidents of Finland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For a list of kings and queens of Sweden-Finland, see Part 7
of the FAQ, section 7.3.1.
Grand Dukes of the Grand Duchy of Finland
=========================================
Alexander I (1809-25)
Nicholas I (1825-55)
Alexander II (1855-81)
Alexander III (1881-94)
Nicholas II (1894-1917)
Regents of the period of Civil War
==================================
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud (1918)
Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim (1918-19)
Presidents of the republic of Finland
=====================================
Kaarlo Juho StÕhlberg (1919-25)
Lauri Kristian Relander (1925-31)
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud (1931-37)
Kyũsti Kallio (1937-40)
Risto Heikki Ryti (1940-44)
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (1944-46)
Juho Kusti Paasikivi (1946-56)
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (1956-81)
Mauno Henrik Koivisto (1982-94)
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (1994- )
------------------------------
Subject: 4.4 The Finnish parliament, government and political parties
<From Jorma Kyppũ, Hiski Haapoja et al>
4.4.1 The 1995 general elections
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Finnish parliament is unicameral, elected by citizens over 18 every
fourth March (to commemorate the opening of the Estates' Diet by Tsar
Alexander I in March 1809). The President, with the consent of the Prime
Minister, can dissolve the Parliament and call for new elections. This
last occurred in 1975. In the election of March 1995 the 200 seats went
as follows:
Party % of votes Seats (change from -91)
Social Democrats 28.3 63 (+15)
Centre Party 19.9 44 (-11)
National Coalition (cons.) 17.9 39 (-1)
Left-wing Alliance (comm.) 11.2 22 (+3)
Greens 6.5 9 (-1)
Swedish People's Party 5.1 11 (0)
Christian League 3.0 7 (-1)
Young Finns 2.8 2 (+2)
Rural Party 1.3 1 (-6)
Ecological Party 0.3 1 (+1)
Aaland representative 1
Voting percentage: 71.8
Of the new MP's 143 are men and 67 women. The parliament elected in 1991
had 77 women out of the total 200 MP's (a world record in it's time),
and as many women's organizations had set the goal as 101 women MP's
to be elected, the result was clearly a disappointment and one of the most
surprising elements of the elections.
The Social Democrats got a great victory as a result of their being in
the opposition in the last government. Centre party, the leading party of
the previous governement, was the greatest looser of the elections, pro-
bably because the party's split-up in the question of EU-membership. The
National Coalition, the other major party in the government, was among the
losers but was much less affected by government responsibility than the
Centre. The gallups lied to the Greens once again and for the first time
since its formation the party stopped growing. Young Finns got their
first seats, not as many as they expected but it's a start. The Rural Party
was one of the biggest losers of the elections; a once significant populist
party, it has waned away almost completely and may soon disappear entirely
from the Finnish political chart as it is currently in deep economical
problems. The little known Ecological Party got its sole seat because of
its candidate Pertti "Veltto" ("Slack") Virtanen, a well-known eccentric
rock musician and psychologist, who was also a candidate in the presidential
elections (and did surprisingly well).
Riitta Uosukainen (Cons.) continues as Mrs. Chairman of the Parliament.
4.4.2 The new cabinet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The new cabinet appointed by president Ahtisaari is nicknamed "Rainbow
cabinet" as it includes 7 Social Democrats, 5 Conservatives, 2 ("ex-")
Communists, 2 Swedes, one Green and one independent minister. The only
major party left out is the Centre, which dominates rural Finland. Cuts in
agricultural support are expected. The notion of Conservatives and
Communists in the same cabinet is unheard before, as is the presence of
the Green (party chairman Pekka Haavisto, who lost his seat in the
Parliament), as Minister of Environment. 11 men and 7 women.
Prime Minister: Paavo Lipponen (born 1941). The slow-speaking, 197cm
tall chairman of the Social Democratic Party was the first Finnish
politician to suggest EC membership, at a time when it was highly
unrealistic and potentially career-damaging (anti-Soviet).
Foreign Minister: Tarja Halonen (SocDem). A surprise choice. Red hair and
onetime Minister of Justice is all I can remember. Unless I'm mistaken,
our first female Foreign Minister.
Minister of the Treasury: Iiro Viinanen (Cons.) The most hated member of
the former cabinet continues to persecute women, children and the trade
unions. He has also gained much respect among some people, which shows e.g
in that he got one of the biggest shares of votes in the parliamentary
elections of all candidates.
Second Minister of Treasury: Arja Alho, a Social Democrat from Helsinki
with an independent mind.
Minister of Trade and Commerce: Antti Kalliomõki, vice-chairman of the
Social Democratic Party. A gray bore and former athlete.
Minister of Interior Affairs (such as the Police): Jouni Backman (SocDem).
A totalitarian character. 2nd minister Jan-Erik Enestam (Swedish People's
Party), a municipal leader from Võstanfjõrd.
Minister of Labour: Liisa Jaakonsaari (SocDem, from Oulu). Faces a huge
task of reducing the record-high unemployment. Good luck.
Minister of Justice: Sauli Niinistũ, Chairman of the Conservatives.
Lost his wife in a car accident earlier this year.
Minister of Defence: Anneli Taina (Cons.) Apparently they decided to make
this a permanent women's job.
Minister of Traffic: Tuula Linnainmaa (Cons.) A nobody.
Minister of Education: the 30-year old Conservative Olli-Pekka Heinonen
continues.
Minister of Social and Health Issues: Sinikka Mũnkõre (SocDem)
and Terttu Huttu (Comm.), a newcomer from Suomussalmi.
Minister of European Affairs: Ole Norrback, the Ostrobothnian chairman of
the Swedish People's Party and just about our most provincial politician.
Minister of Culture: Claes Andersson, Comm. Chairman, poet, jazz
pianist, ex-football player, psychiatrist and father of six or more. It's
not often that we see a Minister of Culture who actually understands
something about culture.
4.4.3 The political parties
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Centre (Keskusta, abbr. Kesk) was called Agrarian League until 1965
and still derives its main support from rural areas covering most of
Finland. Not nearly all the voters have anything to do with farming, but
loyalty to the Centre is almost a family value in the provinces,
particularly the two northern ones (Oulu and Lapland). The higher voting
percentage of the rural areas is an additional asset. The party has a
strong anti-EU wing, which has close ties with Vapaan Suomen Liitto (Union
of Free Finland), whose sole issue is to terminate the EU membership.
Esko Aho has been chairman of the Centre since 1990 and Prime Minister
since 1991. Other main politicians include the controversial Paavo Võyrynen,
Seppo Kõõriõinen, Olli Rehn, Tytti Isohookana-Asunmaa, Anneli Jõõtteenmõki.
The chairman of VSL is the noted troublemaker Ilkka Hakalehto.
The Social Democrats (SDP) are strongest in Southern industrial towns,
also sharing much of the middle-class and official vote. Party chairman
Paavo Lipponen is the new Prime Minister. Other notable names: Arja Alho,
Erkki Tuomioja, Pertti Paasio, Ulf Sundqvist, Antti Kalliomõki, Lasse
Lehtinen, Kalevi Sorsa. President Martti Ahtisaari, EU commissioner Erkki
Liikanen and many trade union figures come from SDP.
The National Coalition (Kokoomus, abbr. Kok), or Conservatives, presents
itself as the party of entrepreneurs and patriots, winning 90 per cent
shares of vote in army bases. Helsinki and the other main cities are
National Coalition strongholds. While most of rural Finland is dominated
by the green of the Centre, Eastern Hõme is blue for some reason. Chairman
Sauli Niinistũ and his minions (Pertti Salolainen, Pekka Kivelõ, Ilkka
Suominen, Harri Holkeri) are currently worried about a new rival,
Nuorsuomalaiset (Young Finns - the name harks back to the days of the
Tsar), which appears as a more modern, "cool" urban alternative. Risto
E. J. Penttilõ is the champion of the Young Finns, while the image of
the National Coalition is burdened by the ruthless know-it-all Minister
of Finance, Iiro Viinanen. Riitta Uosukainen is the first-ever Chairwoman
of the Parliament.
The Left-wing Alliance (Vasemmistoliitto, abbr. Vas) is a 1990 attempt to
gather together the quarreling Communist movement. Some splits are still
visible both inside and outside of the party. Much stronger in the North
than in the South, the party gets most of its votes from industrial
workers. The eternal struggle with SDP over trade unions goes on and on.
The chairman is Claes Andersson, psychiatrist and novelist.
The Swedish People's Party (SFP in Swedish, RKP in Finnish) unites the
Swedish-speaking minority of the Southern and Ostrobothnian coasts,
from leftist intellectuals through farmers and fishermen to nobility.
The language issue gives SFP the stablest electorate of any Finnish party.
It manages to worm its way to most Finnish governments, thus having
influence far greater than its size. One of the 12 mandates is the
representative of Aland Islands, Gunnar Jansson, who technically is not
a member of the party as the islands have a political system of their own.
The Greens first entered the Parliament in 1983. Their main concern
is the environment (attitudes ranging from moderate to fanatical)
but many counter-culture youths and citizens' rights activists feel home
here as well. Paradoxically, the nature party thrives mainly in the
big cities (the "Neon Greens") as well as in the Universities.
The Christian League (founded in 1958) owes most of its seats to
skilful electoral alliances which give the party benefit from votes
originally given to other parties. Many of its faces represent
Revivalist movements rather than mainstream Lutheranism. The
chairman is Toimi Kankaanniemi.
SMP (Finnish Rural Party, although changing the meaning of the letters is
continually proposed) originated in 1959 as a rebellious (anti-Kekkonen)
fraction of the Agrarian League. The party's electoral success has been
very variable and despite government participation during the 1980s it
never achieved, or much sought for, respectability, preferring to fish
the populist vote with anti-refugee statements. The current state of
SMP is chaotic, but it has happened before and SMP has risen like a
phoenix from the ashes.
The Liberal Party lost its only MP, the party's chairwoman Tuulikki Ukkola,
in the elections. LKP has a history of power despite its small size,
but is facing extinction and is hysterical about the threat of the Young
Finns.
The ultra green Ecological Party got one MP, one of the surprises of the
elections.
There are a dozen registered parties outside the Parliament. The law
states that a party which twice consecutively fails to enter the
Parliament must be dissolved, but usually they re-arrange themselves
with the collection of another 5,000 signatures. Among them are three
pensioners' parties (the least of them called Party of Shared Responsibility
of Pension Receivers and Greens), the Women's Party and the Natural Law
Party which aims to heal the Finnish economy by the means of yoga flying.
The status of bad old IKL (the main Fascist party, banned in 1944) is
somewhat unclear at the moment.
See the URL http://www.mofile.fi/fennia/um for official government
information (foreign ministry press pages).
------------------------------
Subject: 4.5 Main tourist attractions
4.5.1 Helsinki
~~~~~~~~
Helsinki (Swedish: Helsingfors) is the capital and largest city of Finland.
It is in the southern coast of the country on the Gulf of Finland and
occupies the tip of a small peninsula. The 'cities' of Vantaa and Espoo
are effectively suburbs of Helsinki, and together with Kaunianen, form
the metropolitan where ca. 1 million people or nearly 20% if Finland's
population live.
The city is protected from the sea by a fringe of islands, so that its
harbor is almost landlocked. It is underlain by hard rock, which shows
in rounded masses, smothered and polished by ice sheets. Hollows in this
surface are occupied by lakes or the sea, although some have been filled
with urban waste to create new land. Summers in Helsinki are rather mild,
with an average temperature of 18C in July; winters are pretty long and
cold, January temperatures averaging -6C. A belt of sea ice forms close to
the coast during the winter months,but a passage is usually kept open by
icebreakers.
Helsinki was founded in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa to compete with the
Hansaetic city of Tallinn in Estonia, some 50km south across the Gulf of
Finland, and merchants from several smaller towns were ordered by force
to move to Helsinki. It didn't start out well, however; many of the
merchants moved back to their own towns, the place of the town had to
be moved a couple of times to more suitable locations, fires and war
destroyed the town several times, and plague killed most of the
ihabitants. For over two hundred years, Helsinki was little more than
a fishing village, but things started to improve when the construction
of the huge fortress of Sveaborg started in 1748 on the islands just
outside Helsinki and brought tens of thousands of soldiers, builders,
officers, etc. to Helsinki.
In 1809 Sveaborg (the modern Finnish name is Suomenlinna) surrendered
almost without a shot to a Russian army that was much smaller than the
Swedish-Finnish garrison, and Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of
Russia. Helsinki was made capital in 1812, the university (founded 1640)
was moved there from Turku in 1827, and the modern growth of the city
started. The war had destroyed much of the old Helsinki, and the central
city was rebuilt according to the plans of the German-born architect
C.L.Engel in grand imperial scale to show the power of the Russian Empire.
The city was bombed during the World War II, but not as badly as it might
have because of the ingenious air raid defense (for example, a fake
Helsinki was built next to the real one and set on fire to fool the
Russian bombers).
The Helsinki accords was the "declaration of policy intent" signed in
Helsinki in 1975, by the United States, Canada, the USSR, and
32 European countries at the end of the Conference on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (1973-75). The accords declared inviolable the
frontiers of all the signatory nations, provided for scientific,
technological, and cultural exchanges, and pledged the signatories to
respect human rights, including "freedom of thought, conscience, religion,
or belief."
The most important sights in Helsinki include the following:
The Senate Square, in the very centre of Helsinki, is one of the most
beautiful neo-classical squares in Europe. On one side of the square
is situated the Senate palace, and on the other, the maiun building
of Helsinki University; above them rises the Helsinki Cathedral (all
are designed by C.L.Engel), and in the centre of the square is a statue
of Emperor Alexander II. The university library is next to the main
building of the university is considered to be perhaps Engel's finest
work, especially the intererior is beautiful. Slightly "hidden" behind
the square is the old House of the Estates, a fine piece of exuberant
neo-renaissance architecture with golden decorations. Ateneum Art Museum
located in the Rautatientori square nearby has the best collection of
fine arts in Filnand; mostly Finnish painters and some foreign masters of
turn of the century (the rest of the somewhat modest collection of foreign
art is housed in the Sinebrychoff museum on Bulevardi street); on the same
square is the railway station, designed by Eliel Saarinen, which is a
large and innovative Art Nouveau building (the main entrance looks a bit
like an old radio set).
The Market Square, in the South Harbour, is a lively year-round market
in beautiful surroundings. Beside the square is the fountain of Havis
Amanda, the symbol of Helsinki. The Esplanade, a park avenue lined
with shops and cafes starts from the fountain; at it's other end is
the Swedish Theatre and the Stockmann department store, reputedly the
largest in Scandinavia, and certainly the best one in Helsinki. A part
of the Stockmann, although located in a separate building next to it,
is the Academic Bookstore which is a must for every bookhoarder. They
have a large selection of books in English, as well as several other
major languages. For slightly cheaper shopping, you could take the
subway to the Itõkeskus -station (East Centre). The station is right
next to a huge suburban mall.
On the other end of the Market Square rises the golden, onion-shaped
cupola of the Uspensky Cathedral, representing the other major
religion in Finland, Greek Orthodoxy. Ferries leave from the square
to the 18th century island fortress of Suomenlinna (Sveaborg), once
called "the Gibraltar of the North" (but unlike Gibraltar, never
had much military significance), located just outside the harbour;
it's a beautiful place for picnics and just strolling around. There's
also a centre for Scandinavian art in one of the old barracks, and a
museum dedicated to the man behind Sveaborg's building, Augustin
Ehrensvõrd. The fortress is included in the UNESCO list of world
heritage. Tickets to the ferries cost only about 10 FIM. There are
also ferries to Korkeasaari Zoo, also located in a nearby island.
Another good place for picnics is the Kaivopuisto park, where free
pop-concerts are held in summers.
Going down the Mannerheimintie-street, which starts from the other
end of the Esplanade, you'll pass the following places of interest:
the parliament, which is a massive granite building that daties from
the 1930's (and, frankly, looks like something that Albert Speer might
have designed..). The Finlandia-house, by Finland's most famous architect
Alvar Aalto, built of white marble, where the Helsinki accords were signed
(it's also the home of e.g the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra). The
Italian Carrara-marble plates haven't quite stood the test of Finnish
weather, so it might be a good idea to wear a helmet in case of falling
marble. :) The National Museum built in Art Nouveau style displays objects
from different periods of Finnish history. The collection is relatively
interesting, but displayed in a somewhat conservative way. Also, the museum
is far too small for it's purpose. The National Opera is the next building
on the line, it's a piece of modern architecture finished in 1993, more
beautiful from the inside than the outside; and finally, the Olympic
Stadium, where the 1952 Olympics were held.
You might also want to check the Temppeliaukio church in the district
of Tũũlũ, which is carved into a low hill of granite rock and covered
by a copper dome (architect Reima Pietilõ). Take a look from above, some
of the staircases of the houses next to it for example; it looks like a
landed UFO. Seurasaari island has an open-air museum of traditional
Finnish wooden houses, not quite as good as Skansen in Stockholm or
Bygd°y in Oslo, but if you're interested in folk culture it's certainly
worth checking out. Linnanmõki amusement park is the largest in Finland;
it differs in no way from your average large amusement park, but might
still be a nice place to spend a day, especially if you're travelling
with children. Heureka Science Center in the suburb in Vantaa is another
good place to spend time with children; it popularizes science, lets
you do all sorts of experiments of your own, and has a globular movie
theatre. You can get there by local train or a special bus line
leaving from Rautatientori. Ainola, home of the composer Jean Sibelius,
is located in Jõrvenpõõ not far from Helsinki.
Internet addicts visiting the city can cure their withdrawal symptoms
at the CompuCafe at Annankatu 22 in the center of the city (see
http://www.eunet.fi/compucafe/. Free net access is also provided by an
increasing number of public libraries, for instance the Kirjakaapeli
library in the Kaapelitehdas (Cable Factory) culture center in western
Helsinki. The place is well worth a visit on its own right. It's a huge
old factory building where cables used to be made (hence the name), which
after the closing of the factory was spontaneously taken over by various
artists, workshops, clubs, etc., and after a brief wrestle with the city
authorities and the company owning the building, it was turned in its
entirety into a culture complex. It now houses, in addition to the library,
cafes, galleries, several museums, excercise rooms for rock bands, classical
orchestras, martial arts clubs, theatre groups, etc, and its a site for
all sorts of cultural happenings. Getting there is easiest by taking the
subway to the Ruoholahti station. See also http://www.kaapeli.fi/
For more information on helsinki, you may wish to check these URLs:
The Virtual Traveller to Helsinki:
http://www.spellbound.com/helsinki/index.html
General information on Helsinki:
http://www.eunet.fi/helsinki94/background/helsinki/hkiyleis.html
A clicable map of Helsinki WWW-resources:
http://www.funet.fi:80/resources/maps/helsinki/
Official Helsinki city information:
http://www.hel.fi/
4.5.2 Turku, the old capital
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turku (Swedish: bo) is a port city in southwestern Finland at the mouth
of the river Aura, about 160 km west of Helsinki. It has several important
libraries, museums, and theaters. The Swedish University of bo ( bo Aka-
demi, 1917) and the University of Turku (1920) serve, respectively, the
Swedish and Finnish populations of this bilingual city.
Turku/ bo is Finland's oldest city, founded sometime in the early 13th
century, but not very many old buildings remain because of tens of
disastrous fires, the worst one being that of 1827 which destroyed the
city almost completely. Most of the buildings are, therefore, fairly new,
with a couple of old monuments remaining. Before the Russian takeover
in 1809, Turku was Finland's largest city and served as its capital.
It was rather heavily damaged during also during the WWII.
The city is divided by the river Aura, on the bank of which rises the Turku
Cathedral, the most important medieval cathedral in Finland and a national
sanctuary. It was started in 1230, and it's present shape (except for the
cupola and the roof, which were built after the 1827 fire) dates from late
middle ages. In the cathedral are buried e.g the wife of Erik XIV, Queen
Karin MÕnsdÕtter (Kaarina Maununtytõr) and some of the most famous of
Gustav II Adolf's military leaders from the Thirty Years' War (the Finnish
marshalls Evert Horn and ke Tott, the general of the Hakkapeliitta cavalry
Torsten StÕlhandske and the Scottish colonel Samuel Cockburn). There's also
a museum in one of the galleries.
The other major medieval monument in Turku is the castle, started in the
1310's. The castle acted as the main castle of Finland in the middle ages
and renaissance and experienced it's best days in the 16th century when
the duke of Finland, Johan, held his court there together with the Polish-
born princess Katarina Jagellonica whom he married in 1562. Later, in
1568, Johan imprisoned his brother, the mad renaissance king Erik XIV,
and he was held prisoner in Turku castle. It's an impressive construction,
but perhaps not exceptionally romantic. In the river Aura, there are two
19th century sailingships that act as museums, the Suomen Joutsen and Sigyn.
The Cloister Hill (Luostarinmõki) has an attractive collection of simple
wooden merchants houses that were spared from the fire of 1827.
4.5.3 Tampere, the third largest city of Finland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<from: Kari Yli-Kuha>
Tampere (in Swedish Tammerfors) lies about 160 km northwest of Helsinki.
A major manufacturing hub and the textile center of Finland, Tampere also
produces metals, heavy machinery, pulp, and paper, etc. The heavy concen-
tration of industry has prompted some to call it Finland's Manchester
(the center, with several rather attractive old factory buildings, looks
pretty industrial, too).
Tampere was founded in 1779 and is the largest inland city in Scandinavia.
The location between two lakes, Nõsijõrvi and Pyhõjõrvi, and the rapids
(Tammerkoski) joining the lakes gave birth to the industry in the city.
The cathedral by Lars Sonck is a masterpiece of Finnish national-romantic
Art Nouveau; it's frescoes by the symbolist painter Hugo Simberg are
especially fascinating. Lake tours, 'Hopealinja' (Silver Line) in
Pyhõjõrvi and 'Runoilijan tie' (Poet's Way) in Nõsijõrvi, are popular
in the summer. A gravel ridge, Pispalan harju, and the settlement there
is also a major tourist attraction. Tampere has two theatres (TT and TTT)
and a summer theatre with a revolving auditorium. The Sõrkõnniemi
amusement park is very popular in the summer. One of the gastronomic
delicacies typical for Tampere is black sausage ('mustamakkara') which
is made of blood, though not nearly all regard it as a delicacy.
Other tips: <from Tuukka Kirveskoski>
* Main shopping street Hõmeenkatu
* Pyynikki natural park only two kilometres west from downtown
* Take a ferry to Viikinsaari island or a longer boat trip to the
town of Hõmeenlinna (about 100km; there's a medieval castle
there). Scenic waterways.
* places to be:
Amarillo, Night Club Ilves, Crazy Horse, Cafe Metropol, Doris
* luxurious baths:
- Spa Lapinniemi, near the city centre, about 60FIM/2 hours
- Eden, in the neighbouring town Nokia, about 70FIM
- Ikaalisten Kylpylõ, in the small town of Ikaalinen, 50km
from Tampere, about 50FIM
Check out http://www.tpo.fi/english/tampere/index.html
http://www.tampere.fi/
http://www.uta.fi/maps/sisluettelo.html
4.5.4 Jyvõskylõ
~~~~~~~~~
<from: Jarmo Ryyti>
Jyvõskylõ was where Alvar Aalto began his career as an architect; from
1920's up until our days, dozens of buildings designed by him have been
built in and around Jyvaskyla, thus making the city famous for its
architecture.
Jyvõskylõ in the area of Finnish language culture it has a remarkable
succession of "firsts": the first Finnish-language lyceym, the first
school for the girls, the first teachers' training college (the seminary)
the first national song and instrument festivals, the first society for
the advancement of public education, the first "summer university", and
the first arts festival.
4.5.5 Porvoo
~~~~~~
Porvoo (Swedish: BorgÕ) on the coast of the Gulf of Finland received its
town rights in 1346. The town lies 48 km northeast of Helsinki, along the
Porvoonjoki River. It's a rather small town with only 30,000 or so
inhabitants, but it's rather attractive and the (mostly wooden) Old
Town still has a rather medieval character. Building of the the cathedral
in the center of the Old Town was finished 1414-18, and the Diet of Porvoo
where Finland was granted its autonomous status as a Grand Duchy was
held there in 1809 by emperor Alexander I. The house of Porvoo
Gymnasium, built 1760, is on the cathedral square. The town hall was
built in 1764 and now houses a historical museum; the art collection of
the museum is in the Holm house (1762), included are works by two
great artists of the golden age of Finnish art who were born in Porvoo,
the painter Albert Edelfelt (1854-1940) and the sculptor Ville Valgren
(1855-1940). Edelfelt's studio is one of the most popular museums of
Porvoo area, it's located close to the Haikko manor (now a hotel) a few
kilometers from Porvoo. The poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg spent the 25 last
years of his life in Porvoo; his home at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu
and Runeberginkatu has been a museum since 1880. He is buried in the
Nõsimõki cemetary of Porvoo. Next to the Old Town, on a hill across the
Porvoo river, is Linnanmõki or Borgbacken (Castle Hill, which has given
Porvoo it's name; BorgÕ = Castle River). There are no stone fortifications
left, the only remains are moats that have belonged to hillfort built by
the Danes in the late 12th or early 13th century.
4.5.6 Other places of interest in Finland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
land islands (Ahvenanmaa in Finnish) are a beautiful archipelago, perfect
for cycling, with medieval churches scattered around and the castle ruins
of Kastelholm. Naantali/NÕdendal, close to Turku, is a charming small,
medieval town by the sea, where a Brigittine cloister was located (the
church still remains). A popular place to visit in summers. Likewise,
Rauma, located 100km north of Turku, has a very charming old town
which is included in the UNESCO world heritage list, and a church that
was part of a Franciscan monastery. The inland lake-system, with such
lakes as Saimaa and Põijõnne is perfect for a canoeing holiday; trips on
one of the many lake steam boats are also recommended. The mightiest
of Finnish medieval castles, Olavinlinna, is located in an island in the
Saimaa, and a famous opera-festival is arranged in the castle every
summer. The province of Lapland is among the last wild natural areas in
Europe; no real mountains (except in some areas close to Norwegian
border), but low fells that rise to some 500 metres. Good for trekking,
but be prepared for mosquitoes.
------------------------------
Subject: 4.6 The Finnish Sauna
<by Mauri Haikola>
While the word 'sauna' (in the Finnish pronounciation, the "au" sound is
like "ou" in "loud") means different things in different countries,
for a Finn it means an elementary part of everyday life. Ever since
childhood, Finnish people learn to bathe in sauna, usually at least
once a week. Yes, they do it naked, and yes, they go in there together
with other people, while naked. This and other aspects of the Finnish
sauna are discussed in the following questions and answers.
Q1. Why is sauna something special in Finland?
A1. Mostly because of ancient traditions. Wherever there have lived
Finns, there have also been a sauna nearby their residences. In the
early days of Finnish history, it was a small wooden hut near a lake,
and people used it not only for cleaning themselves, but for childbirths,
some medical operations and other duties that required a clean, bacteria-
free environment. Today, practically all houses in Finland have a sauna.
In urban areas, you usually have one per building, but even in a relatively
small apartment it is not a rare piece of luxury these days. This being
the case, Finns discover at an early age what a refreshing way it is to
clean oneself both physically and mentally. The tradition is not a dying
one either.
Q2. What is a Finnish sauna like?
A2. The basic parts are the stove ('kiuas'), filled with fist-sized
stones, and the benches or platforms ('lauteet'), made of wood
(anecdotes of metal benches in the saunas of some Finnish-built
Russian warships are told :). There are usually two benches, one of
which is higher (the seat) and the other one lower (place to rest your
feet on, or another seat if you feel it's too hot). These are what all
saunas have. The modern saunas have the usual shower and dressing
rooms too, but the traditional ones near a lake or sea (usually in the
vicinity of a summer cabin, or built in one) do not require anything
but a stove for heating and a bench to sit down on -- you can do the
cleaning in the lake. The stove is traditionally fuelled by wood, but
electrically heated saunas are common due to their safe, easy and
clean use. The average sauna has room for 3-6 people at a time.
Q3. How are you supposed to bathe?
A3. There are no rules, only guidelines. Finns like their traditions,
but do not enforce them on themselves or foreigners. Usually you bathe
together with your family. If you are with friends or others that
aren't family members, men and women take turns to bathe separately. Most
public saunas are separate for men and women, but not all. You take your
clothes off (this is not a rule, mind you; if someone wants to use a towel
or bathing suite, it's not a breach of any important etiquette), go and
sit down on the benches and relax. The air is not particularly humid at
first (there is no visible steam), and when you feel like it, you throw
some water on the stones to increase humidity. This causes the water to
vaporize very quickly, and it makes the bathers feel a momentary breath
of hot air in their backs. It may be uncomfortable, if the stove is too
hot or if you use too much water, and in those cases it helps to step down
on the lower bench, or to go out entirely. This is also perfectly acceptable,
and first-time sauna bathers shouldn't feel obligated to stay in if they
don't feel like it. The basic goal is to enjoy and relax, and sweat. After
you've done enough of that, you go to the showers, and/or swim in the lake,
depending on the facilities. After swimming or showering, you can go back
to the sauna, and repeat this cycle as many times as you want.
Q4. How hot is it in there?
A4. This varies according to the bathers' wishes. Usually the temperature
is between 60 C and 110 C, the widely-agreed-upon ideal temperature being
somewhere around 85 degrees. Sometimes (after a few drinks) Finnish men
engage in an unhealthy competition over who can stay in a hot sauna the
longest time. This is not the way sauna is meant to be enjoyed, not to
mention that it can be dangerous. Also, you shouldn't be drunk in sauna.
A cold beer after sauna, however, tastes usually great, even a mediocre
brand.
Q5. What is a smoke sauna? How does it differ from the usual one?
A5. A smoke sauna (savusauna) is perhaps the most traditional kind of
sauna. There is no smoke pipe: all the smoke from the stove goes inside
the sauna while heating. Of course, it has to be removed before bathing,
and this is done by opening a small hatch on the wall. The fire on the
stove must not be burning while bathing, but this doesn't matter, since
the massive stove radiates plenty of heat for many hours. A smoke sauna
is often considered the ultimate sauna experience, complete with the
wonderful smoke odour. Smoke saunas are somewhat rare compared to the
normal ones these days, but sauna enthusiasts praise them so that there
still exist plenty of them.
Q6. Do Finns really jump out naked into the snow in the middle of sauna
bathing and roll around in winter time? Or go swimming in a frozen lake?
A6. Some do, most don't. This is a habit that requires a healthy heart
and a bit of courage, but it is practised, and there are some enthusiasts
who think sauna in the winter is nothing without a quick swim in the snow
or freezing water. Of course, others think this is sheer madness.
Q7. What about sauna and sex?
A7. Even though people are naked in sauna, Finns do not see anything
sex-related in their sauna tradition. Of course you can have sex in
there if you feel like it, but that is neither a part of any tradition
nor very comfortable. Women used to give birth in saunas a long time
ago, but the conceiving was done mostly elsewhere. Massage parlours and
other (sometimes sexual) services that often come with a public sauna in
the red-light districts of big cities are unknown phenomena in Finland.
Going to sauna naked with all your family is not at all perverted, as the
reader might think. Instead, the sauna tradition makes it natural and
comfortable for children to learn about human body, and for parents to
tell them about it.
------------------------------
Subject: 4.7 Finnish literature, language, etc.
4.7.1 Finnish literature
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fire has destroyed most of the early literature the Finnish church and
monasteries must have produced. The first known Finnish author was Jũns
Budde, a Franciscan monk who lived in the Brigittene monastery at Naantali
in the latter part of 15th century, chiefly translating from Latin to
Swedish, but he also wrote a few things of his own. Codex Aboensis written
probably in Turku in the 1440's is an important collection of law texts;
Missale Aboense printed in 1488 for the Finnish church is a beautiful
book and a source of medieval Finnish religious life.
Mikael Agricola (ca.1510-57), a bishop of Turku and great advocate of
Lutheranism, is considered the father of Finnish literature. His ABC-book
published 1538 is the first known book in Finnish, but the translation
of New Testament (1548) is his greatest achievement. Paavali Juusten
(?1512-72) was another important 16th century author; his Chronicon
episcoporum Finlandensium (Chronicle of the Finnish Bishops) is an
important source of early Finnish history. Erik Sorolainen (1545-1625)
did most of the translation of the Old Testament when the whole Bible
was eventually published in Finnish in 1642, delayed by the Thirty Years'
War. The first grammar of Finnish, Linguae Finnicae brevis institutio,
was written by Eskil Petraeus in 1649.
Daniel Juslenius (1676-1752) was an enthusiastic advocate of things
Finnish. He wrote a baroque study on Finland (Aboa vetus et Nova, 1700)
which among other things traced the origins of Roman civilization to
Finland; a defense of Finnishness (Vindicae Fennorum, 1702); and most
importantly, the first major Finnish dictionary (Suomalaisen Sana-Lugun
Coetus, 1745), containing 16,000 entries. He and his ideological followers
became known as Fennophiles (proto-nationalists, but not separatists).
Jakob Frese (1691-1729) and Gustaf Filip Creutz (1731-1785) contributed
importantly to the Swedish-language poetry of the era.
The first major Finnish poet, however, was Frans Mikael FranzÚn
(1772-1847), whose fresh, romantic poetry was enormously popular in
Sweden-Finland in his time. His teacher was the great scholar Henrik
Gabriel Porthan (1739-1804), a student of Juslenius and a Fennophile, who
brought Finnish history-writing, study of mythology and folk poetry,
and other humanistic sciences to an international level. His De PoŲsi
Fennica (published in five parts 1776-78), a study on Finnish folk poetry,
had great importance in awakening public interest in the Kalevala-poetry
and Finnish mythology, and the study was also the basis of all later
study of the poetry. He was among the founders of the Aurora Society
that advocated Finnish literary pursuits and was the editor of the first
Finnish newspaper, Tidningar utgifne af et sõllskap i bo, founded in
1771. Antti Lizelius (1708-1795) published the first newspaper in
Finnish, Suomenkieliset Tieto-Sanomat, 1776.
Porthan inspired the following generation of Finnish authors, poets and
researchers, many of whom were among the founders of the Finnish Literature
Society in 1831. A movement literary trend known as Helsinki Romanticism
was born in the 1830's when the university was moved to the new capital.
Four young university students came to have towering importance to the
forming of the Finnish literature, and ultimately, the Finnish national
identity. These were the poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-77), the scholar
Elias Lũnnrot (1802-84), the author Zachris Topelius (1818-1898) and the
Hegelian philosopher and statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman (1806-81).
Especially important was Elias Lũnnrot (1802-84), who did a huge task of
collecting folk poetry from the remote wildernesses of Karelia, and
compiling these to what was to become Finland's national epic, the Kalevala.
(1849). It is composed of 50 poems (sometimes called runes), altogether
22,795 verses. The book starts with a creation-myth, then goes on to
recount the deeds and adventures of the three protagonists, Võinõmũinen
the magician and bard, Ilmarinen the smith, and Lemminkõinen the wanton
loverboy and warrior, and ends with the introduction of Christianity to
Finland. Lũnnrot was under the influence of Homeric ideals and tried to
forge the poems into a single epic, adding bits and pieces of his own and
altering some parts to make them appear a whole, which they however never
have been. Nevertheless, it's role to the development of Finnish literature,
arts and identity can hardly be over-estimated, and having been translated
to all major world languages and lots of minor ones, it is no doubt the most
important contribution of Finland to world literature. Lũnnrot also
published a counterpart to Kalevala, the Kanteletar, a collection of
ancient lyrical poetry often sung by women. These two books, however,
cover but a small part of the recorded Finnish folk poetry. For instance,
between 1908-48 was published a massive, 33-volume book series called
"Suomen Kansan Vanhoja Runoja", containing altogether 85,000 poems, with
well over a million verses. Kalevala & Kanteletar can be found (in Finnish)
at the URL http://www.sci.fi/kalevala/ and a hypermedia project at
http://www.joensuu.fi/humanistinenTDK/Kalevala/kalevala/hyperkalevala.html
Runeberg's main works were the realist/idealist poem lgskyttarna (Elk
Hunters, 1832), which can be called the first major literary portrayal of
ordinary people in Scandinavia, the Ossianic epic Kung Fjalar (King Fjalar,
1844) and the emotional and humane heroic poem Fõnrik StÕls Sõgner (The
Tales of Ensign StÕl, I 1848, II 1860) on the war of 1808-09, which enjoyed
huge popularity in both Finland and Sweden and became something of a
national romantic symbol. Topelius was a full-blooded romantic, more
superficial as a literary artist than Runeberg, and less of an innovator.
His Fõltskõrns Berõttelser (1851-67, The Barber-Surgeons Stories) is a
historical novel set in the Thirty Years' War, in the tradition of Sir
Walter Scott; he is also well known in Finland for his fairy tales.
Snellman's chief achievement was in his role as a national awakener, the
editor of two newspapers, strongly encouraging literature as part of the
process leading to independence.
The first great prose writer in Finnish - considered by some to be the
most genial - was Aleksis Kivi (1834-72), a novelist and playwright who
during his lifetime was largely ignored. Major works include Seitsemõn
Veljestõ (The Seven Brothers, 1870), his most celebrated play, and the
comedy Nummisuutarit (The Heath Shoemakers, 1864). He was more modern
and many-sided in his expression than Runeberg, but his image of the
Finnish people was too 'raw' and realistic for most people of his era,
and he died in extreme poverty, suffering from a mental illness.
Minna Canth (1844-97), an energetic fighter for women's rights and social
justice, was a contemporary of Juhani Aho (1861-1921), a novelist and
short-story writer known for his humorous sketches and lyrical, dreamy
descriptions of nature. Eino Leino (1878-1926) was a poet of exceptional
talent, drawing heavily on the Kalevala tradition. His main themes are
love and nature, and poem collections such as Helkavirsiõ (Helka-hymns,
1903), Halla (Frost, 1908) which includes the wonderful love/nature poem
Nocturne, and Hymyilevõ Apollo (The Smiling Apollo) are still much-loved.
V. A. Koskenniemi often turned to classical themes. Uuno Kailas wrote
harsh, self-analytic verse, whereas Kaarlo Sarkia sought solace in
aestheticism and fantasy. The personal, abrupt, and humorous poetry of
Aaro Hellaakoski and the equally humorous, learned, yet folklike verse of
P. Mustapõõ were only appreciated after 1945. The generation of the 1950s,
including Paavo Haavikko and Eeva-Liisa Manner, introduced new poetic forms
to which their successors often added absurd humor, formalist
experimentation, and social criticism.
Finland-Swedish modernism was introduced by Edith Sũdergran (1892-1923).
She didn't receive much recognition in her lifetime, but is now regarded
one of Finland's foremost poets. She was first influenced by French
symbolism, then German expressionism and Russian futurism, and creatively
applied these to her own poetry. Her free rhythm, strong, challenging
images fired by a Nietzschean self-conscience and conviction of the
importance of her message were new and baffling to the Finnish audience,
and she was almost without exception misunderstood and even ridiculed.
Her first collection of poems was Dikter (Poems, 1916), which was followed
by Rosenaltaret (The Rose Altar, 1919) and Landet som icke õr (The
land that is not, 1925) among others. Always physically weak and somewhat
sickly, she died young just as she was starting to get followers. Among
these the most important were Elmer Diktonius (1896-1961), Gunnar Bjũrling
(1887-1960) and Rabbe Enckell (1903-74).
Joel Lehtonen, Volter Kilpi, and especially Frans Eemil Sillanpõõ (1888-
1964) dominated naturalistic prose in the first half of the 20th century.
Sillanpõõ was awarded the 1939 Nobel Prize for literature for the book
'Silja, nuorena nukkunut' (Silja, Fallen Asleep While Young, 1931).
Also important are Toivo Pekkanen, who wrote about the plight of industrial
workers, and Pentti Haanpõõ, who portrayed with a bitter but defiant humor
the struggle of humans against harsh nature in northern Finland.
After World War II, Vainũ Linna had great success with the novel Tuntematon
Sotilas (The Unknown Soldier, 1954) which played a part in the healing of
the wounds of the war and is read by almost every Finnish schoolkid. The
extensive use of dialects make the book quite impossible to translate;
translations into English and many other languages do exist, but cannot
be recommended very highly (although I hear the Swedish one is pretty
good). His other major work is the trilogy Tõõllõ pohjantõhden alla
(Here Under the North Star, 1959-62), a story of the struggles of poor
farmers that culminated in the Civil War of 1918. More recently, Veijo
Meri has described the violence and absurdity of human life, especially
during times of war.
Mika Waltari (1908-79) is among the Finnish prose writers best known to an
international audience. He wrote his most successful novels in the 1940s
and 50's, many of them on historical subjects; among these is Sinuhe
egyptilõinen (The Egyptian, 1945), a novel set in ancient Egypt, about
the collapse of traditional ways of life and the inflation of inherited
values. It's also been filmed into a dreary Hollywood spectacle.
From the 1960s, social issues became central to the young novelists and
poets. Hannu Salama went through a famous trial for blasphemy (after which
the blasphemy laws were repealed) for his novel Juhannustanssit (Juhannus
Dances, 1964). Pentti Saarikoski was the leading poet of the 60's. Often
better remembered for his for his unhealthy lifestyle, Saarikoski was
nevertheless one of the most genial poets in Finnish and a brilliant
translator of e.g Homer and Joyce. Such younger writers as as Alpo Ruuth
and Antti Tuuri have also dealt with social issues.
The author Tove Jansson (b. 1914) has won much international fame for her
creation of the Moomins, philosophical-minded, friendly trolls who live in
Moominvalley. There are many books on their adventures, e.g Muminpappan
och Havet (Moominpappa and the Sea). Her fantasy world charms with it's
richness, inventiveness and wisdom of life spiced with witty humor. The
events and imagery flow freely and uninhibited, yet reflecting the
phenomena of the real world. Another author who has long been very popular
in Finland and has started to win international fame recently is the
humorist Arto Paasilinna; Jõniksen Vuosi (The Year of the Hare, 1974),
is the story of an advertising man who gets sick of urban life and
escapes to the wilderness with his pet hare.
For electronic versions of some of the works of Nordic literature, see
the collection of Project Runeberg:
World Wide Web: http://www.lysator.liu.se/runeberg/
Gopher: gopher.lysator.liu.se path /project-runeberg
FTP: ftp.lysator.liu.se directory /pub/runeberg
4.7.2 Dictionaries and other study-material
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<Compiled by N.O.Monaghan>
BOOKS USEFUL FOR LEARNING FINNISH (Version 2.3)
Many thanks to all those who have contributed and commented on this
list. As usual any additions, corrections, and other comments should be
mailed to mona...@lingua.cltr.uq.oz.au.
This list contains works which may be found useful for learning Finnish
- either whether by self-study or other means. Some works are directed
towards teachers rather than students. Older works are retained as these
are often the ones that will be stumbled across in libraries.
INDEX
Grammars, Primers, Phrase Books.
Dictionaries
Readers
Materials for Teaching Finnish
Miscellaneous
Course Details
Acknowledgements
4.7.2.1 Grammars, primers, phrase books
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maija-Hellikki Aaltio: Finnish for Foreigners (1963)
A good book to work through, it teaches grammar and
vocabulary in small chunks with plenty of grammatical exercises
and reading exercises. The emphasis on obtaining a practical
command of the language (even if mainly a reading knowledge)
makes it very useful. I think there may well be an updated
version available these days. A new edition is now available. [NOM]
Maija-Hellikki Aaltio: Finnish for Foreigners (1987):
Finnish for Foreigners 1 Textbook
Finnish for Foreigners 1 Exercises
Finnish for Foreigners 2 Textbook
Finnish for Foreigners 2 Exercises
Finnish for Foreigners 3 Textbook
[ There are also 2 cassettes per book giving aural
versions of the chapter readers and listening
exercises for the exercise books. ]
I find these books OK for learning progressively, and the
reference tables in the back are more useful as a quick grammar
reference than Fred Karlsson's book, however there are two
distinct drawbacks:
1. It is very difficult to find anything in the books, e.g. if
you decide you want to check up a particular grammatical
feature or item of vocabulary.
2. The texts are getting a bit out of date (they're quite
sixties/seventies in their topics and attitudes in places).
[Matthew Faupel]
A complete revision of the original 1963 book which
bore the same title, this has long been the standard work
for teaching Finnish to English-speaking foreigners. The
book is slightly dated with respect to language teaching
methodology, but it takes the student from the basics to
a solid command of the language. The 1987 edition devotes
considerable attention to the peculiarities of spoken Finnish.
[Eugene Holman]
J. Atkinson: Finnish Grammar (Helsinki, 1956)
A course in Finnish grammar for the learner. It concentrates
on explaining the grammar and thus contains only a
few short reading passages and a very limited vocabulary.
Michael Branch et al: A Student's Glossary of Finnish: The Literary
Language Arranged by Frequency and Alphabet (Werner Soderstrom
Osakeyhtio, Porvoo, 1980)
1200 items, graded and accompanied by morphological
information. Glossed in several languages, including English.
[Lance Eccles]
Berlitz Finnish for Travellers
Various editions in various languages.
A typical inexpensive Berlitz pocket language guide.
Like all the these guides, it of great help unless you actually
know a little bit already, but then it is very helpful for
vocabulary in various situations - especially menus. [NOM]
Bjo"rn Collinder: A Handbook of the Uralic Languages. Part 2. Survey of
the Uralic Languages (Stockholm, 1957) [This may have been
issued separately entitled 'A Finnish Primer'.]
Although a book aimed at compartative linguists, the Finnish
section contains a graded grammatical introduction together
with reading passages and a vocabulary. I have seen this Finnish
section as a separate pamphlet but without any publication
details. [NOM]
Artem Davdijants Inge Davidjants, Eugene Holman, Riitta Koivisto-Arhinma"ki:
Terve, Suomi! Conversational Finnish in video ( Helsinki/Tallinn
1992)
This is the first attempt to produce an audiovisual
course in Finnish. The course consists of a 45-minute video
(VHS-PAL) dramatization of a trip to Finland, a 60-minutte
audio cassette, and a 140-page textbook. The English version
is a translation and expansion of the Estonian original. The
course was produced under difficult circumstances during the
last days of Soviet Estonia, and it has some unfortunate
shortcomings. Nevertheless, it represents a totally new
approach to presenting and teaching Finnish as a foreign langauge.
Contact hol...@katk.helsinki.fi for further information.
[Eugene Holman]
Eugene Holman: Handbook of Finnish Verbs. 231 Finnish verbs
conjugated in all tenses (Finnish Literature Society, 1984)
Modelled on the famous Barrons 201 Verbs series, this
book contains a detailed discussion of all the regularities
and peculiarities of Finnish verb morphology, in
addition to which it has information on the cases used in
conjunction with more than 1200 Finnish verbs.
Eugene Holman: Finnmorf (1986)
An MS-DOS computer program which generates
all the forms of a Finnish verb, noun, adjective, numeral
or pronoun if given the dictionary form. It is thus a computer
emulation of a handbook of Finnish inflectional morphology.
Particularly useful for teachers of Finnish because it
quickly produces neatly formatted full paradigms
which can be saved as text files for further editing. Available
as freeware upon request from hol...@katk.helsinki.fi. [Eugene
Holman].
Leena Horton: First Finnish (Helsinki, 1982)
Teaches a very basic knowledge of Finnish with a limited
vocabulary through pictures. There are no grammatical
explanations beyond the translations in the vocabularies for
each chapter. This book was designed for use with children in a
classroom situation. [NOM]
Mirja Joro et al.: Askelia Suomeen (Ammattikasvatushallitus,
Helsinki, 1985-86)
Four slim vols, all in Finnish, and intended for
newcomers to Finland. [Lance Eccles]
Fred Karlsson: Finnish Grammar (tr Andrew Chesterman, WSOY,
Porvoo-Helsinki-Juva, 1983).
Finnish edition: Suomen peruskielioppi (1982)
Swedish edition: Finsk grammatik (1978).
Karrlsson systematically covers the grammar of Finnish. This
is an excellent book - the grammar rules are easy to read and
understand and numerous examples are given. The book uses a very
clear and understandable style of layout. However, it is a
grammar and will need to be used in conjunction with other
material. [NOM]
I've got this book, and while I find it useful, I'd
hesitate to call it "excellent". It's difficult to find things
in it sometimes, it doesn't cover everything (e.g. I would dearly
love to have information on such things as the use of "fossilised"
cases (e.g. maanatai/sin, posti/tse) and I find the rule blocks
written entirely in capitals difficult to read. There is
definite room for improvement. [Matthew Faupel]
Aira Haapakoski, Seija Koski & Mirja Valkesalmi: HUOMENTA SUOMI (Valtion
painatuskeskus, Helsinki, 1990, ISBN 951-861-175-0)
I've used it for adults and children. It
illustrates basic grammar fairly clearly and may make teaching
grammar more fun, it does not, however, give verbal rules, mainly
the info is given in "boxes". Huomenta Suomi costs around 100
FIM (= $25 CAD). [Marja Coady]
Marjatta Karanko & Ulla Talvitie: TOTTAKAI! (Oy Finn Lectura Ab, Loimaan
kirjapaino, Loimaa 1993, ISBN 951-8905-71-1)
I have not used it much yet but it would seem to
be suitable especially for teenagers since its texts are geared
towards them. Grammar is explained somewhat and the book
contains exercises as well. Everything is done in Finnish.
[Marja Coady]
Meri Lehtinen: Basic Course in Finnish (Ural and Altaic Series #27,
Indiana UP, Bloomington, 1963)
A huge book, full of drills. Unfortunately now out of
print. [Lance Eccles]
Terttu Leney: Teach Yourself Finnish (New Version, Hodder and Stoughton,
ISBN 0-340-56174-2) [An audio casette is also available]
Whitney's notorious _Teach Yourself Finnish_ has been
superseded by a new Finnish textbook compiled according to the
Council of Europe's Threshold guidelines on language learning.
It is an excellent introduction to spoken and written
Finnish. [Eugene Holman]
Teach Yourself has just recently brought out a
new version. A colleague recckons its pretty good. [Matthew Faupel]
The new version seems to be a *much* better
book [Antti Lahelma]
Anneli Lieko: Suomen kielen fonetiikkaa ja fonologiaa ulkomaalaisille
(1992) [Finnish phonetics and phonology for foreigners].
A clearly written presentation of the Finnish sound
system intended for foreigners with a good reading knowledge
of the language. The book concentrates on the learning
difficulties foreigners speaking a wide range
of languages face when trying to master Finnish pronunciation.
[Eugene Holman]
I would like to say that the book is certainly useful
but far from being a complete presentation of Finnish phonetics and
phonology for foreigners. It does not, for example, specify exactly
when a two-vowel pair is pronounced as a diphthong (instead of two
vowels belonging to distinct syllables), nor does it describe the
rules for secondary stress in Finnish. Admittedly, these are areas
which have not been studied extensively enough, and they seldom have
any phonematic effect. But the phenomena certainly affect the
naturalness of one's speech in Finnish. [Jukka "Yucca" Korpela]
Olli Nuutinen: Suomea Suomeksi 1. (Suomalaisen Sirjallisuuden Seura,
Helsinki, repr. 1992) Vocabuary available in Danish, Icelandic,
French, Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, English, German, and Italian.
Teaches everything in Finnish only. Probably less suitable
for self studies. No audio cassettes available. As a student
I know only this one and can't compare, but my impression is
quite good. Seems to be up to date. The German vocabulary
contains many errors. [Uwe Geuder]
At first the book looks extremely childish but all of
the grammar is there. I have found it quite effective when used in
tandem with Karlsson's grammar. I first used this book in
1982 and I would guess it was first published in the
late 70's. This book makes Finnish feel EASY and
with a little imagination is fun to learn from (and teach with!).
[Cecelia A Musselman].
John B. Olli: Fundamentals of Finnish Grammar (Northland Press, New
York, 1958)
This book concentrates mainly on long lists of declensions
and conjugations. The approach taken is not a very helpful for the
learner. [NOM]
Anges Renfors: Finnish Self-Taught (Thimm's System) with Phonetic
Pronunciation (Marlborough's Self Taught Series, London, 1910)
Quite a old one! It is really a structured vocabulary with a
brief grammar and a mini-phrase book. Very similar in many ways
to the modern Berlitz books. [NOM]
Thomas A. Sekeboed (?): Spoken Finnish
It seems to be good for having lots of conversational
stuff in it, though probably you need the tapes (and a grammar)
to make a good go of it [Robert Cumming]
Leena Silfverberg: Suomen kielen jatko-oppikirja (Finn Lectura,
Helsinki?, 1990)
An intermediate course. All in Finnish. Has vocab lists,
but no translations. [Lance Eccles]
Arthur H. Whitney: Finnish (Teach Yourself Books, Hodder and Stoughton,
1956)
Being available in the cheap Teach Yourself Series, this book
is easily and widely available. Which makes it such a shame that
it is so bad. It consists of 20 chapters each of which has a
grammatical section, a vocabulary, and exercises including short
reading passages. The grammar is dreadfully complicated with the
reader learning rare variations almost immediately. It is also
very poorly laid out with no attempt at making it even vaguely
easy on the eye and brain. The vocabularies seem somewhat
pointless - they are normally 4 or 5 pages long which is an
incredible amount of learning expected for a single chapter - it
would have been better to include them alphabetically at the end
of the work and then tell the reader "learn the words beigining
with 'a' today". The exercises and reading passages are short
and no great aid to someone working alone - as 'Teach yourself'
implies. A replacement by Terttu Leney is now available in this
series. [NOM]
Yes, that book presents the reader with the most massive
vocabulary lessons I have seen in any text book. But, I liked
one thing about it; the reading passages form a real continuing
story. This is something most language books lack completely.
Personally, I also liked the fact that even the first passage is
far from trivial, not on the order of "Hello, Mrs. Paivinen.
That is a house." But as usually happens with me and language
books, I didn't assimilate the whole of the book. A
lot has stuck, though. [kon...@eua.ericsson.se]
4.7.2.2 Dictionaries
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suomi-Englanti-Suomi taskusanakirja, WSOY, Porvoo-Helsinki-Juva 1989.
A small pocket dictionary with a stylised picture of the Union
Jack as its cover. Just about passable as a pocket dictionary,
but it often doesn't give an indication of whether the word is
a noun, adjective or verb (not always obvious) and only gives
the basic form of each word (not helpful if it has an irregular
partitive or whatever). It also lacks most Finnish
colloquialisms (the dictionary seems to be designed for Finns
coming to Britain rather than vice-versa). [Matthew Faupel]
WSOY Suomi/Englanti and Englanti/Suomi.
Two volumes, about the same size as the Concise Oxford
(i.e. about 25cmx20cmx8cm). Hence lots of words and
examples. [Matthew Faupel]
Suomi/Englanti/Suomi Sanakirja, Gummerus Kirjapaino OY, 1989
A single volume mid-size dictionary with a reasonable amount
of colloquial information in, but still no information on
things other than the basic forms of words (other than
indirectly via examples). [Matthew Faupel]
Nykysuomen sanakirja
Something like 6 volumes. Irreplaceable for knowing
which words inflect in which ways, and for less common words.
Clearly not for beginners, because of the total lack of English,
but it's currently a bargain at around 300FIM (40 pounds
sterling) in softback. [Steve Kelly]
4.7.2.3 Readers
~~~~~~~
Robert Austerlitz: Finnish Reader and Glossary (Research and Studies in
Uralic and Altaic Languages No 14, Indiana UP, 1963)
Aili Rytkũnen Bell & Augustus Koski: Finnish Graded Reader (1968)
(Foreign Service Institute. Department of State. 1968)
[Audio cassettes are also available]
A behemoth (744 pgs.) of a book, this book takes the
student from the advanmced elementary level (approx. 500 words
and basic grammar) up to unedited journalistic, literary, and
historical texts. Jam packed with interesting exercises and
information otherwise unavailable about Finnish vocabulary,
idioms and phraseology. In my opinion this is the
BEST BOOK AVAILABLE for mastering Finnish in all of its
stylistic variety after you have learned the basics. The book
is a public document and costs $17.50 according to the latest
information I have available. [Eugene Holman]
4.7.2.4 Material for teaching Finnish
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Language Centre for Finnish Universities)
Eija Aalto (ed.): Kohdekielenõ suomi. Oppimateriaalien kommentoitu
bibliografia. (Information from the Language Centre for Finnish
Universities, 1991) (in Finnish)
Jũnsson-Korhola & White: Rakastan sinua. Pidõtkũ sinõ minusta? Suomen
verbien rektioita. (Language Centre Materials No. 66, 1989)
H. Koivisto: Suomi-tytũn kieli. Suggestopedinen alkeiskurssi (Finnish-
English). (Language Centre Materials No. 75, 1990)
K. Siitonen: Auringonvalo. Elõmõõ suomalaisessa kylõssõ. (Reading
materials for conversation classes). (Language Centre Materials
No. 79, 1990)
E. Aalto: Kuule hei! Suomen kielen kuunteluharjoituksia
vieraskielisille, (listening comprehension material, booklet + tapes).
(Language Centre Materials No. 80, 1990)
Ahonen & White: Monta sataa suomen sanaa. (reader for vocabulary
building and revision, English glossaries). (Language Centre
Materials No. 101, 1993)
All the above can be ordered from: Language Centre for Finnish
Universities, University of Jyva"skyla", P.O. Box 35, 40351 Jyva"skyla",
Finland. If you want further information, feel free to contact Helena Valtanen
valt...@jyu.fi. [Helena Valtanen]
4.7.2.5 Miscellaneous
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter Hajdu: Finno-Ugrian languages and peoples (tr and adapted by G.F.
Cushing fr Hungarian "Finnugor nepek es nyelvek", Deutsch,
London, 1975).
Gives a background to the peoples and cultures of the
Finno-Ugrian family of languages. [NOM]
4.7.2.6 Course details
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suomea/Finska/Finnish
Soumen kielen ja kultuurin opinnot kesõllõ 1994 /
Att studera finska och Finlands kultur sommaren 1994 /
Courses in Finnish language and culture summer 1994
(Council for Instruction of Finnish for Foreigners, Ministery of
Education)
This brochure is available from UKAN/Opitusministeri|
PL 293, FIN-00171 Helsinki, Finland [Uwe Geuder]
4.7.2.7 Acknowledgements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With lots of additions & help gratefully received from:
Uwe Geuder <Uwe.G...@informatik.uni-stuttgart.d400.de>
mat...@cpdapo.tele.nokia.fi (Matthew Faupel)
Antti A Lahelma <alah...@cc.helsinki.fi>
hol...@katk.helsinki.fi (Eugene Holman)
r...@mail.ast.cam.ac.uk (Robert Cumming)
Cecelia A Musselman <ca...@edu.columbia>
Helena Valtanen <valt...@tukki.jyu.fi>
Arndt.J...@eua.ericsson.se (Arndt Jonasson)
Brian Wilkins <b...@cix.compulink.co.uk>
Hans-Christian Holm <hch...@idt.unit.no>
Lance Eccles <lec...@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au>
Steven Kelly <ste...@cs.jyu.fi>
Jukka "Yucca" Korpela <jkor...@gamma.hut.fi>
Marja Coady <CO...@ERE.UMONTREAL.CA>
plus others.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-END OF PART 4-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Antti Lahelma
Tampere/Tammerfors (174,859), Turku/Åbo
(159,916), Espoo/Esbo (179,054), Vantaa/Vanda
(159,213), Oulu/Uleåborg (103,358) (1992)
rocky islands; the principal archipelagos are the Åland (in Finnish:
Åland, which is monolingually Swedish-speaking. Åland, with ca. 25,000
scholar Elias Lönnrot, has had enormous effect on the forming of the
Finnish culture in the last century, as did the poetry of Johan Ludvig
Runeberg (1804-72) and the drama of the author Aleksis Kivi (1834-72).
The scholar H.G.Porthan (1739-1804) awakened the public interest in
Finnish mythology and folk poetry, and laid a firm basis to humanist
sciences. Tove Jansson (b. 1914) has won popularity with her books about
the Moomins.
Music has had a special place in Finnish culture, the best known
and loved composer being of course Jean Sibelius (1865-1957); others
include Fredrik Pacius (1809-91), Oskar Merikanto (1868-1924), and
Aarre Merikanto (1893-1958), Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947), and Uuno
Klami (1900-61). Aulis Sallinen, Joonas Kokkonen and Magnus Lindberg are
major contemporary composers. Hundreds of music festivals draw large
crowds in the summer; among the best known are Kaustinen Folk Festival,
Savonlinna Opera Festival which is held in a medieval castle, and Ruisrock
in Turku.
Finnish architecture has won international fame; it is represented by
people such as Eliel Saarinen (and his son Eero Saarinen, who worked
chiefly in North America) Wivi Lönn (1872-1966), and Lars Sonck (1870-1956)
who were pioneers of the national romantic style. Neoclassicism was
introduced by J. S. Siren (1889-1961), and functionalism by Alvar Aalto
(1898-1976). Aalto is also well known as an urban planner, interior
designer, and industrial and furniture designer. Reima and Raili Pietilä
peasant Lalli on the frozen surface of lake Köyliö. He is
canonized St.Henry and becomes Finland's patron saint.
1229 The bishop's seat is moved from Nousiainen to Koroinen in
the vicinity of modern Turku; the year is considered to be
the founding year of Turku, which becomes the capital of
the eastern half of the kingdom.
1249 After a pagan uprising, the Second Crusade to Tavastia
(a province of western/central Finland) is launched and the
pagans are defeated.
1293 The Third Crusade to Karelia, a province of eastern Finland,
establishes the borderline between Catholic/Lutheran West
and Orthodox East for the centuries to come. The castle and
town of Viipuri/Viborg are founded to defend the border.
1323 The peace of Nöteburg (Pähkinäsaari) between Sweden and
Russia. Finland's eastern border defined for the first time.
1362 Finns receive the right to participate in the election of
the king.
1396- The era of the Kalmar Union, with Finland, Sweden, Denmark
1523 Norway and Iceland united as a single kingdom.
1495-97 War against Russia. During a siege of Viipuri, just as the
Russians are about to get over the city walls, St. Andrew's
cross appears in the sky and the frightened Russians flee
from battle. In reality, what happened was probably the
exploding of a gunpowder tower.
1527 Reformation. Finland becomes Lutheran with the rest of Sweden.
1550 Helsinki founded by Gustav Vasa, but remains little more
than a fishing village for more than two centuries.
1551 Mikael Agricola, a bishop of Turku, publishes his transla-
tion of the New Testament in Finnish.
1595 The peace of Täyssinä (Teusina); Finland's borders are
epic. It was collected by Elias Lönnroth from traditional
Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg (1919-25)
Lauri Kristian Relander (1925-31)
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud (1931-37)
Kyösti Kallio (1937-40)
Risto Heikki Ryti (1940-44)
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (1944-46)
Juho Kusti Paasikivi (1946-56)
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (1956-81)
Mauno Henrik Koivisto (1982-94)
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (1994- )
------------------------------
Subject: 4.4 The Finnish parliament, government and political parties
<From Jorma Kyppö, Hiski Haapoja et al>
Minister of Trade and Commerce: Antti Kalliomäki, vice-chairman of the
Social Democratic Party. A gray bore and former athlete.
Minister of Interior Affairs (such as the Police): Jouni Backman (SocDem).
A totalitarian character. 2nd minister Jan-Erik Enestam (Swedish People's
Party), a municipal leader from Västanfjärd.
Minister of Labour: Liisa Jaakonsaari (SocDem, from Oulu). Faces a huge
task of reducing the record-high unemployment. Good luck.
Minister of Justice: Sauli Niinistö, Chairman of the Conservatives.
Lost his wife in a car accident earlier this year.
Minister of Defence: Anneli Taina (Cons.) Apparently they decided to make
this a permanent women's job.
Minister of Traffic: Tuula Linnainmaa (Cons.) A nobody.
Minister of Education: the 30-year old Conservative Olli-Pekka Heinonen
continues.
Minister of Social and Health Issues: Sinikka Mönkäre (SocDem)
and Terttu Huttu (Comm.), a newcomer from Suomussalmi.
Minister of European Affairs: Ole Norrback, the Ostrobothnian chairman of
the Swedish People's Party and just about our most provincial politician.
Minister of Culture: Claes Andersson, Comm. Chairman, poet, jazz
pianist, ex-football player, psychiatrist and father of six or more. It's
not often that we see a Minister of Culture who actually understands
something about culture.
4.4.3 The political parties
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Centre (Keskusta, abbr. Kesk) was called Agrarian League until 1965
and still derives its main support from rural areas covering most of
Finland. Not nearly all the voters have anything to do with farming, but
loyalty to the Centre is almost a family value in the provinces,
particularly the two northern ones (Oulu and Lapland). The higher voting
percentage of the rural areas is an additional asset. The party has a
strong anti-EU wing, which has close ties with Vapaan Suomen Liitto (Union
of Free Finland), whose sole issue is to terminate the EU membership.
Esko Aho has been chairman of the Centre since 1990 and Prime Minister
since 1991. Other main politicians include the controversial Paavo Väyrynen,
Seppo Kääriäinen, Olli Rehn, Tytti Isohookana-Asunmaa, Anneli Jäätteenmäki.
The chairman of VSL is the noted troublemaker Ilkka Hakalehto.
The Social Democrats (SDP) are strongest in Southern industrial towns,
also sharing much of the middle-class and official vote. Party chairman
Paavo Lipponen is the new Prime Minister. Other notable names: Arja Alho,
Erkki Tuomioja, Pertti Paasio, Ulf Sundqvist, Antti Kalliomäki, Lasse
Lehtinen, Kalevi Sorsa. President Martti Ahtisaari, EU commissioner Erkki
Liikanen and many trade union figures come from SDP.
The National Coalition (Kokoomus, abbr. Kok), or Conservatives, presents
itself as the party of entrepreneurs and patriots, winning 90 per cent
shares of vote in army bases. Helsinki and the other main cities are
National Coalition strongholds. While most of rural Finland is dominated
by the green of the Centre, Eastern Häme is blue for some reason. Chairman
Sauli Niinistö and his minions (Pertti Salolainen, Pekka Kivelä, Ilkka
Suominen, Harri Holkeri) are currently worried about a new rival,
Nuorsuomalaiset (Young Finns - the name harks back to the days of the
Tsar), which appears as a more modern, "cool" urban alternative. Risto
E. J. Penttilä is the champion of the Young Finns, while the image of
subway to the Itäkeskus -station (East Centre). The station is right
next to a huge suburban mall.
On the other end of the Market Square rises the golden, onion-shaped
cupola of the Uspensky Cathedral, representing the other major
religion in Finland, Greek Orthodoxy. Ferries leave from the square
to the 18th century island fortress of Suomenlinna (Sveaborg), once
called "the Gibraltar of the North" (but unlike Gibraltar, never
had much military significance), located just outside the harbour;
it's a beautiful place for picnics and just strolling around. There's
also a centre for Scandinavian art in one of the old barracks, and a
museum dedicated to the man behind Sveaborg's building, Augustin
Ehrensvärd. The fortress is included in the UNESCO list of world
heritage. Tickets to the ferries cost only about 10 FIM. There are
also ferries to Korkeasaari Zoo, also located in a nearby island.
Another good place for picnics is the Kaivopuisto park, where free
pop-concerts are held in summers.
Going down the Mannerheimintie-street, which starts from the other
end of the Esplanade, you'll pass the following places of interest:
the parliament, which is a massive granite building that daties from
the 1930's (and, frankly, looks like something that Albert Speer might
have designed..). The Finlandia-house, by Finland's most famous architect
Alvar Aalto, built of white marble, where the Helsinki accords were signed
(it's also the home of e.g the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra). The
Italian Carrara-marble plates haven't quite stood the test of Finnish
weather, so it might be a good idea to wear a helmet in case of falling
marble. :) The National Museum built in Art Nouveau style displays objects
from different periods of Finnish history. The collection is relatively
interesting, but displayed in a somewhat conservative way. Also, the museum
is far too small for it's purpose. The National Opera is the next building
on the line, it's a piece of modern architecture finished in 1993, more
beautiful from the inside than the outside; and finally, the Olympic
Stadium, where the 1952 Olympics were held.
You might also want to check the Temppeliaukio church in the district
of Töölö, which is carved into a low hill of granite rock and covered
by a copper dome (architect Reima Pietilä). Take a look from above, some
of the staircases of the houses next to it for example; it looks like a
landed UFO. Seurasaari island has an open-air museum of traditional
Finnish wooden houses, not quite as good as Skansen in Stockholm or
Bygdøy in Oslo, but if you're interested in folk culture it's certainly
worth checking out. Linnanmäki amusement park is the largest in Finland;
it differs in no way from your average large amusement park, but might
still be a nice place to spend a day, especially if you're travelling
with children. Heureka Science Center in the suburb in Vantaa is another
good place to spend time with children; it popularizes science, lets
you do all sorts of experiments of your own, and has a globular movie
theatre. You can get there by local train or a special bus line
leaving from Rautatientori. Ainola, home of the composer Jean Sibelius,
is located in Järvenpää not far from Helsinki.
Turku (Swedish: Åbo) is a port city in southwestern Finland at the mouth
of the river Aura, about 160 km west of Helsinki. It has several important
libraries, museums, and theaters. The Swedish University of Åbo (Åbo Aka-
demi, 1917) and the University of Turku (1920) serve, respectively, the
Swedish and Finnish populations of this bilingual city.
Turku/Åbo is Finland's oldest city, founded sometime in the early 13th
century, but not very many old buildings remain because of tens of
disastrous fires, the worst one being that of 1827 which destroyed the
city almost completely. Most of the buildings are, therefore, fairly new,
with a couple of old monuments remaining. Before the Russian takeover
in 1809, Turku was Finland's largest city and served as its capital.
It was rather heavily damaged during also during the WWII.
The city is divided by the river Aura, on the bank of which rises the Turku
Cathedral, the most important medieval cathedral in Finland and a national
sanctuary. It was started in 1230, and it's present shape (except for the
cupola and the roof, which were built after the 1827 fire) dates from late
middle ages. In the cathedral are buried e.g the wife of Erik XIV, Queen
Karin Månsdåtter (Kaarina Maununtytär) and some of the most famous of
Gustav II Adolf's military leaders from the Thirty Years' War (the Finnish
marshalls Evert Horn and Åke Tott, the general of the Hakkapeliitta cavalry
Torsten Stålhandske and the Scottish colonel Samuel Cockburn). There's also
a museum in one of the galleries.
The other major medieval monument in Turku is the castle, started in the
1310's. The castle acted as the main castle of Finland in the middle ages
and renaissance and experienced it's best days in the 16th century when
the duke of Finland, Johan, held his court there together with the Polish-
born princess Katarina Jagellonica whom he married in 1562. Later, in
1568, Johan imprisoned his brother, the mad renaissance king Erik XIV,
and he was held prisoner in Turku castle. It's an impressive construction,
but perhaps not exceptionally romantic. In the river Aura, there are two
19th century sailingships that act as museums, the Suomen Joutsen and Sigyn.
The Cloister Hill (Luostarinmäki) has an attractive collection of simple
wooden merchants houses that were spared from the fire of 1827.
See http://www.tku.fi/
4.5.3 Tampere, the third largest city of Finland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<from: Kari Yli-Kuha>
Tampere (in Swedish Tammerfors) lies about 160 km northwest of Helsinki.
A major manufacturing hub and the textile center of Finland, Tampere also
produces metals, heavy machinery, pulp, and paper, etc. The heavy concen-
tration of industry has prompted some to call it Finland's Manchester
(the center, with several rather attractive old factory buildings, looks
pretty industrial, too).
Tampere was founded in 1779 and is the largest inland city in Scandinavia.
The location between two lakes, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi, and the rapids
(Tammerkoski) joining the lakes gave birth to the industry in the city.
The cathedral by Lars Sonck is a masterpiece of Finnish national-romantic
Art Nouveau; it's frescoes by the symbolist painter Hugo Simberg are
especially fascinating. Lake tours, 'Hopealinja' (Silver Line) in
Pyhäjärvi and 'Runoilijan tie' (Poet's Way) in Näsijärvi, are popular
in the summer. A gravel ridge, Pispalan harju, and the settlement there
is also a major tourist attraction. Tampere has two theatres (TT and TTT)
and a summer theatre with a revolving auditorium. The Särkänniemi
amusement park is very popular in the summer. One of the gastronomic
delicacies typical for Tampere is black sausage ('mustamakkara') which
is made of blood, though not nearly all regard it as a delicacy.
Other tips: <from Tuukka Kirveskoski>
* Main shopping street Hämeenkatu
* Pyynikki natural park only two kilometres west from downtown
* Take a ferry to Viikinsaari island or a longer boat trip to the
town of Hämeenlinna (about 100km; there's a medieval castle
there). Scenic waterways.
* places to be:
Amarillo, Night Club Ilves, Crazy Horse, Cafe Metropol, Doris
* luxurious baths:
- Spa Lapinniemi, near the city centre, about 60FIM/2 hours
- Eden, in the neighbouring town Nokia, about 70FIM
- Ikaalisten Kylpylä, in the small town of Ikaalinen, 50km
from Tampere, about 50FIM
Check out http://www.tpo.fi/english/tampere/index.html
http://www.tampere.fi/
http://www.uta.fi/maps/sisluettelo.html
4.5.4 Jyväskylä
~~~~~~~~~
<from: Jarmo Ryyti>
Jyväskylä was where Alvar Aalto began his career as an architect; from
1920's up until our days, dozens of buildings designed by him have been
built in and around Jyvaskyla, thus making the city famous for its
architecture.
Jyväskylä in the area of Finnish language culture it has a remarkable
succession of "firsts": the first Finnish-language lyceym, the first
school for the girls, the first teachers' training college (the seminary)
the first national song and instrument festivals, the first society for
the advancement of public education, the first "summer university", and
the first arts festival.
4.5.5 Porvoo
~~~~~~
Porvoo (Swedish: Borgå) on the coast of the Gulf of Finland received its
town rights in 1346. The town lies 48 km northeast of Helsinki, along the
Porvoonjoki River. It's a rather small town with only 30,000 or so
inhabitants, but it's rather attractive and the (mostly wooden) Old
Town still has a rather medieval character. Building of the the cathedral
in the center of the Old Town was finished 1414-18, and the Diet of Porvoo
where Finland was granted its autonomous status as a Grand Duchy was
held there in 1809 by emperor Alexander I. The house of Porvoo
Gymnasium, built 1760, is on the cathedral square. The town hall was
built in 1764 and now houses a historical museum; the art collection of
the museum is in the Holm house (1762), included are works by two
great artists of the golden age of Finnish art who were born in Porvoo,
the painter Albert Edelfelt (1854-1940) and the sculptor Ville Valgren
(1855-1940). Edelfelt's studio is one of the most popular museums of
Porvoo area, it's located close to the Haikko manor (now a hotel) a few
kilometers from Porvoo. The poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg spent the 25 last
years of his life in Porvoo; his home at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu
and Runeberginkatu has been a museum since 1880. He is buried in the
Näsimäki cemetary of Porvoo. Next to the Old Town, on a hill across the
Porvoo river, is Linnanmäki or Borgbacken (Castle Hill, which has given
Porvoo it's name; Borgå = Castle River). There are no stone fortifications
left, the only remains are moats that have belonged to hillfort built by
the Danes in the late 12th or early 13th century.
4.5.6 Other places of interest in Finland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Åland islands (Ahvenanmaa in Finnish) are a beautiful archipelago, perfect
for cycling, with medieval churches scattered around and the castle ruins
of Kastelholm. Naantali/Nådendal, close to Turku, is a charming small,
medieval town by the sea, where a Brigittine cloister was located (the
church still remains). A popular place to visit in summers. Likewise,
Rauma, located 100km north of Turku, has a very charming old town
which is included in the UNESCO world heritage list, and a church that
was part of a Franciscan monastery. The inland lake-system, with such
lakes as Saimaa and Päijänne is perfect for a canoeing holiday; trips on
monasteries must have produced. The first known Finnish author was Jöns
The first major Finnish poet, however, was Frans Mikael Franzén
(1772-1847), whose fresh, romantic poetry was enormously popular in
Sweden-Finland in his time. His teacher was the great scholar Henrik
Gabriel Porthan (1739-1804), a student of Juslenius and a Fennophile, who
brought Finnish history-writing, study of mythology and folk poetry,
and other humanistic sciences to an international level. His De Poësi
Fennica (published in five parts 1776-78), a study on Finnish folk poetry,
had great importance in awakening public interest in the Kalevala-poetry
and Finnish mythology, and the study was also the basis of all later
study of the poetry. He was among the founders of the Aurora Society
that advocated Finnish literary pursuits and was the editor of the first
Finnish newspaper, Tidningar utgifne af et sällskap i Åbo, founded in
1771. Antti Lizelius (1708-1795) published the first newspaper in
Finnish, Suomenkieliset Tieto-Sanomat, 1776.
Porthan inspired the following generation of Finnish authors, poets and
researchers, many of whom were among the founders of the Finnish Literature
Society in 1831. A movement literary trend known as Helsinki Romanticism
was born in the 1830's when the university was moved to the new capital.
Four young university students came to have towering importance to the
forming of the Finnish literature, and ultimately, the Finnish national
identity. These were the poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-77), the scholar
Elias Lönnrot (1802-84), the author Zachris Topelius (1818-1898) and the
Hegelian philosopher and statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman (1806-81).
Especially important was Elias Lönnrot (1802-84), who did a huge task of
collecting folk poetry from the remote wildernesses of Karelia, and
compiling these to what was to become Finland's national epic, the Kalevala.
(1849). It is composed of 50 poems (sometimes called runes), altogether
22,795 verses. The book starts with a creation-myth, then goes on to
recount the deeds and adventures of the three protagonists, Väinämöinen
the magician and bard, Ilmarinen the smith, and Lemminkäinen the wanton
loverboy and warrior, and ends with the introduction of Christianity to
Finland. Lönnrot was under the influence of Homeric ideals and tried to
forge the poems into a single epic, adding bits and pieces of his own and
altering some parts to make them appear a whole, which they however never
have been. Nevertheless, it's role to the development of Finnish literature,
arts and identity can hardly be over-estimated, and having been translated
to all major world languages and lots of minor ones, it is no doubt the most
important contribution of Finland to world literature. Lönnrot also
published a counterpart to Kalevala, the Kanteletar, a collection of
ancient lyrical poetry often sung by women. These two books, however,
cover but a small part of the recorded Finnish folk poetry. For instance,
between 1908-48 was published a massive, 33-volume book series called
"Suomen Kansan Vanhoja Runoja", containing altogether 85,000 poems, with
well over a million verses. Kalevala & Kanteletar can be found (in Finnish)
at the URL http://www.sci.fi/kalevala/ and a hypermedia project at
http://www.joensuu.fi/humanistinenTDK/Kalevala/kalevala/hyperkalevala.html
Runeberg's main works were the realist/idealist poem Älgskyttarna (Elk
Hunters, 1832), which can be called the first major literary portrayal of
ordinary people in Scandinavia, the Ossianic epic Kung Fjalar (King Fjalar,
1844) and the emotional and humane heroic poem Fänrik Ståls Sägner (The
Tales of Ensign Stål, I 1848, II 1860) on the war of 1808-09, which enjoyed
huge popularity in both Finland and Sweden and became something of a
national romantic symbol. Topelius was a full-blooded romantic, more
superficial as a literary artist than Runeberg, and less of an innovator.
His Fältskärns Berättelser (1851-67, The Barber-Surgeons Stories) is a
historical novel set in the Thirty Years' War, in the tradition of Sir
Walter Scott; he is also well known in Finland for his fairy tales.
Snellman's chief achievement was in his role as a national awakener, the
editor of two newspapers, strongly encouraging literature as part of the
process leading to independence.
The first great prose writer in Finnish - considered by some to be the
most genial - was Aleksis Kivi (1834-72), a novelist and playwright who
during his lifetime was largely ignored. Major works include Seitsemän
Veljestä (The Seven Brothers, 1870), his most celebrated play, and the
comedy Nummisuutarit (The Heath Shoemakers, 1864). He was more modern
and many-sided in his expression than Runeberg, but his image of the
Finnish people was too 'raw' and realistic for most people of his era,
and he died in extreme poverty, suffering from a mental illness.
Minna Canth (1844-97), an energetic fighter for women's rights and social
justice, was a contemporary of Juhani Aho (1861-1921), a novelist and
short-story writer known for his humorous sketches and lyrical, dreamy
descriptions of nature. Eino Leino (1878-1926) was a poet of exceptional
talent, drawing heavily on the Kalevala tradition. His main themes are
love and nature, and poem collections such as Helkavirsiä (Helka-hymns,
1903), Halla (Frost, 1908) which includes the wonderful love/nature poem
Nocturne, and Hymyilevä Apollo (The Smiling Apollo) are still much-loved.
V. A. Koskenniemi often turned to classical themes. Uuno Kailas wrote
harsh, self-analytic verse, whereas Kaarlo Sarkia sought solace in
aestheticism and fantasy. The personal, abrupt, and humorous poetry of
Aaro Hellaakoski and the equally humorous, learned, yet folklike verse of
P. Mustapää were only appreciated after 1945. The generation of the 1950s,
including Paavo Haavikko and Eeva-Liisa Manner, introduced new poetic forms
to which their successors often added absurd humor, formalist
experimentation, and social criticism.
Finland-Swedish modernism was introduced by Edith Södergran (1892-1923).
She didn't receive much recognition in her lifetime, but is now regarded
one of Finland's foremost poets. She was first influenced by French
symbolism, then German expressionism and Russian futurism, and creativee,
and she was almost without exception misunly
applied these to her own poetry. Her free rhythm, strong, challenging
images fired by a Nietzschean self-conscience and conviction of the
importance of her message were new and baffling to the Finnish audiencderstood and even ridiculed.
Her first collection of poems was Dikter (Poems, 1916), which was followed
by Rosenaltaret (The Rose Altar, 1919) and Landet som icke är (The
land that is not, 1925) among others. Always physically weak and somewhat
sickly, she died young just as she was starting to get followers. Among
these the most important were Elmer Diktonius (1896-1961), Gunnar Björling
(1887-1960) and Rabbe Enckell (1903-74).
Joel Lehtonen, Volter Kilpi, and especially Frans Eemil Sillanpää (1888-
1964) dominated naturalistic prose in the first half of the 20th century.
Sillanpää was awarded the 1939 Nobel Prize for literature for the book
'Silja, nuorena nukkunut' (Silja, Fallen Asleep While Young, 1931).
Also important are Toivo Pekkanen, who wrote about the plight of industrial
workers, and Pentti Haanpää, who portrayed with a bitter but defiant humor
the struggle of humans against harsh nature in northern Finland.
After World War II, Vainö Linna had great success with the novel Tuntematon
Sotilas (The Unknown Soldier, 1954) which played a part in the healing of
the wounds of the war and is read by almost every Finnish schoolkid. The
extensive use of dialects make the book quite impossible to translate;
translations into English and many other languages do exist, but cannot
be recommended very highly (although I hear the Swedish one is pretty
good). His other major work is the trilogy Täällä pohjantähden alla
(Here Under the North Star, 1959-62), a story of the struggles of poor
farmers that culminated in the Civil War of 1918. More recently, Veijo
Meri has described the violence and absurdity of human life, especially
during times of war.
Mika Waltari (1908-79) is among the Finnish prose writers best known to an
international audience. He wrote his most successful novels in the 1940s
and 50's, many of them on historical subjects; among these is Sinuhe
egyptiläinen (The Egyptian, 1945), a novel set in ancient Egypt, about
the collapse of traditional ways of life and the inflation of inherited
values. It's also been filmed into a dreary Hollywood spectacle.
From the 1960s, social issues became central to the young novelists and
poets. Hannu Salama went through a famous trial for blasphemy (after which
the blasphemy laws were repealed) for his novel Juhannustanssit (Juhannus
Dances, 1964). Pentti Saarikoski was the leading poet of the 60's. Often
better remembered for his for his unhealthy lifestyle, Saarikoski was
nevertheless one of the most genial poets in Finnish and a brilliant
translator of e.g Homer and Joyce. Such younger writers as as Alpo Ruuth
and Antti Tuuri have also dealt with social issues.
The author Tove Jansson (b. 1914) has won much international fame for her
creation of the Moomins, philosophical-minded, friendly trolls who live in
Moominvalley. There are many books on their adventures, e.g Muminpappan
och Havet (Moominpappa and the Sea). Her fantasy world charms with it's
richness, inventiveness and wisdom of life spiced with witty humor. The
events and imagery flow freely and uninhibited, yet reflecting the
phenomena of the real world. Another author who has long been very popular
in Finland and has started to win international fame recently is the
humorist Arto Paasilinna; Jäniksen Vuosi (The Year of the Hare, 1974),
Aili Rytkönen Bell & Augustus Koski: Finnish Graded Reader (1968)
(Foreign Service Institute. Department of State. 1968)
[Audio cassettes are also available]
A behemoth (744 pgs.) of a book, this book takes the
student from the advanmced elementary level (approx. 500 words
and basic grammar) up to unedited journalistic, literary, and
historical texts. Jam packed with interesting exercises and
information otherwise unavailable about Finnish vocabulary,
idioms and phraseology. In my opinion this is the
BEST BOOK AVAILABLE for mastering Finnish in all of its
stylistic variety after you have learned the basics. The book
is a public document and costs $17.50 according to the latest
information I have available. [Eugene Holman]
4.7.2.4 Material for teaching Finnish
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Language Centre for Finnish Universities)
Eija Aalto (ed.): Kohdekielenä suomi. Oppimateriaalien kommentoitu
bibliografia. (Information from the Language Centre for Finnish
Universities, 1991) (in Finnish)
Jönsson-Korhola & White: Rakastan sinua. Pidätkö sinä minusta? Suomen
verbien rektioita. (Language Centre Materials No. 66, 1989)
H. Koivisto: Suomi-tytön kieli. Suggestopedinen alkeiskurssi (Finnish-
English). (Language Centre Materials No. 75, 1990)
K. Siitonen: Auringonvalo. Elämää suomalaisessa kylässä. (Reading
materials for conversation classes). (Language Centre Materials
No. 79, 1990)
E. Aalto: Kuule hei! Suomen kielen kuunteluharjoituksia
vieraskielisille, (listening comprehension material, booklet + tapes).
(Language Centre Materials No. 80, 1990)
Ahonen & White: Monta sataa suomen sanaa. (reader for vocabulary
building and revision, English glossaries). (Language Centre
Materials No. 101, 1993)
All the above can be ordered from: Language Centre for Finnish
Universities, University of Jyva"skyla", P.O. Box 35, 40351 Jyva"skyla",
Finland. If you want further information, feel free to contact Helena Valtanen
valt...@jyu.fi. [Helena Valtanen]
4.7.2.5 Miscellaneous
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter Hajdu: Finno-Ugrian languages and peoples (tr and adapted by G.F.
Cushing fr Hungarian "Finnugor nepek es nyelvek", Deutsch,
London, 1975).
Gives a background to the peoples and cultures of the
Finno-Ugrian family of languages. [NOM]
4.7.2.6 Course details
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suomea/Finska/Finnish
Soumen kielen ja kultuurin opinnot kesällä 1994 /