St. Urho’s Day is one of those legends that has a blurry origin story. If you live in Minnesota you might have heard rumblings about a man who drove the grasshoppers out of Finland. He protected the precious grape crop with his loud booming voice. The myth, originated in Minnesota in the 1950s, created a… More What is St. Urho’s Day?
Have you ever seen the Finnish word, “sisu,” [SEE-soo] and wondered what it meant? Sisu is at the root of the culture of Finland. It’s also a concept that can be hard to define. Writer Katja Pantzar moved to Finland, before writing her book The Finnish Way. She immersed herself into Finnish culture and found… More The Power of Sisu
Midsummer, an observation of the longest day of the year, is celebrated in each of the Scandinavian countries. Originally a pagan holiday, Midsummer is celebrated on the day of John the Baptist and is now held on the weekend closest to the summer solstice. In Sweden the celebration takes place around a maypole that is… More Scandinavian Midsummer