Finland celebrates Independence Day on December 6th!
December 6th is a day of jubilation in Finland. People host Independence Day dinner parties and follow the Presidential Independence Day Gala from their TVs. Some lucky children in the capital area might even get to participate in an Independence Day Gala of their own. The mayor invites Helsinki’s fourth-graders to Finlandia Hall and the kids get to dress up in fancy gowns and tuxes just like adults! What a treat it must be!
Even though I have spent most of my adult life abroad, I am very much a Finn at heart. So much so that I might have become more Finnish than the Finns living in Finland. This seems to be the case with many other Finns living here in the States and elsewhere as well. The terrific part about that is that Finland is so awesome that it is easy to be proud of it. World winning schools, environment that supports innovation, stunning natural beauty of thousands of lakes and pristine forests and freedom to live just as one wishes are just a few fantastic things about Finland.
I have worked pretty hard to make sure that my half Finnish - half American children get to know their Finnish roots. Every year we celebrate Independence day one way or another. A few years ago our family baked and decorated gingerbread cookies in the shapes of Finland, snowflakes, forest animals and traditional Christmas on Independence day. (I can't believe how small the kids look in these pictures.)
Even though I have spent most of my adult life abroad, I am very much a Finn at heart. So much so that I might have become more Finnish than the Finns living in Finland. This seems to be the case with many other Finns living here in the States and elsewhere as well. The terrific part about that is that Finland is so awesome that it is easy to be proud of it. World winning schools, environment that supports innovation, stunning natural beauty of thousands of lakes and pristine forests and freedom to live just as one wishes are just a few fantastic things about Finland.
I have worked pretty hard to make sure that my half Finnish - half American children get to know their Finnish roots. Every year we celebrate Independence day one way or another. A few years ago our family baked and decorated gingerbread cookies in the shapes of Finland, snowflakes, forest animals and traditional Christmas on Independence day. (I can't believe how small the kids look in these pictures.)
This year, we get to celebrate Independence Day at Finnish School of San Diego (San Diegon Suomi-Koulu). The students will perform and this mama here can't wait to see her children on the stage. Hearing my children speak in Finnish warms my heart so much so that it is hard the keep those tears from flowing. Thank you so much for all the hard working Finnish school teachers around the globe! Let's make sure the children know where they are from!
Happy Birthday Finland! And Happy Birthday to my sister who also gets to celebrate her birthday on Independence Day! Sending much love to the Arctic Circle!
Happy Birthday Finland! .
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