Berkeley Finnish Hall

Happy May Day! Do these hats look familiar? Today many Finns bust out their old graduation caps and wear them for their May Day picnics and other outings. The w...hite graduation cap is an essential element in two springtime festivities in Finland: the most obvious being high school graduation in late May or early June and the second is the May Day holiday (vappu). On April 30 and May 1, Finnish high school graduates wear the graduation hat year after year to celebrate vappu and the educational achievement of their younger years. The cap rarely makes it through the two-day carnival completely unscathed, so signs of wear and tear are normal and expected. If anything, the hat's yellowish hue and a few stains are only proof that the wearer is a more experienced May Day celebrator. You can learn more about the graduation cap and its symbolism here: https://finland.fi//learning-finnish-graduation-hat-tricks/

Virtual Vappu 2021 - https://mailchi.mp//finnish-heritage-society-news-informat

https://fb.watch/5crmWSm1fP/

The Berkeley Finnish Heritage Society and Finlandia Foundation’s Bay Area Chapter present Vappu Virtual Spring Celebration 2021 - https://mailchi.mp//finnish-heritage-society-news-informat

Join the Finnish Heritage Society, Finlandia Foundation SF Bay Area and the greater Finnish American community celebrate 103 years of independence! #Itsenäisyyspäivä Program: * Opening Greeting: Heikki Koskinen, Finnish Heritage Society * Music: Intermezzo from Karelia Suite (Jean Sibelius)... * Finnish National Anthem Maamme laulu (Fredrik Pacius, J.L. Runeberg, Julius Krohn) * Message from Bay Area’s Finnish Honorary Consul, Mårten Mickos * Independence Poem, reading by Anita Erola * Music: Tuoll’ on mun kultani (trad. Finnish, arr. Koskinen) * Illustrated Story: The Maiden of Finland * Music: Itku suistamolaisille siirtolaisuudesta (trad. Lament for the Refugee, arr. Romus) * Oksjärvi Poem, reading by Anita Erola * Independence Greeting: Heidi Saario, Bay Area Finlandia Foundation Chapter * Music: Andante Festivo (Jean Sibelius) * Independence Greeting for Finns abroad: President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö courtesy of Suomi-Seura ry Performers: Heikki Koskinen - e-trumpet, tenor recorder, kantele Heidi Saario - piano Jari Suomalainen - violin Rent Romus - alto saxophone, flute, pump organ, bamboo flute, kantele Anita Erola - poetry Helena Ristimäki Zorndorf - reading Production: Program curation, audio/video production: Heikki Koskinen Illustrated story curation: Sirpa Tuomainen Production consultant: Frederika Sumelius Production consultant: Kirsti Bellows Illustrated story production: Tarinan kirjoittaja (Author): Tuija Hannula Kääntäjä (Translator): Sirpa Tuomainen Lukija (Reader): Helena Ristimäki Zorndorf Ohjaaja (Director): Minea Herwitz Tuottajat (Producers): Minea Herwitz & Sirpa Tuomainen

Finnish Heritage Society December 2020 103 years of Finnish Independence Dec 6 - https://mailchi.mp//finnish-heritage-society-news-informat

Happy Birthday to D.E.D. Europaeus https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11672810

Finnish Heritage Society news July 2020 - https://mailchi.mp//finnish-heritage-society-news-informat