This is totally off topic of course, but since Finland doesn't celebrate 100 years of independence too often (hopefully today will be the only time!), I thought that I'd share this with you anyway. I doubt that this has been big news elsewhere in the world, but for us Finns it's a pretty big deal and quite a historic day! Sometimes it feels like the world is just getting more and more dangerous and crazy every day, but hey, at least we've made it this far even if the future hasn't always looked very bright, so here's to another 100 years! And if you don't care about the Finnish independence day, you might still enjoy this video that has cute ducklings and bears and other inhabitants of Finnish nature.
Had the privilege of visiting Finland a good few years ago. Took the kids for the santa experience. Beautiful country with people to match. Would love to visit again sometime. Enjoy your independence day.
Congratulations on your country's special day Tomi. I don't know much about Finland but I do love the music of Sibelius. If the atmosphere and moods he conveys represent what your country is about - and I strongly suspect that is the case - then you have a lot to be proud about.
Went there last year - driving and birding from Oulu up to Vardo in Norway. Put mi Christmas tree up on Sunday - Father Christmas from Santa Claus village in Arctic Circle is on there pride of place.
Congrats ...i have good friends from Finland... haven't been there since the 1990s .. Have a lapin kultaon us ..skål
This thread calls for a celebration if the fact that Finland produces the best melodeath bands in the world.
Finns fought hard for their freedom...I've got a small drop of Finlandia left, tonight I'll raise a glass to them.
Many thanks for sharing that with us and congratulations on your first 100 years - here’s to many more!
Congratulations What is the situation with Karelia - why are most of the people of Finland quite happy for the area along with some other Finnish territory to be part of Russia?
Thanks! "Happy" probably isn't the best word to use. Karelia has been a part of Russia since WW2, and all Finns probably would have loved to have the area back right after the war, but way too much time has passed since then. My family comes from Karelia - in fact my father was born there shortly before they had to leave their homes behind - and some of my relatives have visited the area much later. From what I've heard, Karelia is a pretty poor place with a terrible infrastructure nowadays; sadly it seems like Russians just pretty much abandoned the area soon after the war.
Tomi, am I right in thinking Karelia was the region ceded to Russia after the Winter War ? If so ceding it it looks like a political decision that saved Stalin's face but probably saved Finland too...big decisions . Finns undoubtedly won the war, I don't think there is another case of anyone standing up to Stalin and not being totally destroyed without full support from Western Allies , perhaps with the exception of Tito in Yugoslavia, who's position was geographically far more secure than Finland . Your people have a lot to be proud of, defeating Soviet Russia in 1939 was, in my view an even greater achievement than our victory in the Battle of Britain against Hitler in 1940 . Having finished the Finlandia, I'm going on to the Czech Slivovitz, another nation that deserves a toast , and why not tonight !!
I spent a fantastic week in Tampere a few years ago. Every Finn I met was lovely, friendly and drank copious amounts of coffee. Almost died though, drinking beer, sauna, then jumping into a lake in Spring was a bad idea.
Happy independence Day Tomi. Visiting Finland is definitely on my bucket list alongside Iceland have great day.
Congratulations. Visited in 1968, and thoroughly enjoyed the country, although the cost of living and alcohol quickly diminished my Thomas Cook travellers cheques.
Make sure that you visit Northern Finland in fall/winter, or Southern Finland during the summer. Whatever you do, avoid Southern Finland in winter!
I thought that Finland would have been relatively cheap fifty years ago. Sadly the situation's even worse nowadays when it comes to the cost of alcohol and living, I suppose!