Readers may already be familiar with the Finnish American Heritage Center at Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan as the home of this newspaper, but for some it may come as a surprise to know that the Heritage Center is also home to the Finnish American Folk School. Since 2017 the folk school – the first of its kind in the United States – has offered unique opportunities for education and exploration of traditional Finnish folkways including arts, crafts, food, and [...]
Finnish bluegrass-rockers Steve ‘n’ Seagulls will be returning to the Rozsa Center to kick off Finlandia’s Festival Ruska on September 4 at 7pm. Their unique blend of bluegrass and hard rock classics by AC/DC, Guns and Roses, Metallica and others has made them a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The band’s version of “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC has been especially popular, clocking in over 87 million views on YouTube. Their [...]
Copper Country residents and visitors are invited to a unique Nordic Music Workshop on Saturday, October 6 at 2 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center.
Come to learn more about unusual and beautiful Nordic instruments like the hardingfele, the nyckelharpa, the theorbo, and some not so unusual and complimentary instruments like the viola da gamba, fiddle, banjo and bass.
Every year, Mother Nature provides the Copper Country with one of the most awe-inspiring displays of fall color anywhere in the world.
And at the same time as the leaves start turning, Finlandia University’s Finnish American Folk School provides an equally awesome lineup of cultural programming, this year featuring two remarkable artisans and a pair of Finnish-themed concerts.
This year, events get under way on September 5 with a one-night-only performance by the up-and-coming Finnish band Steve ‘n’ [...]
A big thanks to everyone who made day one of Festival Ruska an amazing experience, but now it’s time to focus on day two which will introduce a couple unforgettable Finnish elements to the people of the Copper Country – mölkky, voisilmapulla and korvapuusi.
SAY FINNISH WHAT?
We thought you’d say that, let’s dive into what these things are.
The residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have a unique dialect, one that Dr. Wil Rankinen has studied in depth. Currently Dr. Rankinen is a linguistics professor at Grand Valley State University. This presentation will be free and open to the public.
This week Finlandia Fridays is joined by guest David Maki, who works at the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC). Also, based in the Heritage Center is the Finnish American Reporter, where Maki is an editor. The FAHC and the Reporter actively incorporate Finnish culture on campus, in the local area, and to Finnish Americans nationwide. One of the ways Finnish culture is honored in the fall is with Festival Ruska.
As preparations are finalized for the Finnish male choir that’s heading to the Copper Country, the group’s travel coordinator Jan-Erik Osterholm was able to catch up with WNMU’s Kurt Hauswirth to talk about the upcoming trip, which not only includes the Festival Ruska performance on Saturday, September 30 at Calumet Theatre, but also a stop in Marquette in Sunday, October 1.
From WNMU’s website:
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Jan-Erik Osterholm, representative of the Finnish male choir from Porvoo, Finland (who was also [...]
“Although our region maintains a strong ethnic pride in its Finnish roots, the loss of language and traditional arts and crafts has left many among our residents very little onto which they can attach their ethnic identity.”
So says Finnish American Heritage Center Director Jim Kurtti, and he’s doing something about it. He and his staff at Finlandia University’s Finnish American Heritage Center are spearheading an effort to establish a Finnish American Folk School in [...]
o Sept. 25 th ( at Gloria Dei . 7pm. Reformation Commemoration Service. All welcome. Ecumenical Worship Service commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, 7 p.m. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Hancock. Reception to follow.)
