Finlandia’s campus was filled with the buzz of midwinter spirit as patrons gathered at FinnU’s Finnish American Heritage Center and North Wind Books to celebrate the return of Heikinpäivä in 2023. Following the traditional parade, festivities on campus included wife-carrying competitions, kicksleds, a costumed circle dance, and a market.
Check out some of our favorite moments from all of the activities!
Sirkka Tuomi Holm was born just days before women earned the right to vote in the United States, a point her father considered vitally important and reminded her of it frequently. Her activism started then, and didn’t ever stop.
Holm, who died in October 2020 at age 100, was a walking, talking, living history book. From her grandfather fighting for the Reds during the Finnish Civil War, to her immigrant parents’ involvement in labor strikes, to being trailed by the FBI [...]
75th edition of the Bridge now available online
Finlandia University’s annual donor magazine, the Bridge, is now available online. In a new and exciting format, viewers can interact with this year’s issue like never before.
Across 32 pages of clickable stories, links and highlights, this year’s magazine celebrates Finlandia’s friends and family, including those who contributed to and supported Finlandia University throughout the year.
Highlights of this edition include the following stories:
Leadership: Finlandia University Management TeamConnect with the campus leaders on the [...]
Former Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) director Jim Kurtti traveled to New England in the fall of 2019 and met with multiple donors who made gracious contributions of Finnish American archives to be preserved and shared with the Archive and Center’s visitors. Until now, the archives were stored in New England before they were able to be transported safely by none other than Frank Eld and his famed ‘Finnebego’. On a journey that started in New England, Eld transported [...]
In December, Finlandia welcomed students, faculty and staff along with alumni, friends and family to a series of events in commemoration of the institution’s 125th anniversary. In honor of its Finnish and Lutheran heritage, Finlandia celebrated Finnish Independence Day for the 104th time at the Finnish American Heritage Center following a Sunday worship service at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock.
The anniversary celebrations didn’t stop on Sunday. In the week following, the Finlandia University Gallery held the 31st Annual Contemporary [...]
A semester of celebration culminated on Sunday, Dec. 5 in a full day of dance, musical performances and worship. Dozens of Finlandia University friends and family members gathered to commemorate the institution’s 125th Anniversary alongside the observance of a now 104-year-long tradition, Finnish Independence Day.
David Maki, Interim Director of the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) on Finlandia’s campus, delivered the Independence Day program’s opening remarks.
“Today is another significant milestone in Finlandia University’s history as we celebrate the 125th Anniversary of [...]
On Dec. 5, Finlandia will celebrate its 125th Anniversary with two spectacular events!
Join us at 10:30 a.m. for Sunday Worship at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock, MI and then join us again at 1:00 p.m. for a special, one-of-a-kind 125th Anniversary Edition of Finlandia’s Annual Finnish Independence Day Observance being held at the Finnish American Heritage Center on Finlandia’s campus!
For those interested in attending, both events will require masks and sign-in. For those unable to attend, both events will also [...]
HANCOCK, MI – On September 8, 1896, hardy and hard-working Finnish Lutheran immigrants gathered to worship at the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan to officially dedicate a school in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: the Suomi College and Theological Seminary. J.K. Nikander, president of the Suomi Synod and the college’s first president, preached from the book of Proverbs 8:1, “Does not wisdom cry out, and does not understanding lift up her voice?”
Founded in the late 19th century, Suomi College prepared [...]
The Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) will reopen to the general public on June 1, 2021 under the following guidelines:
Public hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday The Finlandia University Gallery and Martha Wiljanen Community Hall will be open and accessible for self-guided tours; guided art gallery tours provided by Gallery Director Carrie Flaspohler are available upon request The archive will be 100-percent appointment-only; masks will be required when inside archive reading room and other research areas The FAR [...]
The Finnish American Folk School welcomes Finnish musical instrument maker Minna Hokka to the Copper Country this June as part of Juhannus 2019. She’ll be offering a slate of programming that will provide attendees with a unique skill set – and at an unbelievable price!
Hokka, who’s invested much of her adult life into creating musical instruments from materials found in nature, will offer as many as nine unique courses during her two-week [...]
