Hancock Raises the Juhannus Pole at the Quincy Green

Summer officially settled into the Copper Country Saturday, as the annual Juhannus celebration took place in Hancock. The traditional midsummer pole was raised at noon at Quincy Green. Finnish Theme Committee member Jim Kurtti said it’s the continuation of a centuries-old, shared Scandinavian tradition…

“The midsummer pole is a tradition that you find in particular in Sweden, but also in the Swedish-speaking areas of Finland, so along the coast and the Öland Islands it’s a popular tradition to have have it midsummer, and you raise the pole and you dance around the pole.” – Jim Kurrti, Hancock Finnish Theme Committee Member

Kurtti noted that more Swedish-speaking Finns emigrated to the Keweenaw than to any other area of the United States. The Kivajat Dancers performed, and led participants in a circle dance. The Back Room Boys provided live music. The midsummer pole will remain in place at Quincy Green until late August.