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Hancock’s Finnish heritage runs deep within the city’s history, residents and façade. Heikinpäivä, Hancock’s Finnish mid winter festival, draws inspiration from Finnish winter folk traditions, and is named for the country’s patron saint. Hancock started the festival in order to celebrate the city’s Finnish American heritage, and has even inspired other cities to start their own.
“Invented in Hancock and it was intentional to create a new Finnish American heritage festival, so that we weren’t confined by the traditions of Finland. Even though we do very traditional things, we gave ourselves license to create the festival how we wanted. But the funny thing was that, Finns in Massachusetts had a Heikinpaiva for a while, modeled after us. And in Finland, the immigrant museum, which is in a rural setting, they have Heikinpaiva now, celebrating Finnish American identity.” – Jim Kurtti, Hancock Finnish Theme Committee
Most events and enrichment courses will precede the big parade next week, including dance lessons tonight, and traditional Himmeli crafts, and film screenings later in the week. In Finnish folk culture, the celebration this time of the year marks the half way point in the season.
“In English it would translate to Henry’s Day or Henrik’s Day. Saint Henrik is the patron saint of Finland. And in a way we’re snubbing our nose at winter. Because in the folk tradition, Heikinpaiva, which is the 19th of January, truly, that day in folk culture was the halfway mark of winter. And so you had to check you had half your wood left. Half your hay, half your grain, and then you were going to be fine. And so they say on Heikinpaiva, winter’s back is broken.” – Jim Kurtti, Hancock Finnish Theme Committee
The hibernating bear will soon roll over for the remainder of their slumber. Many festival events taking place this week will happen at the Finnish American Heritage Center on Quincy street in Hancock. Tonight’s dance lesson will begin at 7 pm in the heritage center, and costs five dollars per person. In the afternoon tomorrow catch the film, Sirrka: Past and Present with the Nordic Film Series at 2pm. Then at night, you can learn Inkle band weaving, a colorful tightly woven ribbon that has many practical applications. Thursday’s enrichment event will show the community how to make traditional Finnish straw Himmeli. Friday will include a family fun night and Hobby Horse Hoedown. Event throughout the week will be at the Finnish American Heritage Center on Quincy Street. On Saturday, Heikipaiva will move up north to Calumet for a special showing of the Finnish film, Pelican Man. That show will start at 2 pm at the Calumet Theater. Next week there are even more Finnish heritage events taking place in Hancock to get the community excited for the much anticipated return of the mid winter festival.
Heikinpaiva Events:
Tuesday, Jan. 17 — Get your dancing shoes on and head down to the Finnish American Heritage Center from 7-8:30 p.m. for Vanhimma. This folk and ballroom dance lesson with Kay Seppälä will prepare you for an upcoming Heikinpäivä dance party. You don’t need a partner and there is no pre-registration necessary. The cost is $5a student.
Wednesday, Jan. 18 — People can join Phyllis Fredendall at the Jutila Center for an inkle band weaving class. Attendees will “learn to weave a colorful strap on an inkle loom.” The class runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Watch “Sirkka: Past & Present,” part of a Nordic Film Series. It screens at 2 p.m. in the Finnish American Heritage Center. Donations are accepted and you can get more information at (906) 487-7549.
Thursday, Jan 19 — You can learn to make traditional, Finnish straw himmeli with Alice Margerum. Come to the Finnish American Heritage Center from 5-8 p.m. for a “traditional straw himmeli mobile workshop.”
Friday, Jan. 20 — Bring the whole family to Family Fun Night/Hobby Horse Hoedown at the Finnish American Heritage Center. You’ll join Kay Seppälä and The wife carrying contest is a community favorite. Ginger Alberti for “an evening of fun for the whole family, including music and Finnish dances, Hobby Horse indoor games and [an] obstacle arena, themed games and dances.” Organizers say “if you have a hobby horse ride it in!” The Hoedown is from 6-8 p.m. and organizers remind you to ride your horses in the Jan. 28 parade too. The cost is $5 for a family.
Saturday, Jan. 21 — The Calumet Theatre invites the public in for Club Finndigo, where the Finnish film “Pelican Man” will screen at 2 p.m. If you’d like to watch “Pelican Man” you can arrive early for a coffee and nisu social at 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 24 & 31 — Stay warm by knitting a neck warmer with Clare Zuraw at the Jutila Center on either of these dates from 5:30-7 p.m. The design is based on sweater patterns from Vörå (Vöyri.) You can find more information or register
Wednesday, Jan. 25 — Sink you sweet tooth into popular Finnish cookies at a Finnish Cookies Workshop. “Finnish-Canadian baker Harri & his renkiserkku Jim Kurtti” are presenting. The two will teach you to bake from 6-8 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center. The cost is $20 and you can register here.
Saturday, Jan. 28 — The big day for Heikinpäivä begins.
Tori Markets — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center and United Methodist Church
Parade — 11 a.m. the parade kicks off on Quincy Street in Hancock. There are cash prizes
Karkunpeijäiset — comes following the parade. “Join the costumed parade participants in a circle dance”
Outdoor games — immediately after the parade. People can participate in “vipukelkka, kick sleds, wife carrying, etc”
Mark Munger book talk and signing — 1 p.m. at North Wind Books
Animal Life: Art from the Kalevala — reception opens at 2:30 p.m. and goes until 4 p.m. “Traditional Finnish refreshments will be served. This is at the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock
Iltamat (dance and buffet) — 7-10 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Music is provided by the Back Room Boys and the cost is $15 a person
Thursday, Feb. 2 — All ages are invited to a snowflake challenge at Sew Crazy (322 Quincy St. Hancock) put on by Ginger Alberti. The Heikinpäivä Snowflake Challenge project “[teaches people] to quickly sew a pattern on a black felt square (with an antique hand crank sewing machine.)” Then, the flakes are entered into a contest with cash and gift card prizes. It costs $3 to enter and there will be winners in all skill levels. The event organizers would like you to call them with questions or to let them know if you’re bringing a group. The phone number is (818) 606-0065.
