On the longest day of the year, many fins take time away from the hustle and bustle to celebrate life and community. Juhannus in Finland has many travel out to the country and a lake for a bonfire or kokko.
And in olden times, they were very often lit on hilltops so that they could be seen from a long distance. And so they do that in Finland, and they do it in Scandinavia as well. But then something that sort of hearkens to Finland’s Swedish past, because Finland was part of the Swedish Empire for 500 years. And Finland still has a Swedish-speaking minority.125 years ago it was about 14 percent, now it’s about 4 5 percent. And in the Swedish speaking areas they also raise a midsummer poll as they do in Sweden. Michigan received more Swedish speaking Finns than any state in the union. – Jim Kurtti, President, Fins and Friends
But in Hancock Juhannus is celebrated in the city with the entire Copper Country.
Well, Juhannus in terms of the city of Hancock is a bit of a newer Finnish-American tradition in terms of how we celebrate it. It kind of took off after FinFest in 2013. When we were trying to incorporate some of the activities that are traditional to midsommer during that festival. That’s where the roots were begun and ever since then, from 2014 on, we’ve incorporated some of those midsummer traditions here in the city. the most conspicuous of which is the raising of the midsummer poll every June. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
In Toivola, Finnish-Americans have celebrated Juhannus on the shores of Lake Superior for over 100 years. Enjoying the warmth of a Kokko.
So the Finns first went to Toivola. They had to go by boat from Calumet. There were no roads yet. They were given these homesteads near the shores. And so they started very early in the 1890s at least, if not earlier, to have this bonfire on the shore of Lake Superior. So you’re looking off in the horizon where the sun is setting and it’s Lake Superior. So the sun takes a very long time to set. And considering that we’re in Eastern time zone, we’re as far west as…as you can go in the U.S. and be in Eastern time zone, it seems like you’re really having a Nordic midsummer experience because 11, 1130 at night, it’s not really dark yet. You can see the light on the horizon. – Jim Kurtti, President, Fins and Friends
At the inaugural Visit Keweenaw Juhannus in Hancock, the community will raise a midsommer pole, and enjoy the warmth of a kokko on the Portage Canal.
It’s been great to push some of this intentional foot traffic. We suppose we’re going to have a lot of people with having the event down at Porvoo Park. So, we’re going to have a big bonfire, the Juhannus Kokko, in one of the garden beds. It’s going to be kind of in the middle of the park. It’s going to bring a lot of people into the space that maybe haven’t been there before, and really bring a lot of people down to Small Craft. The newest spot in Hancock. Long Drink will be there that Friday night. So folks will be able to check out that space and spend time on the canal. It’s the Juhannus Summer Solstice Celebration, it’s the longest day of the year. In Finland, the sun doesn’t set, so we’ll get to have that sort of experience down on the canal that Friday night. – Jesse Wiederhold, Community Events Coordinator, Visit Keweenaw
Hancock comes alive each winter during Heikinpaiva. Maki says the festival’s Finnish-American roots keep the community warm through cold winters. At the center of the winter festival, and Juhannus, is the Finnish American Heritage Center. Inside activities share cultural traditions with a new generation, while outside the community celebrates by dancing and playing music.
During the Juhannus festival the Finnish American Heritage Center will be a hub for Finnish American folk school programming. It is something for everyone. I know that’s overused, but there’s no better way to describe what we have planned here for Juhannus weekend. That Saturday from about noon time onward. There are going to be activities here where people can dive into Finnish American and Finnish culture to whatever extent they’d like. There are going to be activities for kids, and there are going to be things for parents, and grandparents, throughout the day. And then in the evening, we’re going to have a dance, which is always a popular draw. Even if you spend the evening sitting on a chair, it’s as much a social function as it is a musical one. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
Juhannus celebrations in Hancock will start June 20th in Porvoo Park with the Finnish Kokko and Finnish Long Drink Experience at Small Craft and Takka Saunas. On Saturday families and residents will gather on the Quincy Green in Hancock to raise the Midsommer pole, followed by activities including a wife-carrying contest, music and dancing, a beer garden with Long Drink, lawn games. Then more dancing in the evening at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Sunday will bring the community together for one last time, and join together for breakfast at Hancock City Hall. Learn more about Juhannus here, or learn more about Finnish American cultural programming here.
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