by two candles
Two candles placed in the window of each home for Finland’s 96th Independence Day, is a long tradition on this day rooted in a time to remember and bring home safely the soldiers who freed Finland from Russia in 1917. The president of Finland even remembers Finnish expatriates in his speech on this day. Happy Independence Day to Finland and my Finnish readers!
On a deeply sad note these candles are also to honour the life and death of Nelson Mandela who died yesterday. So many tributes pouring in for this great man – here is one of many that I like: The Lincoln of Africa
Two candles for a birth of a nation freed from another power.
Two candles for honouring a man who fought for the rebirth of his nation and its people.
December 6, 2013 in Current Events, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, History by Marja-Leena
Marja-Leena!
Some of my friends living in Oregon also noted the our Independence Day. We had a blizzard of a sort to celebrate the anniversary.
For some reason there’s a manner that the president invites usually noted people (which is sometimes called elite, as we know) to the president’s castle in Helsinki. This year the castle, which is next to sea, is undergoing a bigger repair, so the celebration happened in Tampere, in Tampere-talo (Tampere-house) and instead of great dance and eating feast, there was this year a concert with literature of well known writers.Music was of Sibelius.
The Finnish war of independence turned into a civil war, which was bad and ugly like all civil wars are. The reason for them is most often a fight of the direction for the new nation. It was rebellion of the reds against whites and that way along with other people’s in Europe, especially with Russia, which changed into a red regime at the same time.
So the result was that the former Tzarist regime turned into red socialist regime in Russia, but Finland as result of the civil war turned out to be white. These days it starts to be forgotten, but of course we still have rich people and poor people living here, like most of the countries do. Nelson Mandela managed to get freedom for the majority of South Africans without violence, and that would be the most rational way of gaining independence of any sort. There would not be bitterness.
I watched the concert in Tampere from TV, it was a very good one. Outside, there was demonstrations against it, it’s unclear yet what was the cause. But probably one of the reasons was to show the dislike against the elite gathering. Several people got injured, which makes at least me very sad. And probably many people. Maybe we find out later, what exactly was the issue.
So this year I have more mixed feeling about everything than for a long long time. Without a doubt there are many problems to be solved, but I sure hope it happens peacefully.
Ripsa, kiitos, thank you for taking the time to write all this! I do follow the Finnish news and am familiar with the history and traditions but have been lazy about writing it out for my readers, usually just supplying a link or two for those interested.
I remember some of my mother’s stories from her mother about brothers fighting opposite each other in the civil war, read vs whites. Yes, let us hope for peaceful resolutions to problems, always – these seem to be very restless times in many places.
Restless times in many places… Yes. We have so many divisions now, and so much scorn.
Marly, I recently read some of the most hateful and shocking comments on a tribute post by a US politician. Racism is still alive. Man’s inhumanity…..
Wonderful tribute (s).
Hattie, thank you. This is very modest amongst thousands of other remarkable ones.
My favorite quote by Nelson Mandela is this one:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God: playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you.”
Your candles show the light of hope to all of us.
Susan, that is one of the very best ones I have seen, thanks.
After reading your post and the comments on it I kind of feel “eliteish”. Thank you, Marja-Leena.
Ellena, hello! I’m not sure what you mean by ‘eliteish’ but thanks for your visit.
Sorry Marja-Leena. It’s my odd sense of humour. Ripsa comments to the effect that the president invites ‘noted (elite)’ people to the castle for celebrations of Finland’s Independence Day. I invited myself to the celebrations in your home.
Ellena, of course, why did I not see that! Thanks for coming back and welcome!
Later, it hits me – Oh, are you the Ellena of Cocologie in Quebec?