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Finnish Center at Saima Park

To bee or not to bee, Westminster couple talks beekeeping

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FITCHBURG — Westminster beekeepers Harry and Susan Parviainen have mastered the art and science of beekeeping and are thrilled to have the opportunity to share their knowledge with the community.

The presentation will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Finnish Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Road.

The Parviainen’s are the owners of Son of a Bee, where they harvest and sell honey, and also use beeswax to create many products, such as hand cream and a variety of novelty candles.

“Along with our presentation, we will talk about how we started in beekeeping, how bees came to the United States, and we will demonstrate two hive boxes, made in Finland, and how to use them,” said Susan, adding that the boxes will be empty, though. “No worries, we aren’t bringing in any bees.”

Besides the hive boxes, the couple will also show some of their equipment, including a beekeeper’s suit and gloves, a hive tool, and a smoker.

Attendees will learn how bees fit in with their environment and about the service they provide to the ecosystem.

“We will also talk about the importance of bees for pollination,” Harry said.

The couple says they enjoy getting feedback from the people they talk to.

“We love to hear about how they use the honey, and how the bees help with increased flowers and fruit from the hives we place on their property,” said Susan.

The community is welcome to enjoy this free presentation, along with refreshments. Bee products will be available for sale.

The presentation will follow the annual meeting of the Finnish Center at Saima Park, which starts at 1 p.m. Membership to the Finnish Center at Saima Park is open to all. Annual dues are $30 for individuals 18 years and older.

For more information about membership and events, you are welcome to visit saima-park.org. For more information about Son of a Bee, you can find them on Facebook.

Learn the Finnish Language at Saima Park

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FITCHBURG – While Finnish may be a difficult language to learn, instructor Saija Laurla’s says her classes are always fun and interesting, and she is excited to welcome the community to classes this fall.

The Finnish Center at Saima Park will offer Finnish language classes on ten consecutive Mondays this fall, from Sept. 11 through Nov. 13, at the park, located at 67 Scott Road.

“At Saima Park we cherish the language of our ancestors who immigrated to America and were forced to learn English to be able to live in the new country to which they had come ‘after life.’ Without any adjective between ‘after’ and ‘life’. Not after better life, not richer. Just life,” said Laurla.

Laurla says that Finland has changed drastically since those years as hopefully the US has too.

“Now it is OK to cherish your own culture and language openly, and even advertise online the classes we offer,” she said.

Two levels of classes will be held: Beginner students will meet from 6:15 until 8:15 p.m.; Advanced students will meet from 4 until 6 p.m.

“Advanced are seriously advanced, Beginners seriously beginners.” Laurla said. “The meaning for showing up every Monday is to study and do homework for the next lesson. Another meaning might also be to drink coffee and just lean back and enjoy others and your own struggle with this weird language called Finnish – Suomi.”

Tuition for the 10-week course is $80, or $75 for Saima members. Individuals younger than 18 years may pay half.

“Please join us to keep one of the world’s rarest languages alive. Well, maybe not the most rare, but very close,” said Laurla with a smile. “There are almost 6 million native speakers still alive but they, too, are wondering why to speak this weird language and, mostly, why keep it and not switch it to English. By switching we would create a win-win situation; everyone would understand Americans!”

To register, e-mail finnishcenter@yahoo.com or call 978-407-9690 and leave a message. For more information about the Finnish Center, visit saima-park.org or find “Friends of Saima Park” on Facebook.

Finnish Center awards scholarships to deserving students

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FITCHBURG — At their annual Summer Festival held in June, the Finnish Center at Saima Park awarded scholarships for the upcoming school year to four deserving students. This year’s recipients are Niev Collins of Ashburnham, Annie Fleurimon of Fitchburg, Lydia Kriedler of Ashburnham, and Ani Seppelin of Westminster.

Money to fund the scholarships is raised annually by a flea market held in April, raffles and member donations. Scholarships were created for members and relatives of members of the Finnish Center at Saima Park and are encouraging applications.

“Each student expressed a goal of pursuing a career to help others,” said Linda Byrne, president of the Finnish Center at Saima Park. “We are very happy to help them be able to make their contributions to the world.”

The Finnish Center at Saima Park is located at 67 Scott Road. For more information about the organization, visit saima-park.org or “Friends of Saima Park” on Facebook.

 

Finnish Center to kick off summer season with tradition

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FITCHBURG — The Finnish Center at Saima Park is kicking off the summer season with their annual “Kesäjuhla” Summer Festival featuring games, music, food, and fellowship.

The festival will be held on Sunday, June 18, at the park, located at 67 Scott Road.

As part of the festival, George Mirijanian will run the Dana M. Sulin Memorial Chess Tournament. Registration for the tournament is from 8:45 a.m. until 9:15 a.m., with the tournament to begin at 9:30 a.m.

Other festivities will begin at 10 a.m.

Outdoor games for all will include “mölkky”, a Finnish lawn-bowling game, and “sanko hiipiminen”, a water-carry obstacle course. Corn hole, horseshoes, and badminton will also be available.

In addition to the games, festival goers can try their luck at the basket raffle, enjoy some coffee and Finnish coffee bread, cinnamon rusks, or cupcakes for sale, shop the Raivaaja book and music collection, and chat with artist Jen Swan, a teaching artist and muralist.

Swan’s recent paintings explore art and ecology as she portrays the web of interrelationships in our environment.

Through plein air landscapes and wildlife studies, Swan said she wishes to creatively propose new possibilities for coexistence, sustainability, and healing.

“Jen’s ancestors, the Swan “Joutsen” and Yleva families, were some of the original members of Sovittaja Park, the summer cottages and saunas of the Finnish community on Demond Pond in Rutland,” said Lorna Sulin, board member of the Finnish Center at Saima Park. “Many of her landscapes draw inspiration from this peaceful place and we are excited to have her work on display, with some for sale.”

Hot dogs and veggie dogs with chips will be sold for $5, beginning at 11 a.m. A delicious chicken barbecue dinner will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Reservations must be made by emailing finnishcenter@yahoo.com or calling 978-407-9690. The dinner will include half chicken, potato salad, cucumber salad, cranberry sauce, bread and butter, the cost is $15. Quantity is limited. Hot and cold beverages are available for $2 each.

The Fitchburg State University Community Orchestra, under the direction of Hildur Schilling, will delight the crowd from 11 a.m. until noon.

Folk group Oivan Ilo will play from noon until 1 p.m. and will accompany the Revontulet Folk Dancers during this time as they perform a few dances and invite the audience to join them in others.

At 1 p.m., Roy Helander will recite a poem titled “Letter to my Grandparents” by Marlene Ekola Gerberick.

The Finnish Center at Saima Park scholarships will then be awarded.

“Those who attended last year’s concert by singer-songwriter-pianist dynamo Eeppi Ursin will be happy to know that she will be back this year with another rousing performance,” added Sulin.

Originally from Finland and now living in New York City, Ursin was chosen as Finlandia Foundation National’s 2022 Performer of the Year.

The concert will be held from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

“Finland’s winters are cold and have few hours of daylight, so the ‘midnight sun’ of the summer solstice is cause for celebration,” said Sulin. “Ever since many Finns emigrated to the Fitchburg area around 1900, their descendants have continued to enjoy getting together to celebrate summer with food, entertainment, and cultural activities. We welcome the larger community to join in the fun.”

For more information about the Finnish Center at Saima Park, visit saima-park.org or see “Friends of Saima Park” on Facebook.

Celebrate St. Urho’s Day with the Finnish Center at Saima Park

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FITCHBURG — Have you ever heard of St. Urho’s Day? St. Urho is a fictitious character created by a couple of Finnish-Americans inspired by their Irish friends’ St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

According to legend, St. Urho chased the grasshoppers out of Finland shouting at them, “Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers, Got to Hell!” and saved the wine vineyards from destruction.

From this instance, he became a hero, similar to St. Patrick.

As the Finnish version of the Irish saint, there are statues of him in Minnesota, depicting holding large grasshoppers in honor of his sacrifice.

“The funny thing is — St. Urho doesn’t exist and never has,” said Lorna Sulin, board member of the Finnish Center. “He is a story born out of sheer imagination and humor.”

In the spirit of fun, the Finnish Center of Saima Park will host a St. Urho’s Dinner Dance from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the center, 67 Scott Road.

For the first hour, attendees will have an opportunity to socialize over appetizers and bring their own adult beverages. At 5 p.m., a meatball dinner, catered by Family Café will be served. Sides will include mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls and butter.

Vegetarian meals may be ordered when reservations are made. For dessert: rice pudding will be served, along with coffee or tea.

After dinner, guests can enjoy dancing to the music of the Central Mass Accordion Club. Revontulet folk dance directors Leila and Mark Luopa will lead a few icebreakers.

“It’s become a tradition to have a hat contest at the party,” Sulin said. “To enter, bring a hat decorated to go along with the myth of St. Urho. You’re also encouraged to dress in purple and/or green.”

Also, a wife-carrying contest will be held, which originated in Finland and has become popular around the world.

“In our contest, entrants will wear a backpack containing a ragdoll while progressing through four stations where they will perform assigned tasks,” Sulin added. “We will award door prizes as well as prizes for both contests.”

Admission to the event is $20 per person. Reservations are due by Sunday, March 5, by emailing finnishcenter@yahoo.com or calling 978-407-9690. Leave your name, contact information, number of reservations, and requests for a vegetarian meal.

“The St Urho’s Day celebration has become an annual tradition at Saima,” Sulin said. “People come to have a good time laughing, playing, socializing, and dancing. Last year’s wife-carrying contest was a riot, we are excited to welcome the community for this year’s festivities.”

For more information on the Finnish Center at Saima Park, visit saima-park.org or on Facebook at “Friends of Saima Park”.

Finnish Center at Saima Park to celebrate the sauna

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FITCHBURG — Saunas are not only a part of our daily lives but play a role in some Finnish holiday festivities and the Finnish Center at Saima Park is excited to invite the community to celebrate them.

A Celebration of the Sauna will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the center, 67 Scott Road, as Finlandia Foundational National designates the last week in February as “National Sauna Week”.

A non-working sauna is still located on the grounds of the Finnish Center at Saima Park. (COURTESY FINNISH CENTER AT SAIMA)
A non-working sauna is still located on the grounds of the Finnish Center at Saima Park. (COURTESY FINNISH CENTER AT SAIMA)

“When Finns emigrated to this country, many of them built summer camps and saunas by nearby lakes,” said Lorna Sulin, board member, Finnish Center at Saima Park. “The next generations happily use them, finding it both relaxing and invigorating to go back and forth between the hot sauna and the cool water.”

Several activities are planned, beginning with a Pannukakku Breakfast from 8 until 10 a.m. “or until food is sold out,” said Sulin.

The community is welcome to enjoy Finnish oven pancake, bacon, sausage, fruit, orange juice, Finnish coffee bread, and coffee, tea, or cocoa. Cost is $10.

Loaves of Finnish coffee bread and cinnamon rusks will also be for sale, along with vendors displaying and selling their work including Karen Kemp, beekeeper Susan Parviainen (Son of a Bee), Linda Kiuru (Lark Knits), and Michelle Radzewicz selling her homemade jewelry, paintings, and clay figures.

“Join us after breakfast, at 10:30 a.m., when membership secretary Marci Haneisen will host a short

presentation on some interesting facts, history, and trivia about the traditional Finnish sauna,” Sulin said.

People are then invited to share related stories and to sing fun sauna songs with long-time member Roy Helander.

“Also, be sure to visit our Sauna Museum between 9 a.m. and noon,” said Sulin. “Park manager Frank Ruosteoja has worked hard to restore the once functioning sauna and will be there to greet you.”

Marci Haneisen said sauna has been an important part of Finnish culture for more than 1,000 years.

“The ritual of sauna was traditionally practiced on Saturday evening to cleanse the body and calm the mind,” she said. “Today, Finns continue to enjoy the many benefits of sauna.”

In addition to the celebration, Saima’s trails will be open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

“If there is snow, strap on your cross-country skis or snowshoes,” she said. “If not, wear your hiking shoes.”

Trails vary from flat fields to gentle slopes and steeper hills. A limited supply of equipment is available to borrow.

To learn more about the Finnish Center at Saima Park, visit saima-park.org or “Friends of Saima Park” on Facebook.