The Finno-Ugric year has begun with the annual
Heikinpäivä midwinter festival at the
Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock. Although a serious wind chill caused the outdoor events to be cancelled, such as the spiral dance, parade, and wife-carrying competition, the festival still managed to be a lively gathering of the local Finnish, “Finnterested,” and Finno-Ugric community.
Festivities began with the arrival of Tsirk – the symbol of Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture program – which was presented to festival organizers by Marianne Brokaw, a local Estonian with family roots in Mulgimaa and Võromaa. Marianne made a brief speech to welcome everyone to the festival and to express appreciation for Hancock’s appointment as the Capital of Culture for 2026.
A signature of Heikinpäivä, the Tori hosted a variety of rag-rugs, wood carvings, baked treats, jewelry, and other Finnish-themed goods. Also in the heritage center, the
Finnish American Folk School led live demonstrations of inkle band weaving, spinning wool, and loom weaving. Throughout the afternoon, a series of musicians and dancers put on a show in the lobby, including a kantele performance by
Sheila Coughlin and a dance presentation by the
Kivajat Finnish American children’s group.
Lisa Steinmann and Karen Rue presented on the importance and history of sauna textiles in their talk “The Magic of Sauna Textiles”. Their talk highlighted the ways in which the value of textiles is often overlooked, whether they are within or outside of the sauna, and explored how textiles enhance the sauna experience. Karen Rue is the founder of Saunamekko and Lisa Steinmann is a sauna blogger and textiles enthusiast from Minnesota. Saunamekko is a sauna textile business reimagining what it means to dress for sauna life—offering thoughtfully designed pieces crafted from 100% merino wool that is lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and naturally thermoregulating.
This was followed by Gage “Touko” Keränen‘s “Finno-Ugric World Tour”, an introduction to the Finno-Ugric peoples of the world and their cultures. The presentation featured an assortment of photography, video clips, and props meant to inspire a sense of curiosity and familiarity. A few members of the audience recognized themselves amongst the images, as persons whose ancestors were Kven, Karelian, Hungarian, or Saami. An assortment of pins featuring various Finno-Ugric flags, textiles, and greetings were available for guests, as well as a selection of zines (mini books) about Hancock, Finno-Ugric peoples, and the kantele. Touko is a Finnish American whose family lives in the Copper Country (Kupparisaari).
Down the street from the heritage center, the
Copper Country Community Arts Center hosted the opening reception of
“Animal Life: Art from the Kalevala”, an art exhibit inspired by the Finnish-Karelian epic, the
Kalevala. The collection included sculptures, paintings, pottery, leatherworks, and art of other mediums. Each piece was inspired by a specific rune from the Kalevala.
The vibrant Iltamat concluded the day’s events with a long evening of live Finnish American folk tunes and community dancing. Locals and visitors toasted to the turning of the bear and shared memories of Heikinpäiväs passed. As is typical of Finnish American functions, it could be heard here and there, “Your aunt is my neighbor!” or “I was your brother’s teacher!” Nostalgia, cheer, and a longing for sauna was in the air as the evening celebration wrapped up.
The Heikinpäivä spirit was not limited to just one day, as the entire month featured Finnish classes and folk school classes on inkle band weaving, chip carving, and pottery. The Finno-Ugric spirit is alive in snowy Hancock and the community is excited to welcome their international kin in June for Juhannus. The sauna is warmed for you!”
Text: Gage “Touko” Keränen
Photos: Minea Herwitz
