Preserving the Culture of a Lost Karelia

Episode 37

Recorded in 2016, I speak to Marjo Matikainen-Källström, Satu Hallonberg and Markku Pulli about Karjalaisetkesäjuhlat; the commemoration of the evacuation of 430,000 people from Karelia after World War 2 and a celebration of continuing Karelian culture. I then speak to Satu (now Mrs Wiltshear) who shares some of her family’s memories as evacuees from Karjala.

Download an MP3 of Preserving the Culture of a Lost Karelia

Finnish Words in the Episode

• Karjala – Eastern region of Finland (Karelia)
• Karjalan liitto – Karelian Association
• Karjalaiset – people from Karjala / Karelia
• Winter War – Talvi sota (battle between Finland and USSR on Finnish territory, 30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940)
• Etelä- Pohjanmaa – South Ostrobothnia
• Äväjäisjuhlat – Opening party
• Komia – ‘handsome’
• Kuorot – choirs
• Karjalan piiraka – Karelian pie (pastry filled with rice porridge)
• Jaakkiman sanomat – Bi-monthly newspaper about Karjalan life and culture
• Viborg/Viipuri – Former Finnish town, now in Russia near St Petersburg
• Sortavala – Former Finnish town, now in Russia near St Petersburg
• Terijoki – Former Finnish town, where Satu’s Grandparents lived, now known as Zelenogorsk
• Suomenlahti – Baltic Sea
• Pitsihuvila – decorative wooden villas
• Ilya Repin – Russian painter

Links

• Winter War – Wikipedia
• Karjalaiset kesäjuhlat
• Explore Finland Podcast episodes
  • Olympic Training Centre, Kuortane
  • Reconstructing Finland’s Emigrant History
  • The History of Emigration from Finland
• Jaakkiman sanomat newspaper
• Pitsihuvila in Terijoki (Google search)
• Luovutettu Karjala (Lost Karelia)

Next episode: Mark Wiltshear’s 12 Minute Conversation with Engel Jones