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
Image courtesy of http://www.hiitola.fi/
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
- Jaakkiman sanomat newspaper
- Pitsihuvila in Terijoki (Google search)
- Luovutettu Karjala (Lost Karelia)
Next episode: Mark Wiltshear’s 12 Minute Conversation with Engel Jones
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