Insider's Guide to Attending Heikinpäivä

Heikinpäivä, a mid-winter Finnish-American celebration, returns to downtown Hancock this January. This event is planned intentionally during a quiet time of year and celebrates the Hancock and Copper Country's Finnish heritage. This lively festival reminds of us of the many ways that winter can be enjoyed and provides community members with a way to connect to and learn about Finnish-American heritage.

Parade-goer dressed as Heikki Lunta, a Finnish snow god who originated in U.P. mythology, throws snow during the Heikinpäivä parade. | Photo by Kayleigh White

What Makes Heikinpäivä Special? 

Heikinpäivä is an important part of Copper Country history, with the first iteration of the event taking place in 1999. In a community so dominated by Finnish ancestry, its easy to see why this festival is special. Not only does it celebrate winter, a season significant to residents of both the Keweenaw and Finland, but it also connects our Finnish-American community members. It gives everyone a chance to experience traditional Finnish music, food, games, films, and crafts. 

Jim Kurtti, President of the Finnish Theme Committee, Honorary Consul of Finland, and one of the original organizers of this event explained: "It celebrates Hancock and the Copper Country's Finnish heritage, but also it strives to make winter seem shorter.  We celebrate how winter can be enjoyed, in particular through a Finnish heritage lens. After all, who else has a parade in January?  The event and all the tangential events, e.g. enrichment classes, films, dance lessons, cooking classes, all provide people with tangible means of attaching their appreciation of Finnish identity to something they can participate in."

Heikinpäivä provides community members with a way to connect with Finnish culture and tradition. | Kayleigh White

Finnish-American Mid-Winter Festival Events 

Heikinpäivä is more than just a one day affair. This mid-winter celebration includes a variety of events that take place throughout the month of January. Activities include unique enrichment classes, themed films, traditional dance lessons, and cooking classes providing individuals with a way to experience Finnish heritage and culture. 

Enrichment Classes 

This year, the Finnish American Folk School is hosting a variety of enrichment classes throughout the month of January. Each class allows the community to explore Finnish-American traditions through creative ways with the assistance of experienced instructors. This year's enrichment classes include Inkle Band Weaving, Beginning Kantele ( a 5-string lap harp), Beginning Knitting, Karelian Pie Baking, and Finn Horse Quilting at Sew Cranky.  Learn more or register here. 

Films

As part of the mid-winter celebration, intriguing Finnish films will be presented. On Wednesday, January 10th, watch "Poika ja Ilves" (Tommy & the Wildcat at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Free-will offering accepted.

The historic Calumet Theatre will present Club Finndigo (dinner & a film) on Friday, January 26. Dinner (catered by Mohawk Superette)  starts at 5:30PM with flavors of Finland, and the movie "Sisu" begins at 7PM. "Sisu" is a 2022 historical action thriller set in Finnish Lapland during World War II. 

Family Fun Night & Hobby Horse Hoedown

Head to the Finnish American Heritage Center from 6-8PM on January 19 for an evening of family-friendly fun with Kay Seppälä & Ginger Alberti. This festive evening includes music, Finnish dances, and Hobby Horse indoor games & obstacle arena. Hobby horses will be available to borrow, but if you have your own, ride it in! Not sure what a hobby horse is? Refer to the picture below where the Sew Cranky crew rides their hobby horses in the annual Heikinpäivä parade. 

Get your hobby horses ready for Heikinpäivä . There will be a family-friendly hobby horse hoedown at the Finnish American Heritage Center on January 19th! | Photo by Kayleigh White

Heikinpäivä Events You Don't Want to Miss - January 27th, 2024

Themed Parade

11AM | Quincy St.

A parade in January? Why not? The Heikinpäivä parade is a time to celebrate winter and Finnish culture with music, noise, colors, and quirkiness. Join the parade with your best Finnish attire. Prizes will be available to participants who best represent Finnish, Nordic, and winter themes. Not sure what to wear? Watch the Finnish Theme Committee's costume collection bring Finnish and Finnish-American mythical characters to life. Some of characters you may have heard of before include Heikki Lunta, Väinämöinen, St. Henrik, Louhi, and Lemminkäinen, along with his ever-vigilant mother. 

Finnish Theme Committee members bring the Finnish story of Väinämöinen to life. | Photo by Kayleigh White

Tori Markets 

10AM-3PM | Finnish American Heritage Center & United Methodist Church

Heikinpäivä includes two Tori Markets at the Finnish American Heritage Center and the United Methodist Church. Both markets will feature numerous vendors and a wide selection of handmade items, including those with Finnish, Nordic, and winter themes. Be on the lookout for everything from delicious Finnish treats like nisu bread and licorice to hand-knitted mitts or sturdy rag rugs. Many of your favorite vendors from previous years will be returning to this Finnish marketplace. Shop til you drop, or kick back with a fresh cup of coffee and Finnish delicacies while you enjoy the sights and sounds of local traditional musicians and performers. 

Vendors selling their wares at the Finnish American Heritage Center, one of two Tori Markets. | Photo by Jim Kurtti

Outdoor Games

Immediately following parade | Quincy Green

Kicksled Races

Explore the joy of winter by participating in exciting traditional outdoor games on Quincy Green. From boot throwing to wife carrying, there is Finnish fun for everyone. Try out a kicksled and race others in your age group. Kicksleds were traditionally used on hard, slippery surfaces and could be used for travelling long distances over frozen lakes. Make sure to check out the larger than life kicksled that resides on Quincy Green.

Children participate in Kicksled (potkuri) races on Quincy Green. | Photo by Jim Kurtti

The Bear Spiral

In recent years, the Karhunpeijäiset, or Bear Spiral Dance has been a crowd favorite at Heikinpäivä. The Bear Spiral dates back to an old tradition related to the bear hunt. Join in the fun and frolic among bears and characters who were part of the parade, as the leader brings the large group into an ever tightening circle. 

Participants dressed in traditional Finnish themed costumes participate in the Bear Spiral. | Jim Kurtti

Copper Country "Wife" Carrying Contest

Wife carrying is an an actual event in Finland, where the men sling their wives (or female friend) over their shoulder and complete a race through an obstacle course. Finnish American Heritage Director Jim Kurtti, told us that this hilarious event "pays homage to a typical Saturday in a Finnish American home; clean the house (shaking the ragrugs), taking a sauna and having coffee afterwards."

The wife carrying contest, with a little extra Copper Country Style. | Photo by Jim Kurtti

Vipukelkka - Finnish Whipsled

Children will love the vipukelkka. A vipukelkka is a Finnish whip sled commonly on a frozen lake. An adult or team of children can push the long arm of the vipukelkka as little ones ride in circles in the sleigh. A fun activity for everyone! 

Children play with the vipuklekka  (Finnish whipsled) during Heikinpäivä . | Photo by Kayleigh White

Polar Plunge

1PM | Quincy Green | $5PM

The Polar Plunge is back for 2024! This cold water Finnish tradition is said to rejuvenate your mind and body as well as provide muscle relief and reduce inflammation. Take on this icy cold challenge and experience the benefits of cold water exposure. Don't worry, there will be hot saunas to warm up after your icy cold dip! 

Iltamat

7:00-10:00PM | Finnish American Heritage Center | $15
Iltamat is a lively evening event, that includes traditional Finnish dance, Finnish Dance music by the Back Room Boys and a buffet of Finnish treats prepared by the Finnish Theme Committee. This fun party is open to the public, but you may want to touch up on your raatikkoon or mazurka dances before you go. Folk and ballroom dance lessons are available January 17th from 7-8:30PM at the Finnish American Heritage Center for just $5/student. No partner or pre-registration necessary.

History of Heikinpäivä 

When asked how Heikinpäivä got started, Jim Kurtti, Director of the Finnish American Heritage Center, said "I was asked to host a conference - Project 34 - which was looking at reaching out to the third and fourth generations of the Finnish American community.  They wanted to meet in a Finnish community, and someone from the group volunteered me.  Then I thought, how are the conference goers going to interact with the local community so I approached the Finnish Theme Committee of Hancock and we created Heikinpäivä (as a one-time event) to do that.  We had such a big response it became an annual event."

Get the Most Out of Heikinpäivä

Get the most out of the event by visiting the official event website. This Heikinpäivä website includes a complete event schedule and information about how you can get involved! While attending the event, check out the signage throughout Hancock, which will explain what the parade costumes represent. Costumes will relate to Finnish-American and Finnish folk characters. Take advantage of enrichment classes and the opportunity to explore Finnish-American traditions, or the goofy outdoor games! Don't be afraid to dress up and have fun!