Community Partnership Events
Laskiainen! The Sliding, Pea Soup, Flax Magic Celebration
Laskiainen marks the end of winter and the beginning of Lent, celebrated seven weeks before Easter. Traditionally, it was the time to put away spinning wheels and bring out looms for weaving. A long sled ride was believed to bring long flax fibers for a good harvest.
Together with the Finnish Language School of Minnesota (MN Suomi-koulu) FAA celebrates Laskiainen with sledding, music, and either a pea soup supper or a bring-your-own winter picnic with coffee, laskiaispulla (jam-and-whipped cream buns), and sausage roasting over a bonfire.
Pea soup and buns are traditional Finnish foods for the holiday, rooted in the belief that hearty meals would lead to a better crop. In southern Ostrobothnia, oven pancakes (pannukakku or kropsu) are also common.
St. Urho’s Day
FAA celebrates St. Urho’s Day near March 16, to commemorate St. Urho chasing the grasshoppers out of Finland and saving the grape crop. Lately, it is celebrated with a pea soup cook-off. The official colors for the celebration are purple (wine) and green (grasshoppers). We may also present the annual FAA Sauna Bucket Award to a dedicated volunteer.
Juhannus (Midsummer Celebration)
Juhannus, Finland’s beloved Midsummer celebration, honors the Summer Solstice with a joyful blend of tradition and community. This Twin Cities Finnish organization partnership event brings together Finns, friends of Finns, and the wider Nordic community for a day filled with music, dancing, delicious food, and festive activities.
Highlights often include: a traditional sauna experience, a colorful Maypole (juhannussalko), a silent auction,
and the iconic Juhannus bonfire (kokko) to light up the evening sky.
While this year’s extreme heat meant the bonfire had to be skipped, the spirit of celebration remained strong — Juhannus is just as much about gathering together as it is about firelight and folklore.
Finn Fun Day
FAA partners with MN Suomi-koulu and other local Twin Cities organization to host an afternoon of games (ax throwing, mölkky, boot throwing), music by Laulauika with Kisarit Finnish Folk Dancers, Finnish booths, sausages (makkurat), activities, and more! A fun day for the whole family!
Independence Day
Independence Day is a national public holiday in Finland and a flag flying day held on 6 December to celebrate Finland’s declaration of independence from Russia in 1917.
Joulu – Magical Finnish Christmas
FAA joins other Twin Cities Finnish organizations to present a multifaceted community event featuring Finnish Christmas Sing-along (Kauneimmat Joululaulut), music, traditional food, a tori (market), and other activities. Admission is free and everyone is welcome – you don’t have to be Finnish American, Finnish, or a member of any group. The event takes place on a Saturday early in December.
