Old Marriage Customs in Finland
Excerpts from “Finnish Folk Culture” by Ilmar Talve.June Pelo At times while doing genealogy research, I’ve noticed that young couples married at a very young age…
Traditions and history
Manner and Customs of Kantlax
By Vald. Nyblom in “Den Österbottniska Byn”. Translated by June Pelo. These are some remembrances from the late 1800’s about life in Kantlax, a little coastal village in…
Life-cycle rites: Birth & Churching
Excerpts from “Finnish Folk Culture” by Ilmar TalveTranslated by June Pelo Birth From time immemorial, the Baltic-Finnic people have divided the period of gestation (40 weeks)…
Eleven Days That Disappeared
By Folke A. Netteblad, Hufvudstadsbladet, 9 March 2003. Translated by June Pelo. Think about going to bed on 17 February and not waking up before 1…
Pelo – Tannery & Farm in the Swedish District
From Österbottningen, 17 Oct 1959. Sent by Birger Lindqvist of Gamlakarleby.Translated by June Pelo. Thirty-four-year old Fritiof Gustafsson of Pelo in Nedervetil drove at full speed into the…
Eighth Symphony
By Adrian Niemi. Written in his 10th grade writing class, ca 1965.June Pelo On March 24, 1924, an audience in Stockholm was unknowingly hearing the first of…
World War II Gift Parcels to Finland
By Martin Wallenius, Superintendent at the General Direction of Posts and Telegraphs foreign section, Helsinki.Translated by June Pelo During the war immigrant families from Finland worried…
Memories of the Winter War
By Art Jura, Norden, 17 April 2008. Translated by June Pelo. Helvi Waisanen Silverman and Paula Waisanen Szabo related their experiences in Kuhmo, Finland during the 1939-40…
Before Modern Conveniences
Based on the book “Before Modern Conveniences”, by Helmi Kortes-Erkkila. It is about a Finnish farm family 1917-1927.Submitted by June Pelo. The author grew up on…
The Sauna
This is the second and more detailed version of ‘The Sauna’ article by June Pelo. She sites her source as the internet. Anthropologists know little about…
Carl Carlsson Åivobäck-Clemetsöhem (1722-1860)
Published in Vasa 1963. Translated by June Pelo. Some time ago the Vasa newspaper published an article series “Klemetsö Village over 500 Years.” In these historic…
Midsummer
By June Pelo. Sources extracted from the internet. Midsummer has been celebrated for many centuries and some traditions predate Christianity. Traditionally all turning points of the…
