Sweden Finns Day 2024 (Sweden): February 24 is Sweden Finns Day, and on this day, we give a voice to Finnish-speaking Swedes. This momentous occasion is dedicated to paying tribute to their language, culture, and esteemed status as a cherished and respected community in Sweden. The history of emigration between the two nations is extensive, especially in the northern border regions.
Nevertheless, a more substantial emigration transpired amid World War II, when an astounding 70,000 Finnish youths were forcibly evacuated to Sweden. Although approximately 15,000 are believed to have remained, the number of adults who returned is unknown. Presently, the country is home to an estimated 500,000 Finnish-speaking Swedes.
The History of Sweden’s Finns Day
Throughout history, marginalized groups that encounter environments foreign to their cultural or linguistic comfort zones, such as when speaking their native language, have frequently become forgotten in the shuffle of the larger community. There are certain instances where individuals forget their entire heritage. Special occasions such as Sweden Finns Day are crucial for this reason.
The Swedish Academy proclaimed February 24 as the designated date for the occasion in 2010. The occasion was initially observed the following year to commemorate the birthday of Carl Axel Gottlund, a staunch advocate for the Finnish language’s status and collector of traditional poetry. Finns residing in Sweden observe Sweden Finns Day to bring attention to the Finnish-speaking communities that exist within the nation. It is referred to locally as “Sverigefinnarnas Day,” and the approximate half-million Finnish-speaking population in Sweden currently observes the holiday.
Finnish communities in Sweden date back to 1533, when the Finnish Church in Stockholm was established during the Reformation. However, historical records also document occurrences of migration or relocation to alternative urban centers within contemporary Sweden. According to recent research by Sveriges Radio Finska, a Finnish language channel, 4.5% of Sweden’s population in 2019 spoke or understood Finnish, Meankieli, or one of several distinct Finnish dialects or Finnish languages spoken in the country’s far north. This accounts for nearly 470,000 individuals. On Sweden Finns Day, these Finnish-speaking communities are recognized, their gorgeous language is listened to, and they are given a platform to express their pride.
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FAQs for Sweden’s Finns Day
Are the Finns and Swedes related?
The Baltic Finnic ethnic group (which also includes Sweden) does not classify Finns as Scandinavians. In Sweden, there exists a subgroup of around 450,000 individuals known as Sweden Finns, who share the same ancestry and ethnic background as the Swedes.
What was the duration of Sweden’s control over Finland?
From approximately 1150 until the Finnish War of 1809, Finland was a province of Sweden. During that time, it operated as an independent entity within the Russian Empire, known as the Grand Duchy of Finland.
Was Viking control over Finland?
Finland was situated along the northern border of trade routes to Russia during the Viking Age, and its inhabitants supplied furs. It seems that the Finns were not involved in the Viking expeditions.
Sweden Finns Day 2024 (Sweden) Activities
Self-study of Finnish phrases
In observance of the Finnish language, one may acquire a few phrases to demonstrate to visitors and acquaintances at an upcoming dinner gathering. One can also gain valuable insights about a country by studying its language and sentence structure. Language is, after all, the key to comprehending others.
Observe a Finnish movie
Not only do characters in films speak the language, but the Finnish people exemplify the essence of their surroundings, as evidenced by how they conduct themselves, speak, consume, and experience romantic feelings. An excellent film, typically in the language for which it was intended, can provide context for comprehending communities. Classic watches include “Valkoinen pleura” (“The White Reindeer”), which was published in 1952, and “Mies vanilla menneisyytta” (“The Man Without a Past”), which was released in 2002.
Prepare an authentic Finnish dish.
Even if you do not speak Finnish, you might as well experience the culture by consuming an authentic Finnish dish. A multitude of Finnish dishes were adapted by incorporating Swedish culinary techniques. Sour-sweet bread made with rye and malt flour and Karelian pasties, which consist of rice-filled pasties with a thin exterior, are two culinary standouts. You can locate these recipes online with relative ease and then host Finnish friends for a taste of home.
Five Fascinating Facts Concerning Finnis
It contains lengthy words.
The longest compound word is lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas, which consists of 61 letters and means “noncommissioned officer student, aircraft jet turbine engine auxiliary mechanic.”
The language is genderless.
In contrast to French and Spanish, Finnish is gender-neutral due to its lack of grammatical gender.
Dots are significant in Finnish.
Every diacritical point is significant, as there is a perfect correspondence between letters and noises, ensuring that the words are pronounced precisely as they are written.
There are literal English translations for Finnish terms.
As an illustration, the term “ice cupboard” (‘jaakaappi’) is used to refer to a refrigerator, while “knowledge machine” (‘tietokone’) is used to refer to a computer.
Sauna is a Finnish word that is used globally.
The term has a universal usage and is rendered identically in the majority of languages.
SWEDEN FINNS DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | February 24 | Saturday |
| 2025 | February 24 | Monday |
| 2026 | February 24 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | February 24 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | February 24 | Thursday |
