Hancock celebrates Heikinpäivä 2014 despite frigid weather

By Michele Bourdieu

David Maki, staff member of the Finnish American Reporter and Finnish American Heritage Center, as this year's Hankooki Heikki, rides the giant kicksled in the 2014  Heikinpäivä Parade and reigns over the festivities held on Jan. 25 in Hancock. (Photos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now unless otherwise indicated.)

HANCOCK -- Undaunted by the sub-zero temperatures last Saturday, Jan. 25, Hancock celebrated its mid-winter festival, Heikinpäivä 2014, a celebration of Finnish American cultural heritage. Here are a few video clips of the parade, thanks to Keweenaw Now's Allan Baker, and photos by Allan and also by Arlyn and Sandy Aronson, borrowed with their permission from Gromit the Snow Dog's blog, Trail Mutt Reports.

Gromit the Snow Dog (Lumi Koira), decked out in her January booties, joins a friend in the 2014 Heikinpäivä Parade in Hancock. (Photo courtesy Arlyn and Sandy Aronson. Reprinted with permission from Gromit's blog, Trail Mutt Reports.)

To see all the photos, click here and then on slide show or on any photo in our slide show posted in the right-hand column.

Here are two video clips of some of the hardy participants in the 2014 Heikinpäivä Parade:

Spectators comment as some of the favorite parade characters pass by -- the Suomi Lion of Finlandia University, Heikki Lunta the snow god (calling for "more snow") and the graceful Swan from the Kalevala, the Finnish epic poem. (Videos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

More characters from the Kalevala, Finnish Theme Committee members, Finlandia University students, members of the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, the Brrr Maids and the Michigan Tech Pep Band parade down Quincy Street in Hancock during Heikinpäivä 2014.

The Wife Carrying competition follows the parade. Hankooki Heikki (David Maki) presides over the event as Jim Kurtti, Finnish American Reporter editor, takes photos. 

A sign near the Heikinpäivä Tori (indoor market), held in the First United Methodist Church on Quincy Street, announces hot homemade chili and soup, Finnish bread (rieska), and hot drinks for warming up after the parade. 

At the Tori in the Methodist church, people shop for hand-crafted items, warm up with hot drinks and snacks and listen to live music.

Be sure to check out our slide show for more Heikinpäivä 2014 photos.

Heikinpäivä, Hancock's mid-winter festival, to be Jan. 25; videos, photos from Heikinpäivä 2013

By Michele Bourdieu

The giant kicksled, reportedly the largest in the world, makes its way down Quincy Street in Hancock during the 2013 Heikinpäivä parade. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

[Editor's Note: This article has been updated with information on the music events. Please see below.]

HANCOCK -- This Saturday, Jan. 25, will offer a full day of activities for Heikinpäivä -- Hancock's annual mid-winter festival celebrating Finnish-American culture and heritage.

Dan Maki, retired longtime Finlandia professor, as Hankooki Heikki for 2013, waves from a parade wagon and presides over the festivities. This year the honor of Hankooki Heikki -- awarded for contributions to the preservation and enhancement of Finnish-American cultural life in Michigan’s Copper Country -- goes to David Maki, staff member of the Finnish American Reporter and Finnish American Heritage Center. David was also a member of the FinnFest USA 2013 board of directors and has been a longtime member of the Finnish Theme Committee.

The Tori (Market) will be open all day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in both the Finnish American Heritage Center and the First United Methodist Church. Don't miss the chance to shop for handmade items and Finnish specialties (including snacks, coffee and baked goods) and to enjoy a variety of musical entertainment.

Anna Leppanen, right, and Meghan Pachmayer offer Finnish items for sale in the 2013 Tori at the First United Methodist Church.

At 11 a.m. the Heikinpäivä Parade will head down Quincy Street toward the Finnish American Heritage Center. Here are some videos from last year's parade, held on Jan. 26, 2013:

Michigan Tech's Pep Band adds a lively tune to the 2013 Heikinpäivä Parade in Hancock. Following them is a group of nordic walkers announcing the 2013 FinnFest U.S.A. that was celebrated in Hancock and Houghton last June. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

During the 2013 Heikinpäivä parade, some participants impersonate characters from the Kalevala, the Finnish epic poem.

Following the Parade, this year the kicksled races will again be held on the Quincy Green (next to the Finnish American Heritage Center) along with the vipukelkka (whipsled) and the Eukonkanto (Wife-Carrying Contest).

Younger children love riding on the vipukelkka (whipsled).

Kids line up for the kicksled races, which made their debut at Heikinpäivä last year and will be held again this Saturday, Jan. 25, after the Parade.

Here are some videos of the 2013 kicksled races and the Wife-Carrying Contest:

Kids compete in the final round of the children's kicksled races during the 2013 Heikinpäivä mid-winter festival.

Despite a few unexpected obstacles, this couple apparently came in second in the Wife-Carrying Contest -- a Finnish tradition -- during the 2013 Heikinpäivä mid-winter festival.

While shopping at the Tori markets take a break to listen to some live music played by a variety of groups throughout the day.

Copper Country Suzuki musicians perform at Heikinpäivä 2013 in the Finlandia Gallery at the Finnish American Heritage Center. At left is their director, Libby Meyer. They will be playing from 11:30 to noon tomorrow, Jan. 25, 2014, in the Finnish American Heritage Center.

This is the music schedule for the Tori markets tomorrow, Jan. 25:

Finnish American Heritage Center:

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. -- Finn Aire (Roger Hewlett)
(11 a.m. -- Parade)
11:30 a.m. - noon -- Libby Meyer and Keweenaw Youth Orchestra (Copper Country Suzuki).
noon - 1 p.m. -- Eleanor Taylor
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. -- Tanja Stanaway
2 p.m. - 3 p.m. -- Finn Aire

First United Methodist Church:

11:30 a.m. - noon -- Courtney Clisch
noon - 12:30 p.m. -- Kivajat Dancers
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. -- Pasi Cats
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- Christine Nakkula

Here are some samples of Finnish music performed last year in the basement of the First United Methodist Church:

Trio Tumpelot -- Ana Gawboy on concertina, Pasi Lautala on accordion and Meghan Pachmayer on bass (while holding Olavi, new addition to the Lautala family) -- play a lively schottische during the 2013 Heikinpäivä celebration.

The Kivajat Dancers perform a Finnish folk dance during last year's Heikinpäivä. At far left is their director, Kay Seppälä. They will perform tomorrow, Jan. 25, from noon to 12:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church

Polar Bear Dive back by popular demand

One of Heikinpäivä’s most popular events each year is the Polar Bear Dive, when hundreds of hearty souls take the plunge into the icy waters of the Portage Canal. Although the Polar Bear Dive was not held last year, it is scheduled to return this year to challenge the fearless. Along with participants proving their mettle, there’s an opportunity for three entries to win cash prizes for their creativity.

The Polar Bear Dive will return this year and will take place along the Hancock waterfront between the Ramada Inn and the Copper Island Beach Club. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

The Michigan Tech Aquanauts manage the site and provide a safe environment for the participants and spectators alike. Local radio personalities provide an entertaining play-by-play.

Due to the popularity of this event and limited parking near the dive site, car-pooling is strongly encouraged.

Registration for this year's dive begins at 2 p.m., and the Dive is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. along the Hancock waterfront between the Ramada Inn and the Copper Island Beach Club.

Those who just want to dive for fun must pay $1; anyone who'd like to compete for cash prizes must pay $5. Divers who are competing for prizes will dive first. Prizes will be awarded by three judges, who will choose the winners based on costume, presentation, and execution of the dive.

Footwear is strongly encouraged. Be sure to bring a towel! No children participating this year, please. Be sure to bring a bathing suit!

Banquet and Dance Saturday night, Jan. 25

Saturday night, at 6 p.m. the Seisovapöytä (Finnish buffet) will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Hancock. Tickets are $18. A silent auction will be held during the banquet.

UPDATED: Finally, at 8 p.m., bring your dancing shoes to the Finnish American Heritage Center and dance to great Finnish tunes on the new wooden dance floor! The Pasi Cats will provide great dance music!

"PasiCats will climb on stage for Heikinpäivä Dance at Finnish-American Heritage Center, starting 8 p.m. and playing until people drop, or maintenance kicks us out," says Pasi Lautala. "We'll make sure that there's plenty of speed on the dance floor and calm people down with tangos."

For more details on Heikinpäivä visit pasty.com/heikki.

Community Arts Center to hold open house, reception for "Art from the Kalevala" exhibit Jan. 25

These art works by Edith Marshall, left, and Daniel Schneider are part of the "Art from the Kalevala" group exhibit on display in the Kerredge Gallery of the Copper Country Community Arts Center through Jan. 31, 2014. An open house and reception will be held for the artists in conjunction with Hancock's Heikinpäivä mid-winter festival Saturday, Jan. 25. (Photos courtesy Copper Country Community Arts Center)

HANCOCK -- The Copper Country Community Arts Center will hold an open house reception for "Art from the Kalevala" with Finnish style refreshments from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, during the Heikinpäivä celebrations!

Art by K. Carlton Johnson, part of the "Art from the Kalevala" exhibit.

"Art from the Kalevala" is a group exhibition that will be on display at the Copper Country Community Arts Center’s Kerredge Gallery through Jan. 31, 2014. The exhibit coincides with Heikinpäivä, Hancock’s mid-winter festival.

The Kalevala is a 19th-century work of poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology. It is regarded as the national epic poem of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature. Its rich imagery provides a hearty topic for visual art. Ten artists are included in the exhibition with their interpretations of passages, also called runes or runos, from the Kalevala.

Also inspired by the Kalevala are these pieces by Kris Raisanen Shourek, left, and Joyce Koskenmaki.

Artists in the exhibition include Bob Dawson, Constance Stockwell Johnson, K. Carlton Johnson, Edith Marshall, Joyce Koskenmaki, Eric Munch, Cynthia Coté, Kris Raisanen Schourek, Leona Blessing, and Daniel Schneider.

The Copper Country Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. For more information call: 906-482-2333.

Heikinpäivä enrichment classes begin Jan. 13; register now

Leading the 2013 Heikinpäivä Parade are Hilary Virtanen (in red) and Hal Seppälä with the banner, followed by the wagon carrying last year's Hankooki Heikki, Dan Maki, who reigned over the festival. This year the parade and other main events for the 15th annual Heikinpäivä Mid-Winter Festival will take place on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- As winter’s icy grip takes hold on the Copper Country, what better way to warm up than to bake some loaves of bread, or learn to weave, or make some beautiful music -- in preparation for Hancock's Heikinpäivä Mid-Winter Festival.

You can learn to do any of these on Monday, Jan. 13, as the 2014 Heikinpäivä enrichment programming gets under way with a trio of classes at Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock.

At 2 p.m and 6 p.m., retired bakery owner Edith Maki will present "Finnish Breads -- Plain and Fancy." For a $15 fee, participants can learn to make a variety of Finnish breads from the former proprietor of Spice of Life Bakery.

At 6 p.m. that same day, fiber arts enthusiast Eileen Sundquist will share her skills in tablet weaving; folks taking that course will pay a $20 fee, which includes supplies; and participants take home a mini loom.

Also at 6 p.m., Kay Seppälä will lead a class on how to play the 5-string kantele. For a $10 fee (with instruments provided) people of all skill levels can learn to make music on the Finnish lap harp.

Kay Seppälä, instructor (musician, in foreground), and her kantele ensemble perform during the 2011 Finnish Independence celebration in the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

To sign up for any of these classes, call Mary at (906) 482-1413 or email mpekkala @charter.net. Click here for more info about the classes.

Heikinpäivä is the annual midwinter festival created and conducted by the Finnish Theme Committee of the City of Hancock. It is sponsored by the Finnish American Reporter and Finlandia University’s Finnish American Heritage Center and Historical Archive.

More classes and family activities are scheduled for the next two weeks, leading up to the main Heikinpäivä festival day -- Saturday, Jan. 25. For detailed information about the festival, visit pasty.com/heikki.