HYVÄÄ ITSENÄISYYSPÄIVÄÄ

December 6, 2011

The year 1917.....Finland gained their INDEPENDENCE from Russia after a hard fought war in the bitter winter cold and snow weather....albeit a brief war.

And every year on this date TWO CANDLES are lit and put in windows and glow for 3 hours!  Hence, our candles burning brightly in our window tonight!!!



P.S.  Wayne found this as to 'why two candles'...

According to Wikipedia, the fount of all (dubious) knowledge, "It is traditional for many Finnish families to light two candles in each window of their home in the evening. This custom dates to the 1920s, but even earlier, candles had been placed in windows on the birthday of poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg as a silent protest against perceived Russian oppression. A popular legend has it that two candles were used as a sign to inform young men on their way to Sweden and Germany to become jägers [professional soldiers that returned to Finland to lead their troops in defense against Russia] that the house was ready to offer shelter and keep them hidden from the Russians."