Finland, located in northern Europe, is one of the world’s most northern and geographically remote countries and is subject to a severe climate. Nearly two-thirds of Finland is blanketed by thick woodlands, making it the most densely forested country in Europe. Finland also forms a symbolic northern border between western and eastern Europe: dense wilderness and Russia to the east, the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden to the west.
A part of Sweden from the 12th century until 1809, Finland was then a Russian grand duchy until, following the Russian Revolution, the Finns declared independence on December 6, 1917.
The landscape of ubiquitous forest and water has been a primary source of inspiration for Finnish arts and letters. Starting with Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala, the country’s great artists and architects and musicians, writers, and poets, including Jean Sibelius and Zacharias Topelius have all drawn themes and imagery from their national landscape. One of the first Modernist poets, Edith Södergran, expressed her relationship to the Finnish environment this way in her poem, “Homecoming”:
And the grass bids me welcome from foreign lands.
My head I recline in the grass: now finally home.
Now I turn my back on everything that lies behind me:
My only companions will be the forest and the shore and the lake.
joilla ombi Sydhen toori.
Jumalan keskyt / ia mielen /
iotca taidhat Somen kielen.
Laki / se Sielun hirmutta /
mutt Cristus sen tas lodhutta.
Lue sijs hyue Lapsi teste /
Alcu oppi ilman este.
Nijte muista Elemes aina /
nin Jesus sinun Armons laina.
("Learn now, old and young, who have a fresh heart,
God's commandments and the mind,
so that you shall know the Finnish language.
Law, it makes the soul fearful, but Christ soothes it again.
So read from here good child,
the beginning of learning without obstacles.
Remember them all your life,
so Jesus lends you his mercy.")
I received this PC a few days ago from my friends who were travelling through Norway when it was sent...very wintery, although they are travelling during summer...I do have a slight penchant for gnomes...well, Scandinavian ones, anyway
No much photography happening at present, the weather has been a bit cooler and we have had a bit of needed rain...I still love the stark contracts that are around during the cooler periods. We have had some light snowfalls in the highlands, all we have seen of snow though are the red noses and blueish fingers associated with hanging out the washing gained from the brisk winds that accompany them!
That's it from me, until next week, Chris is making some Max's Biscuits and the aroma is bidding to me go and check the oven, Ooops, I had a little Alfred moment there, and left things just a tad too long...fortunately these were mainly ginger ones so Chris won't be at all concerned, and I have always liked my shortbread far to coloured to suit the CWA's tastes, so all is good on that front! Bye now, Di |