Suomi Specialties Finnish Celebrations [Paperback]

Sinikka Gronberg Garcia (Author), Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret (Editor, Illustrator), Melinda Bradnan (Editor), Dorothy Crum (Editor), Jukka Mannio (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 157216039X | ISBN-13: 978-1572160392 | Publication Date: August 1, 1997

Sinikka Gronberg Garcia presents the ways and means of Finnish holidays, customs, and celebrations. Told with warm memories, Sinikka lends understanding to what it means to be a Finnish American. Traditional recipes are included, along with a brief history of Finland, travel information, a map, holiday celebrations, special celebrations, festivals in Finland, customs, Finland society information, Medieval churches in the Finnish Southwest, the Evangelical Lutheran church of Finland, a listing of music festivals, the sauna experience, Finland now, and in the twenty-first century.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Even after forty years in the United States, Sinikka Garcia still claims to be mostly a Finn. Content in Arizona, she still yearns for Finland, where her Finnish family lives. She has kept her Finnish language fluent by speaking as well as reading and writing in Finnish. She maintains an interest in Finnish folklore, particularly as it appears in the Kalevala, as well as in politics, the people, the changing language, nature, and the environment through frequent trips and keeping in close touch with friends and relatives in Finland. Following World War II, in 1951, Sinikka was a volunteer in the international work camp program initiated by the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers). The purpose of the camps was to foster international understanding as well as to provide physical help in needy areas of the world. Sinikka has a bachelor of arts and a master's degree in education from the University of Arizona. She has taught for over 25 years. The Garcias have four grown children: twin daughters who are teachers and two sons who are engineers. Her life is enhanced by her twelve grandchildren. In her retirement, she continues to write and translate books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Penfield Press (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157216039X
• ISBN-13: 978-1572160392
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,084,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finnish Recipes and Traditions, November 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Suomi Specialties Finnish Celebrations (Paperback)

Sinikka Grönberg Garcia, author of Suomi Specialties: Finnish Celebrations, Traditions and Recipes, claims to be mostly Finn even though she has lived in the United States for over forty years. A Karelian refugee from the 1941 Russian-Finnish War, she says her bond to Finnishness grew through the hardships as well as good times.

This book presents the traditions and customs that represent a national pride and fortitude. Told with warmth, Sinikka's memories lend an understanding to what it means to be a Finnish American.

Along with the ways and means of holidays, customs, and celebrations, traditional recipes are included with helpful hints and significance of the foods of the season....Pulla for Christmas, Mämmi for Easter, Sima for Vappu, and others.

Sections on a brief history of the people; travel in Finland, and the many music festivals characterize the Finnish people's love for the arts.

Drawings by Jukko Mannio, Finnish artist, capture the spirit of celebration throughout the book.

Cover photography by Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret.