The History of Finland Podcast

02/04/2021

Hello everyone and Happy Easter! Just dropped a short episode on what's happening with the podcast and life in general over the next few months.. ;)

06/12/2020

Happy Independence day! 🎉🇫🇮
To kick the day off, here's what should be the official national anthem, instead of that German pub song. While the balls are mostly canceled at least we have Unkown Soldier (1955 version) on TV. 👍

There are times when all this progress is taken for granted. For me, this song reminds of all the struggles of previous generations and their sacrifices.

Time to come together again and enjoy and cherish what others before us made possible.

Kippis!

Https://youtu.be/F5zg_af9b8c

Finlandia, Op. 26 is a symphonic poem by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The first version was written in 1899, and it was revised in 1900. The piece was...

04/12/2020

It's_been_84_years_lady.gif

But it's official! 💥 Episode 7 is here!

This time we take a peak look on Finnish minorities, starting with Sami people. This has been long time coming, so very special THANK YOU to Petra Laiti for all the work you do increasing the understanding of Sami! I hope I didn't drop the ball too badly with this episode! o_O

https://thofpodcast.podbean.com/e/7-minority-report-part-i/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2qtOvroK5BzQJt9c4Q7Vlu?si=lPeNdHHYRdC-uW9Cpi1KbA

Bringing the Sisu-sprinkled, boggy, dramatic history of Finland to you.

14/10/2020

It is 100 years since Finland and Soviet Russia signed a peace treaty in Tartu, Estonia. After five months of negotiations Finland got Petsamo, and the eastern border was drawn to the borders of the "Old Lady." (Grand Duchy of Finland). Thus Finland lost Repola & Porajärvi regions.

The Finnish delegation in Tartu was lead by J. K. Paasikivi who would become 7th Finnish President 26 years later. (1946–1956)

There is an excellent three part series about the whole affair for Finnish listeners in Yle Areena:
https://areena.yle.fi/audio/1-50640068

12/08/2020

"Bomba Story"

Hello!

It's been a while! Next episode is coming, but I don't want to make too many promises. Hopefully by the end of the week.. 🤞🏼

Meanwhile, listener Adam Taylor contacted to ask explanation for something he saw while visiting North Karelia. There were houses that had clocks in their outer walls. (2 pictures) And he was wondering what was their meaning..?

I haven't seen/heard abour these houses before, but after some googling and asking around, my sisters husband found an answer!

There is fascinating story according to this website:
https://kerranelamassa.fi/kotimaan-matkailu/pohjois-karjala/nurmes-bomba/

Building is called "Bomba" and it used to be one the most popular tourist places in Finland. Busses waited for their turn to get in there! And it's having it's comeback since spa was renovated near it in 2017.

This one is replica from original Bomba house that was built in Karelia (Russian side). It was built by Jegor Bomba for his son Dimitri Jegorov. And Dimitri's sons (5) literally divided the house in 5 parts. Finnish Bomba copy was finished in 1978. Not a single nail was used in building it. And the clocks? Well. They literally display the time when the house was finished. It seems it's a tradition in Karelia.

Thank you for sharing this Adam! You always learn something new!

27/06/2020

Good morning from sunny Finland! I started my summer vacation a week ago. Thought I might do podcast while we are traveling around Finland, visiting cousins etc. Nope! 😁 Barbecue, Saimaa Canal cruise, Cavalry museum, inspection of renovated grandparents rowing boat etc. keeps busy! So the next episode might be ready in next 2 weeks.. 🤔 But it is coming! Enjoy from podcasts, summer and good food, where ever you are!

14/06/2020

Time has come! Another episode is here! Includes mysteries, weapons and ofc jokes that are poor excuse for humor. Take a sniff and do tell your mates!

https://thofpodcast.podbean.com/e/6-migrations-and-merovingians-migraines-375400-800825-migration-and-merovingian-period/

Before we take a little break from our usual chronological narrative, (Next surprise episode or two) let's take a look what proto-Finns were doing before "Viking Age". We have mysteries, more Tolkien (he was fan of Finnish language after all!), Finnish wea...

13/06/2020

Born June 13 in 1897 Paavo "Flying Finn" Nurmi. Runner and a business man. With his own training method he achieved something no other Finn (human) will ever beat.

Sometimes people ask what is that Finnish "Sisu". That's Paavo. 9 Olympic Golds, 22 World Records.

I think I'll go running.. Maybe. After this ice cream...

https://youtu.be/dITLuUDynZg
(though 9 gold medals over all , not 10 like it's said in the end)

Finland middle-distance runner Paavo Nurmi won an incredible 9 gold medals in the 1920s Olympic Games at Antwerp (Belgium) and is still a legend in his homel...

06/06/2020

Having fun making the episode 6. Here is a small sneak peek to whats to come..

30/05/2020

Baby is hot out of owen!

This time "Finns" get their first mention in literary sources, we talk about , about The Lord of the Rings, and other topics, that are equally related to the history of .

Thofpodcast.podbean.com

Glass drinking horn:
Museovirasto - Musketti
Kokoelma: Arkeologian esinekokoelma

28/05/2020

Born on May 28, 1919 career soldier Lauri Allan Törni. He fought in Finnish, in German AND in US Army. He was convicted of treason in Finland but pardoned. Ended with ranks of Captain in all three armies. Sabaton also made grand song about him "Soldier of 3 Armies". Died in Vietnam war.

He is one of three famous Finnish soldiers. First one being Simo Häyhä, World renowned sharpshooter. Second is Lauri. Last but not least is Väinämöinen. He could: "sing his enemy to the swamp" after all! ":D"

21/05/2020

Algoth Untola died on 21 May in 1918. This mysterious journalist wrote (among other things) satire under a bunch of different aliases and had sulfuric acid thrown at him after a love triangle. Not uneventful life! Neither was his death.
He was condemned for his "red leanings" after Civil War. On the way to Suomenlinna Fortress, he was either shot and thrown overboard or tried to escape and then shot.

Oh. And on this day in 2006, bit after Midnight, Lordi wins Eurovision.

17/05/2020

Good evening! Bronze Age has arrived! Come for famous rocks, stay for promise of Vikings and Romans!

https://thofpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-4-before-romand-and-vikings-xx-bronze-age/

12/05/2020

🇫🇮 12 May: J. V. Snellman Day, ( Birthday of statesman J. V. Snellman), Day of Finnish Heritage.

(1806-1881) The man was a philosopher, journalist, statesman and teacher. Also involved in the birth of the Finnish markka 💰 and the language decree that made Finnish an official language. GJ!

J. V. Snellman was the first historical person in Finland whose features were included in the banknote: the largest banknote of 1940, the FIM 5,000, contains his image as an elderly man.

Banknote:
https://www.suomenpankki.fi/fi/raha-ja-maksaminen/markat/historiallisia-suomalaisia-seteleita-ja-metallirahoja/

06/05/2020

Worlds biggest monolith (over 20m) is in Alexander I memorial in St. Petersburg.

It was carved from Virolahti, Eastern Finland. It took over a year to get the 600-700 ton rock out. Another 2 weeks to move it 200 meters to beach in June 1832.

Next obsticle was when they tried to load it to a boat. Boat started to move and tilt over. Fortunately it was shallow and boat hit the bottom. Road trip continued the next day towards St. Petersburg, after they called 600 soldiers from Hamina to help loading the rock.

The quarry in Virolahti was operational until WW1. It will soon
(2020-2021) be restored to a safe excursion destination.

(WikiMedia Commons, CC SA 3.0)

04/05/2020

Made it! Still almost 2 hours of Monday left! ;)

We take a dig into our first battle, new cultures and sneak peek from Bronze age among other things. Enjoy!

https://thofpodcast.podbean.com/e/isode-3-molon-labe-moh-loan-lah-vay-3200-19001700-bce/

This time we wrap up stone age and prepare to adventure to bronze age on our next episode. We take closer look at housing, farming and something called Battle Axe culture and “giants churches”. Episode is a bit shorter due the remaking of the older episode...

03/05/2020

Everyone: So your latest episode is late, again?

Me: Unfortunately yes, BUT it's because I went back to all the previous episodes and reworked them all. Now re-recorded, there are also quotes, stories, ambience, all sorts of goodies! Go check them out!

Ps. Episode 3 should release tomorrow. So there's that too!

https://thofpodcast.podbean.com/

Bringing the Sisu-sprinkled, boggy, dramatic history of Finland to you....

26/04/2020

On this day at least two big Finns have been born.

In 1865 Akseli Gallen-Kallela painter (seen any paintings about Kalevala? Most likely made by Akseli) and

in 1876 Gösta Serlachius, forest industry tycoon, workers friend and art lover. Bought many of Gallen-Kallela's paintings.

Both fought on white side in 1918 Civil War. Both deserve their own episodes.. We'll see.. 🤔

19/04/2020

Hello fellow Coronians! Episode 2 is out! It contains surprise or three and though new mic technique is bit wonky for a moment with plosives and breaths, I really enjoyed producing this one!

Enjoy! And remember to answer! 😉🤩🥰

https://thofpodcast.podbean.com/e/2-seals-huts-and-ceramics-5200-3200bce-early-and-middle-neolithic-period/

Today we have really special episode! Big things happening with the podcast and with that I you need dear listener! Remember! Deadline is 26.4.2020! So tune in to find to found out what I’m blathering about!In our story we journey deeper into the woods and...

15/04/2020

Signe Viola Brander was born on 15.4.1869 in Parkano. After her father died in 1891, his widow moved to Helsinki with her 3 daughters.

Signe completed a "drawing teacher's course", but photography took her interest.

We are not sure where she learned to photograph, but she did work a while at Daniel Nyblin's photograph studio.

She developed her own distinct style and was hired (as a first female in Finland) 1907-1913 specially to photograph Helsinki. Her shots brings life to these every day events from over a hundred years ago. Later she also photographed different estates around Finland. A photographer extraordinaire!

If you're on Twitter, I highly recommend you follow these two bots, first one posts her original work and second one colorized versions made by algorithm. Which is no Marina Amaral, but surprisingly good quality. ! 🥰

&

https://www.helsinkikuvia.fi/collection/22/

Photograph by Signe Brander, Helsingin kaupunginmuseo

08/04/2020

Tsar Alexander I thought that Finnish capital Turku was located too close to Sweden, so he elevated Helsinki to the capital of Finland by edit on April 8, 1812. Helsinki had a population of about 8,000.

Back then Helsinki was a small town. We can't have that thought the Russian emperor and ordered that a modern center be built in Helsinki, modeled after St. Petersburg.

The German architect Carl Engel was responsible for the design of Helsinki. He designed the surroundings of Senate Square, for example. A church, a university and a building for the Senate was built. Helsinki now became a real capital. The architecture of Senate Square still reminds of the time of Russian rule.

Thanks Alexander I!

05/04/2020

Good news! Episode is now finished. Should become available to Spotify and Itunes later today.

https://thofpodcast.podbean.com/e/the-peninsula-8850-5200/

I couldn't find public domain picture from Baltic Ice Lake (c. 12 500-9600 BCE) but google helps the curious!

First one (with brown land) is The Yoldia Sea (c.9600-8800 BCE)
Second one The Ancylus Lake (c.8800-7200 BCE)
and finally The Littorina Sea (c. 7200)

04/04/2020

Ok. Little housekeeping!

Due technical difficulties, (had to start from scrach yesterday) the episode was published ... Aaand now it's gone! (managed to push it out of the lab by midnight, but Ofc quality turned out too poor)

I decided that it's better to be "day late, dollar short" and release the episode 1 Tomorrow on Sunday. I get to polish it and remix the introduction episode too. Apologies!

03/04/2020

Lesson of the day. Don't operate your Audacity projects straight from cloud. Or even use it to move unfinished project between laptop and desktop.. Might corrupt the file just when you're 95% done with editing and mixing.. Going to be long night to finish it for tomorrow...! 🤔😴

02/04/2020

On April 2nd 1942 Finland tries daylight saving for the first time to save power. This doesn't prove that useful and results in "summertime rebellion" in Orimattila. Farmers said it was: "Too harmful to agriculture."

Finland moves permanently to daylight savings shenanigans in 1981.

Lets hope we can soon get rid of this nonsense once and for all.

28/03/2020

Finally the first episode is live! Thank you all for tuning in and i hope you like it! The sound, pronunciation and the overall quality of the show will improve over time. :) Show should also appear to wherever you listen to your podcasts (Apple and Spotify take a few days to week though)

It seems our kids too make cameo in the end. Reminds of that UK correspondent and his lovely girl toddling the to the room. So decided to keep it. (read. too lazy to record it again)

Enjoy!

edit.

Other podcasts mentioned in this episode were:

https://player.fm/series/the-history-of-rome-79091 (History of Rome)
https://podtail.com/fi/podcast/revolutions/ (Revolutions)
https://historyoftheworldpodcast.com/ (History of the World)
https://www.footnotinghistory.com/ (Footnoting History)
https://partialhistorians.com/ (Partial Historians)
https://podtail.com/fi/podcast/history-is-sexy/ (History is Sexy, not "Sexy History" like i said) :)

Books/people mentioned in this episode were:

Daniel Juslenius - Vanha ja Uusi Turku (Aboa Vetus et Nova)
Henrik Gabriel Porthan (Finnish Livy)
Yrjö Sakari Yrjö-Koskinen - Oppikirja Suomen kansan historiassa (1869–1873)

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-8vcns-d7745b

Welcome to the History of Finland podcast. In this short introduction episode I'll cover the basics like what the podcast is and why do I make it. Subscribe now!

19/03/2020

Happy Minna Canth Day! (1844-1897) Day of Equality. Minna is known for her works that exposed the structures that oppressed women and the working classes, Minna Canth was a playwright, author and social activist who is widely admired for her pioneering views on equality.

As an independent, brilliant and brave woman she definitely deserves her own episode.

13/03/2020

Winter war ended on 13.3.1940.

War lasted for 105 days. Over 25,000 Finns lost their lives, and about 44,000 were wounded. Finland retained its independence but lost 11% of its territory to the Soviet Union.

Unfortunately there was also a sequel..

https://t.co/rNhC5mMA2u

Finland’s Winter War against the Soviet Union was brought to an end with the signing of a peace treaty between the two countries, which took effect on 13 March 1940. The war had lasted 105 days....

09/03/2020

Banker dies and leaves red wax sealed envelope. "Not to open before 2020"

Let me tell you, bankers notes are not what they used to be! (at least I'm hoping they don't write about their customers like that anymore..)

Bigger surprise awaits when city of Pori celebrates its 500th anniversary in 2058.

He also left chest behind.. (to be opened on 500th anniversary)

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_bankers_notebook_finally_opened_revealing_century-old_secrets/11246002

A museum in Pori will now decide how -- or if -- to display the notebook.