Finnish spare time activities

1. WHAT DO FINNS DO
IN THEIR SPARE TIME ?

2. WHAT DO FINNS LIKE DOING?
 One of the most popular pastimes is LUKEMINEN (reading).
 There are KIRJASTOT (libraries) in every city, and KIRJASTOAUTOT (mobile libraries) serve readers in the countryside.
 Most Finns read at least one SANOMALEHTI (newspaper), usually a PAIKALLISLEHTI (local paper), like KARJALAINEN in eastern Finland, and the
largest national newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat
 nowadays many read newspapers and e-books also via iPad or other portable devices.
 Using the INTERNET or NETTI is also popular, especially hanging out on SOSIAALINEN MEDIA (social media) like Facebook; many
watch TELEVISIO or TELKKARI (TV) and listen to the radio, especially in the morning when driving to work.
 MUSIIKKI (music) of all kinds is immensily popular, from HEVI (heavy rock) to METALLI (metal music), ISKELMÄ (hit music) and OOPPERA (opera).
People of all ages visit FESTARIT (rock-festivals) ,eg. in Joensuu, Turku, and Seinäjoki during the summer.
 Also URHEILU and ULKOILU (sports and outdoor exercise) are popular pastimes, especially JÄÄKIEKKO (ice-hockey). Also Finnish PESÄPALLO
(baseball) is well-liked, and HIIHTO (skiing) in the winter. We have VALAISTUT LADUT (illuminated skiing tracks) in winter. Many Finns also
like to PYÖRÄILLÄ (cycle).
 Having a SAUNA or SAUNOMINEN is among Finnish hobbies. SAUNAVASTA or –VIHTA is a kind of whisk used in the sauna
to enhance the effect of heat by gently beating oneself with it.
In winter, some go swimming in AVANTO (a hole in the ice) in the frozen lake afterwards.

3. LAVATANSSITOPEN-AIR DANCEFINNISHCULTURE, ESPECIALLYIN THEEAST, IS FILLEDWITHSADNESS. LISTEN TO TANGO SINGERS -> MELANKOLIA(MELANCHOLYTONES). SAMESADNESSIS ALSOHEARDIN THELYRICSBYONEOF OURMOSTFAMOUSPOETS, EINOLEINO: ->LAPIN KESÄ (BY VESA-MATTI LOIRI). DARKUNDERTONESAREPRESENTEVERYWHEREIN MUSIC, IN -> ISKELMÄ (POPULARMUSIC AND HITS), -> ROKKI(ROCK), AND -> KANSANMUSIIKKI(FOLK MUSIC). ->ONEOF THEMOSTPOPULARSONGSIN RECENTYEARS(BYJENNI VARTIAINEN) NOTALLMUSIC IS SUBMISSIVETO FAITH-> LISTEN TO -> MAIJA VILKKUMAA AN EXCEPTIONOF THEMELANCHOLICTRAITIS THESWEDISH-SPEAKINGCULTURE, WHICHIS MORECHEERFULAND OPTIMISTIC.
Thesoundofanaccordion,guitarandviolinechoesacrossthelakesurface,thedarkshadowsofthewhitebirchtrunksarereflectedinthebluewater,andtheinvitationofalightedopen-airdancepavilioncanbeheardfromfaraway.
Amanandwomanareholdingeachotherclosely.Itisimpossibleforanoutsidertoknowwhethertheyhavedancedtogetherforfiveminutesorfivedecades,andwhethertheywillpartafterthedanceforever,orstaytogetherfortherestoftheirlives.
Theopen-airdancepavilioncultureisrootedinFinnishhistory.Post-warFinlandsawtheconstructionofthousandsofopen-airdancepavilionsacrossthecountry.Amidstthestrugglewithwarreparations,supplyshortages,andreconstruction,thedancepavilionsprovidedasensualdimensioninotherwisewearylife.
-> SEE TRANSLATION INTO FINNISH BELOW
Ari Ellert_flickr_CC_BY-NC2.0

4. THE SOUND OF THE ACCORDION, GUITAR AND VIOLIN ECHOES ACROSS THE LAKE SURFACE, THE DARK SHADOWS OF THE WHITE BIRCHTRUNKS ARE REFLECTED IN THE BLUE WATER, AND THE INVITATION OF A LIGHTED OPEN-AIR DANCE PAVILIONCAN BE HEARD FROM FAR AWAY. A MANAND WOMANARE HOLDING EACH OTHER CLOSELY. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR AN OUTSIDER TO KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE DANCED TOGETHER FOR FIVE MINUTES OR FIVE DECADES, AND WHETHER THEY WILL PART AFTER THE DANCE FOREVER OR STAY TOGETHER FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
HAITARIN ÄÄNI, KITARA JA VIULU KAIKUVAT JÄRVEN VEDENPINNAN HALKI,
VALKOISTEN KOIVUNRUNKOJEN TUMMAT VARJOT HEIJASTUVAT SINISEEN VETEEN,
JA VALAISTUN LAVATANSSILAVAN KUTSUN VOI KUULLA KAUKAA.
MIES JA NAINEN PITELEVÄT TOISIAAN TIUKASTI.
ULKOPUOLISEN ON MAHDOTONTA TIETÄÄ, OVATKO HE TANSSINEET YHDESSÄ VIISI MINUUTTIA VAI VIISI VUOSIKYMMENTÄ,
JA AIKOVATKO HE EROTA TANSSIN JÄLKEEN IKUISIKSI AJOIKSI
VAI PYSYÄ YHDESSÄ LOPPUELÄMÄNSÄ.
In thesummer, -> LAVATANSSITand -> FESTARITbothgatherpeopletogetherfor basicallythesamereasons: for themusic, for themagicalwhite nights, and RAKKAUS(love).
HAITARI
KITARA
VIULU
JÄRVI
VESI
KOIVUT
VARJOT
LAVA
KUTSU
MIES
NAINEN
TANSSI
LOPPUELÄMÄ
Javi_CC_by-NC2.0

5. •DescribetheMÖKKI(cottage)youseein thepictureabove.
•Join theFinnsin theSAUNA. –WhydoyouthinkFinnslovetheirsauna traditions?
•WhatcanyoutellabouttheLUONTO(nature)?
Whichtreeis this?
Whatis happening here?

6. REVIEW
Whatkindof musicdoFinnslike?
Whatis meantbyLAVATANSSIT?
Whichdifferentsportingactivitiesdoa lotof Finnsenjoyin thewinter?
Learntheverbsbelow, and thenamesof theseasons, and findthefollowingwordsin Finnish: VOCABULARY -verbs:
KERTOA to tell, describe
ULKOILLAto dooutdoorexercise
HIIHTÄÄto ski
VIETTÄÄto spend
LUKEAto read
SOITTAAto play (an instrument)
PELATAto play
LENKKEILLÄto runorwalkfor fitness
Monthsof theYear:
TAMMI-, HELMI-, MAALIS-, HUHTI-, TOUKO-, KESÄ-, HEINÄ-, ELO-, SYYS-, LOKA-, MARRAS-, JOULUKUU
VUODENAJAT(seasons):
TALVIwinter
KEVÄTspring
KESÄsummer
SYKSYautumn
-> Exercise
HARRASTUS
LUKEMINEN
JÄÄKIEKKO
URHEILU
SANOMALEHTI
KIRJASTO
KOIVU
KOKKO
RAKKAUS
Ritva Tammi 2014