Our next program will be:

Friday, Februry 17, 7:30 p.m.
International Institute
1694 Como Ave., St. Paul

Laskiainen Celebration

Laskiainen is Finland’s celebration marking seven weeks before Easter. In England, it’s marked by Shrove Tuesday’s pancake flipping races and in New Orleans, it’s Mardi Gras, both the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten period. In Finland, it marks the coming of spring and increasing daylength.

Pea soup is traditionally eaten as Finns believed eating heavy foods would guarantee a good crop the following year. Buns filled with almond paste or jam and whipped cream are also traditional. It also marked the start of the long fast of Lent. (The ham bone was turned into a toy by tying it to a string and spinning it around to make a whistling noise.)

In southern Ostrobothnia, pannukakku or kropsua (an oven pancake) is served. Shrove Tuesday pancakes are a traditional food in much of Europe, not just England.

In modern times, it’s a celebration marked by pea soup, sledding and other outdoor activities. Sledding is connected to flax spinning as Laskianen marked the end of the flax spinning season. Spinning wheels had to be put away and the looms set up as only weaving was permitted during Lent. It was believed that whoever had the longest sled ride down a hill would grow the longest flax fiber.

This February we will again serve pea soup. Hernekeitto (pea soup) will be provided by FACA board members. Please bring a dish to share.

If your last name begins with A-F, please bring an appetizer to accompany the soup.
Last name beginning G-K: bread
Last name beginning L-R, dessert
Last name beginning S-Z, salad

See you at 7:30!