Spring Newsletter 2018

Page 2
FINLAND 100
LAGOM
There’s a curiosity surrounding
Scandinavian summer homes; the luxury
of having a second home, a normal
trend for Scandinavians, seems out of
reach for those of us imagining supersize
houses equipped with large TVs and
outdoor pools. If you take a look at the
real ‘stugas,’ or cabins, in Sweden, they
are typically small with just enough room
and amenities for the family, sometimes
without running water or electricity, and
almost always nestled in nature and
close to water. These cottages get at the
essence of a new Nordic lifestyle trend:
lagom. The Swedish term refers to living life
in moderation by not having too much nor
too little.
Lagom parallels the view of Scandinavians
as minimalists, especially seen in their
architecture and modern design, and
the widespread belief in equality. The
word originated from the Viking phrase,
‘laget om’ which translates to, “around
the team,” meaning you should only take
a small sip of the aquavit being passed
around so there’s enough for all. Finding
balance, being satisfied with what you
have, and living life in the middle ground
are all aspects of the lagom lifestyle. It is
a cutting out of excess and extremism,
and has a fair amount of criticism from
those who see it as conforming to the
Scandinavian bland practicality. It is a
restrained pleasure, that harks back to
‘hygge’ with a focus on enjoying what
you have; what you need versus what you
want. A little balance might be just what
we all need; a cabin in the woods, where
the sky is your TV and the ocean your
swimming pool. •
In honor of the 100 TH anniversary of Finland’s
independence from Russia, a 6 foot-tall, 2,200-pound
piece of Finnish bedrock granite, the Finnish
Independence Monument, was erected and unveiled
in a ceremony on Saturday, January 6, at Nordia
House, one month after the 100 TH anniversary.
The unveiling ceremony included music by Con
Fuoco, a speech by Vesa Vihavainen, Finland’s
Honorary Consul in Oregon, and a blessing by the
pastor of the Finnish Church, Seppo Airas, as well
as a presentation and poetry reading by Katariina
Lehtonen, who was instrumental in this project.
Three organizations sponsored the creation of the
monument: Finlandia Foundation Columbia-Pacific
Chapter (FFCPC), the Finnish-American Historical
Society of the West, and the Messiah Lutheran
Finnish Church of Portland. •