Finnish American Lives

A 1982 portrait of traditional Finnish American culture in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, highlighting the fragile community of memory connecting one with parents and grandparents.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Finnish
• American
• Lives
• Farmers
• Michigan
• Traditions
• folkstreams
• folkstreamer

[finnfellow]

I' m sorry to say but the music sucks at the beginning on this video... I mean, it doesn't sound even finnish... however, thanks for posting this :)!

[uudrakgvens94]

i love USA , people that come of different countries to make their lifes here , thats what about USA is all about , and i like more if they are of finnish orign and still speaking finnish :9

[ProudFinn1]

Yep, biggest Finnish community in the United States. My grandparents lived in Ishpeming. Well, at least my grandma still does( miss you Papa). My cousins to. it's such a great community with proud Finn's. Who are die hard Packers fans. wish i lived up there in da U.P, with all dem Yoopers. But sadly, i live in Cali.

[femmesusan1]

These people are my famliy. 100% Pure Finn. 12 uncles 1 aunt and my mom from my gramma And more than 48 first cousins. My grammpa was hilarious. Finnish is considered one of the most difficult languages to speak in the world. Yo. I laughed when I found this!

[GreedAndSelfishness]

Nice finnish accent.

[mustakoira]

Ihana perhe!!!

[tontsa911]

@califinn I think you're right :)

Tolkien himself created quenya (the elvish language) based on our language.

But then again it's not that useful language.

[califinn]

I wish I could speak Finnish...it is the most unique sounding language on the planet.

[mustakoira]

For sure they are Karelians!!!



[seyaoo]

The first tune is "Ziguenerweisen" orig. Hungarian I think, meaning"Mustalainen" or gypsy in Finnish. I think the accompanying instrument is the mandolin much in use in early 1900s. If you like, type Mustalainen Annikki Tähti in the search box; this song is very popular in Finland because it tells about wandering peoples like gypsies but later it came to be a kind of immigrants' lamentation; it's nostalgic and Finns love sad songs!

[dumpxxx]

this is indeed a Finnish folk song from the border region with Russia .The documentary was produced by Dr.Michael Loukinen and Northern Michigan University.