Tomorrow, FinnFest starts in Duluth. It is an annual event that has been held all over the United States. According to the website, “FinnFest USA creates a broad national community involving all Finnish Americans, Finnish citizens living in America, and all Americans interested in Finland and/or Finnish America.”

Duluth, and northeastern Minnesota generally, is filled with Finns (and Saami, the indigenous people of Finland; there is even a town called Finland, Minnesota, just a bit northeast of Duluth. So the fit is natural.

Over the next few days, I’ll share some Finnish thoughts, trivia and reflections — facts like these: The Finnish-American author “Beatrice Ojakangas grew up in Floodwood, Minnesota, and has made her home in Duluth. She has authored more than 30 cookbooks,” according to Lake Superior Magazine.

The poem below is from Richard Impola’s translation of the Kalevala. (I picked it up at the Two Harbors Public Library Book Sale two years ago — it at last has a use!)

Today, a light and playful poem about getting spiffied up (perhaps to attend a festival).