Juhannus
2002
by
Leona House and Jean Lindblad
| Since 1997 the Finger Lakes Finns have been gathering at South View, home of Hemmo and Patty Huttunen, for Juhannus. Each year attendance has grown and this year saw a record breaking attendance of over one hundred thirty people. The weather was perfect for swimming, sauna, tractor pulled wagon rides, fishing, or bull frog hunting. Live entertainment was provided by Oliver Lindblad, on a large accordion. Richard Koski played button accordion, five string kantele and his own composition, the “Sauna Boogie” on piano. B'roke Ensemble, a trio consisting of Katrina Washburn Mackey, Kaarin Washburn, and Lars Washburn, played several selections on wind instruments and piano. Jim Loomis treated us to several tunes with his very skilled playing of the mouth organ. Mia Boynton sang sing-along songs while accompanying herself on the guitar. Leona House read her poetry, including her two latest poems, Glacier and Music of Kantele. Table after table was filled with both traditional Finnish and American foods which tempted hungry Juhannus attendees. Coffee and pulla, of course, were just a few of the items on the dessert table. A special treat of two kokkos greeted Juhannus celebrants. A second kokko was built on land in case the raft on which the first kokko was built sank! It didn’t sink and we were treated to the firing of both kokkos. |