Karhu Kylkeänsä Kääntää: The Bear Rolls Over! Heikinpäivä mid-winter celebration kicks off in Hancock
HANCOCK — It’s mid-winter and the bear is rolling over in his den. Heikinpäivä celebrates Finnish heritage and snow in the city of Hancock. Just like its sister city Porvoo, Finland – Hancock is no stranger to frigid temps and heavy snowfall. Finnish folks are known for being resilient, hence the popular phrase “SISU” meaning determination or bravery.
Proving that fact – Heikinpäivä is a mid-winter festival embracing this climate. The weeks-long festival snowballs starting in December with a series of downtown events like the ongoing Snowflake Challenge at Sew Cranky and the Hobby Horse Hoedown this Friday, Jan. 19.
The event peaks Saturday, Jan. 27 with the Heikinpäivä Parade on Quincy Street at 11 a.m., the Spiral Bear Dance, Wife Carrying Contest, and kick sled races. New this year: take a quick polar plunge on the Quincy Green. End your night with the Iltamat (dance and food) at the Finnish American Heritage Center from 7-10 p.m.
