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The Finnish National Anthem
The Land
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| Ylistaro on bank of River Kyrö. |
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| River Kyrö, taken in Valtaala village in Isokyrö. Our Palo village is in the middle background. |
"Summer in Finland is a revel of beauty. After the long
grip of winter relaxes, spring comes with a rush, like a wild creature set free from a leash. Arriving in the country in early
June, one is lifted up on the rising wave of the summer. If June is true to her character, the sky and water are deepest blue
and the sun is never lost sight of except for the brief hour or two when it is quenched by the sea. This mystical interval
is so beautiful that it is hard to turn from it and sleep. The
land is lovely with a swiftly succeeding pageant of lilacs and fruit-blossom and wild roses, and the hills are covered with
the waving foliage and the white stems of delicate birches, like dancing maidens, and the more masculine beauty of pines and
firs. The rock-strewn meadows are brilliant with wild flowers.
One comes across many a characteristic Finnish scene:
cottages, all wooden, and often painted a brilliant red which blazes in the sunshine and looks cheerful in the winter, nestling
under rocky hills or lying close to a sunny bay, with fishing-nets stretched along the side walls; or peasants waiting on
the wooden piers for the uncertain advent of the little
steamer, whose arrival is the event of the day or even of the week; or a pine-clad hill from which one sees on either side
an alternation of forest and gleaming water until the eye becomes weary of distinguishing the successive stretches of and
looks down to the flower at one's feet."
--From FINLAND AND THE FINNS, Page 83, 86, by Arthur Reade,
1917
Photo Credits: Compliments of Kari T. "They are by Benjamin Pöntinen, professional photographer, artist,
and poet who published a book about the four neighboring municipalities Laihia, Isokyrö, Vähäkyrö and Ylistaro."
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| This is River Kyrö (Kyrönjoki) in Ylistaro, some 30 km south east from Isokyrö and east from Laihia. |
Our Land
Maamme Laulu
Our land, our land, our fatherland,
Sound loud, O name of worth!
No mount that meets the heaven's band.
No
hidden vale, no wavewashed strand.
Is loved, as is our native North. Our own forefathers' earth.
Thy blossom, in the bud laid low,
Yet ripened shall upspring.
See! From our love once more
shall grow
Thy light, thy joy, thy hope, thy glow!
And clearer yet one day shall ring The song our land shall sing.
Maamme
Oi maamme, Suomi, synnyinmaa!
Soi, sana kultainen!
Ei laaksoa, ei kukkulaa,
ei vettä rantaa rakkaampaa
kuin
kotimaa tää pohjoinen.
Maa kallis isien.
Sun kukoistukses kuorestaan
kerrankin puhkeaa;
viel' lempemme saa nousemaan
sun toivos, riemus
loistossaan,
ja kerran laulus, synnyinmaa
korkeemman kaiun saa.
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