Suomi-Koti Toronto Nursing Home Newsletter – February 2012
February, although an otherwise quiet month, is a month that’s rather full of significant dates in the Finnish almanac:
Sunday Feb. 5 th is Candlemas (Kynttilänpäivä). This is a day of celebration and ritual with both pagan and religious roots. Amongst other things, it has been celebrated as the approximate halfway point between solstices and equinoxes, as Groundhog Day, (the American legend of the groundhog’s shadow predicting the length of winter) and also as “Candlemas”. Candlemas is part of the church calendar (usually celebrated on the Sunday between Feb 2-8) and is a day for blessing the candles that are to be used during the coming year. It is a day of light and purification for Christians, based on the Jewish tradition of mothers making a pilgrimage for purification on the fortieth day after the birth of a male child. Candlemas celebrates Mary’s pilgrimage and the candlelight represents the coming of light to the world through the birth of Jesus. Although we won’t be celebrating Candlemas on Sunday, it will be included as part of the afternoon program/discussion on Monday February 6 th .
February 5 th is also J.L. Runeberg Day . Considered Finland’s national poet, it is said that his poems, which reflected on the beauty of the finnish landscape and the strength of the finnish personality, were an inspiration to the promoters of the Finnish Independence movement. Runeberg is the author of “Our Land” (Maamme), the first poem in the epic “Tales of Ensign Stal”, and the poem which became Finland’s national anthem.
Monday February 6th is Saami National Day . 2004 was the first year when the Saami National Day was listed in the Finnish almanac by The Almanac Office at the University of Helsinki. The Saami are an indigenous people of northern Europe. The date sixth of February comes from the year 1917, when Saami People from Norway and Sweden had their first meeting together in Trondheim. The Saami received their own flag in 1986 and they have ten official flag-raising days. Source: The Almanac Office at University of Helsinki We will be recognizing Saami National Day (along with Candlemas and Runeberg Day) at our Monday afternoon program, 3pm.
On both Wed Feb 8 and Wed Feb 22 , Tuula and Taina will be in at 1:30pm to host a spa afternoon for anyone who is interested. Come and get your hands/nails done, feel pampered.
On Thursday February 9 th , Norm Niskanen will entertain us with accordion music ( 2:30pm in the lounge). Come out to listen, tap your feet, sing or dance !
On Saturday February 11 th , the Alanko-Neale family will be hosting a special music program ; Time to be announced.
On Sunday February 12 th , the Finnish United Church will be here to hold a morning worship service. Also on Sunday February 12 th , there will be a spiritual music rating program (levyraati) in the lounge at 2:30pm.
Tuesday February 14 th is Valentine’s Day . Join us for a celebration of friendship and love, with music by Unto Mäkinen at 2:30pm in the Dining room (Note that the usual Tuesday afternoon bible study is cancelled for this date.)
Unto and Taina Mäkinen will be back on Saturday February 18 th to entertain us with song and accordion music, again at 230pm in the lounge. Welcome.
Sunday February 19 th is Laskiainen . Lunch will include the traditional pancakes and pea soup, as well as “laskiaispulla”.
Monday February 20 th is Family Day. Join John Sigvaldson at 2:30pm for a live and participatory music program ! Family members welcome!
Thursday February 23 rd is the date of the monthly birthday party , celebrating all residents born in February. The party will be in the B2 auditorium at 2:30pm. Best wishes to this months’ celebrants
Friday February 24 th is Estonia’s Independence Day. We will have an Independence Day celebration including coffee and pulla, music and poetry on Saturday February 25 th at 2:30pm. (Program will be in Estonian)
February 28 th is Kalevala Day and Finnish Culture Day. (The Kalevala is a collection of epic folk poetry, collected by Finnish folklorist Elias Lönnrot and first published in 1835 .) Although there will be no official program, we encourage staff, residents and volunteers to wear their national costume, Kalevala or other Finnish jewellery if they have, and/or to wear blue and white in recognition of this date.
And finally, Suomi-Koti Nursing Home’s fundraising bowling event is coming up on Saturday March 17 th , 1-4pm.
Bowlers needed ! We warmly welcome participants old and new; If you would be willing to put together a team of 4-6 bowlers, or if you would like to bowl on an existing team, please get in touch with the activity office for more information. Although there is no fee to bowl, all participants are asked to raise sponsorship and/or make a donation, with a goal of raising $100/person. (Sponsorship collection forms are available from the activity office or can be emailed to anyone who is interested in participating.)
Bowling experience/ability is not necessary! Sponsors and prize donations also welcome.
February 2012
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness Restorative 10-12:00 10-12:00 10-12:00 programs Restorative Restorative Restorative Afternoon 1:1 10.00 Resident 2:30 Coffee 11:00 Worship activities council Club/music with Service 11:30 Sing-along Tamara 3:00 Bingo 2:30 Discussion group 3:30 video 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Kynttilän- Saami National 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness päivä / Day 10-12:00 10-12:00 10-12:00 10-12:00 9:30 fitness Runeberg 10-12 Restorative Restorative Restorative Restorative 1:1 activities Day Restorative 2:30 Spiritual 11:30 Sing-along 2:30 Coffee 11:00 Worship 10:30 Hymns Study Group 1.30 Spa Club/ Accordion Service Music Progam 3:00 Candlemas 4-6pm 1:1 2:30 Discussion music with Norm 3:00 Bingo with Alanko- Runeberg AND activities group Niskanen Neale Family Saami Day 3:30 video Celebration 4.00 Finn News 6pm small group 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 11:00 United 10-12 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 9: 30 fitness Church Restorative 10-12:00 10-12:00 10-12:00 10-12:00 Restorative Service 10:30 Hymns Restorative Restorative Restorative Restorative programs 3:00 Monday 11:00 Trivia 11:30 Sing-along 2:30 Coffee 11:00 Worship 2:30 Music Activity 2:30 Valentines 2:30 Discussion Club/music with Service 2:30 Unto and Rating 4.00 Finnish Program with group Tamara Taina Makinen Program News Unto 3:30 video – music (Levyraati) 6pm small group 4-6pm 1:1 program activities 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Laskiais- Family Day Laskiainen 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 9:30 Fitness sunnuntai 9:30 fitness 9:30 fitness 10-12:00 10-12:00 10-12:00 Restorative 10:00 10-12:00 Restorative Restorative Restorative programs Heijastin 2.30 Music with Restorative 11:30 Sing-along 2:30 Birthday 11:00 Worship 2:30 Estonian video John 1.30 Spa Party B2 Service Independence Sigvaldson 4-6pm 1:1 2:30 Discussion 3:00 Day Program activities group Bingo 4.00 Finnish 6:00 News Pizza & Movie
26 27 28 29 10-12 Kalevala Day 9:30 fitness 10 Heijastin Restorative 9:30 fitness 10-12:00 video 10:30 Hymns 10-12:00 Restorative 3:00 Monday Restorative 11:30 Sing-along Activity 11:00 Trivia 2:30 Discussion 4.00 Finnish 2:30 Spiritual group News Study Group 3:30 video 6pm small group 4-6pm 1:1 activities