Independence Day

The last 6th of December, Finns had the Finland's National Day in which the independence from Russia is mostly celebrated. For those who might not know, Finland played a difficult role during the 2nd World War. Whereas most European countries suffered and fought against Nazism, Finland was invaded by Russia. And naturally, had to fight against those who wanted to enforce Finns to live under the shadow of the sickle and the hammer. According to the Russian style, Helsinki was being cowardly bombarded while the Kremlin claimed that Russian airplanes were only dropping bread to poor Finnish people. Fucking Putin (In Spanish "Puto Putin") does not give a damn about people starving in his on country and Stalin...well he did not even cared about his own soldiers. Actually, I was thinking that would be great if a new Russian Revolution would take place to replace all this thugs by a Lenin of the XXI century. The thing is that a peaceful and until that moment, neutral small country had to fight against the great Red enemy and obviously, they needed some help. Germany was the most likely allied since Hitler and communism did not get along well with each other. We all know how it ended for Germany. Finland surrendered after a long and bloody winter war and became one of bad guys in world History for fighting together with Nazism against Russia , and therefore, against the allied countries during the second world war. Normal Finns were enforced to get into the battle to defende their own families and land, culture and freedom against the invader. In a situation like this, nowadays, they would have been labelled as terrorists. Actually, Russia, in that time, invented excuses to start the war, allocating the responsability of the invasion on the other side. In addition, they assured that they had nothing against Finns, they were actually determined to fight for their freedom although Russia killed unspecifically men, women and children. Does it sound familiar to me????
I was telling all this cause we were invited by Eero Puolanne to celebrate that day with us. As usual, a simple but emotive and solemn happening. We were in a graveyard transformed in a huge park where most of those who gave their lives fighting in the Winter War are buried. In there you can also find the tomb of Mannerheim, the leader of the Finn army, President of the country some years after the war and generally known as National hero. It sounds weird but I prefered to accompany my Finnish friends to this short visit to the graveyard than watching on TV the traditional reception of the current President. She invites the most relevant personalities in the country, including the Finnish winners of the Euro Dancing (I did not even know that contest existed...) and participants of the Finnish version of the Idol program...Sad although most Finns assist excited and moved to the superficial and posh happening. In Spain, the happening of the National Day (Parade of the Army) which is quite spectacular is followed by a minority. The Spanish Prince gives every year prizes (Asturias Prince Award) to relevant people around the world (Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, Yasser Arafat, Al Gore, Nelson Mandela, Jane Goodall, Lance Amstrong, Michael Schumacher o even Google, have been awarded) and the program is followed by a few. I felt relief somehow when a Finn told me that the main interest for watching the reception at the Presidential Palace is taking a look to the dresses and critizise them all. I could join to that. After the visit, we had a Lappish dinner with deer meat on mash potatoes and lingonberries. Puolanne's family is our second family here in Finland. We really feel at home when we stay with them. Their kindness, intelligence and sense of homour are in need in this country. More Puolannes in Finland please!