Finland at 109: The Courage to Imagine a Future
On December 6, Finland celebrates 109 years of independence.
It is easy to take that for granted today. Finland is a prosperous Nordic democracy, known for its education, trust, innovation and happiness. Yet just over a century ago, an independent Finland existed mainly in the imagination of people willing to risk everything for a future they might never see.
Lately, I have spent considerable time researching the extraordinary life of my relative Isak Anton Alfthan (1888–1955). Born in Viborg under Russian imperial rule, he became involved in Finland’s independence movement at a young age and devoted much of his life to intelligence work and defending Finnish sovereignty.
What strikes me most is how uncertain everything was. Independence was never inevitable. Finland’s institutions, political rights and place in Europe were under pressure. Isak and his contemporaries made extraordinary sacrifices without knowing whether their efforts would succeed.
Their courage feels particularly relevant today. We live in another period of uncertainty, when democracy, security and international cooperation face serious challenges. Finland’s story reminds us that the future is shaped by people willing to imagine something better, and then patiently build it.
Perhaps that is sisu at its best: not simply enduring hardship, but persistently working toward a future worth having.
Here in New England, generations of Finnish immigrants have built lasting communities. Celebrating 100 years of sauna at U.K.T.S. in Pembroke with the Finnish School, and attending FinnFunn in Troy, New Hampshire, reminded me how traditions endure when one generation welcomes the next.
As Finland’s Honorary Consul, I see that same spirit in the entrepreneurs, researchers, students, volunteers and friends of Finland who continue to strengthen our transatlantic ties.
On Saturday, December 5, we will gather with Finlandia Foundation Boston for our Finnish Independence Day Gala in Cambridge. I hope to see you there to celebrate our history, reconnect with friends and welcome new faces. The invitation is open to you, your family and your friends.
And as we light our Independence Day candles on December 6, let us remember those who imagined Finland before it existed as a country, and consider what future we are building for the generations to come.
Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää!
Dr. Henrik Totterman
Honorary Consul of Finland to the City of Boston and the New England States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont
In This Issue:
- You’re Invited: Finland’s 109th Independence Day Gala, December 5. Buy tickets by November 19!
- Finland in Eight Questions: A New Monthly Card
- Two Nobel Laureates and a Finnish Connection
- Sisu, Community and Sauna at FinnFunn
- 100 Years of Löyly at U.K.T.S.
- U.S. Policy Signals for Finland and New England
- Closing Note: The Fall Invitation
You’re Invited: Finland’s 109th Independence Day Gala
Saturday, December 5, 2026 · from 6:30 pm · Lingo Café and Bar, Cambridge, MA
Every December, Finns around the world light two candles in their windows and celebrate the day Finland became independent. This year we warmly invite you to celebrate with us, whether you’re Finnish, Finnish-American, have Finnish roots, or are simply a friend of Finland. If you love saunas, happiness, sisu, hard rock or Finlandia, there’s a seat at our table for you. Bring a friend!
Finlandia Foundation Boston and the Honorary Consulate of Finland are hosting an elegant evening with a true Nordic atmosphere:
- A Finnish-inspired buffet dinner
- A high school honor choir singing Maamme and the Finlandia Hymn
- Live jazz throughout the evening
- Greetings from the Honorary Consul of Finland
- Good company, mingling and a toast to Finland and friendship
Last year more than 100 guests filled the room, so this year we’ve moved to a larger venue to welcome even more of you. Seating is limited, so reserve your place early.
👉 Get your tickets by November 19: Click Here
Want to do more? Host and Community Supporter packages help keep Finnish culture and community thriving in New England. Every supporter receives a written acknowledgment from Finlandia Foundation Boston for their donor records. You can also become a member here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/annual-gala-finnish-independence-day-109th-celebration
Finlandia Foundation Boston is a nonprofit, and every ticket supports our work. We can’t wait to celebrate with you on December 5!
Erika Verkkonen, President, Finlandia Foundation Boston Henrik Totterman, Honorary Consul of Finland
The groove from last years gala dinner party
Finland in Eight Questions: A New Monthly Card
What can a small, cold country of 5.6 million people teach the rest of us about creating value?
Quite a lot, it turns out. Starting this month, each issue of New England Finns will feature one card from my customer value card series. Each card pairs a practical idea with a story from Finland: a company, a tradition or a piece of everyday Finnish good sense that individuals, businesses and even whole societies can learn from.
The cards are built around eight areas that together describe how value is created:
- Uncomfortably Narrow Customer: knowing exactly who you serve
- Customer Problem: understanding what really hurts
- Value Proposition: offering something worth choosing
- Priorities: deciding what matters most
- Performance: measuring what counts
- People: building the team and culture
- Partners & Key Resources: not doing it alone
- Creative Leadership: setting the direction
Each month we’ll move to the next area, from 1 to 8, and then potentially start again. Every card ends with a little Finland trivia. Make your guess, and you’ll find the answer at the very bottom of the newsletter. No scrolling ahead!
This month’s card comes from Area 1, Uncomfortably Narrow Customer. It features a famous Finnish company that won the world by first solving one very specific problem. Can you guess which sport started it all
Two Nobel Laureates and a Finnish Connection
Recently I joined a fireside chat with Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu about his newest book, led by Mary Yntema. A fellow Finn was in the room too: Helsinki-born Bengt Holmström, Nobel laureate in Economics in 2016. Acemoglu’s pin made him an honorary Finn for the night and beyond! 😉
Finland came up more than once as an example of a Nordic liberal economy that pairs open markets with high trust and shared prosperity. Not bad for a small country!
Next up for me: reading the book.
Sisu, Community, and Sauna at FinnFunn
A few weeks ago I had the honor of giving the keynote at FinnFunn in New Hampshire. The evening was full of energy, good conversations and a real sense of community.
I took the chance to thank Anita for her vision, more than 30 years ago, of bringing Finnish communities across New England together. What foresight! Today FinnFunn is bigger than ever, with several generations celebrating our heritage and shaping what comes next.
Our strength comes from solid roots and a confident lean toward the future. In uncertain times, a little sisu and the connections we share go a long way.
Kiitos to everyone who made it so memorable! I hope to see you all again soon at the Independence Day Gala.
100 Years of Löyly at U.K.T.S.
The Suomi-koulu season opened this fall at the U.K.T.S. sauna in Pembroke, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year! It was wonderful to see Finnish language, traditions and togetherness bringing generations together, with kids and adults alike catching up over löyly in the best possible company. A warm kiitos to everyone who keeps this century-old tradition alive.
Keep the celebration going! Join us on Saturday, December 5 for the 109th Finnish Independence Day Gala in Cambridge, MA. Families, Suomi-koulu friends, sauna lovers and friends of Finland are all welcome.
U.S. Policy Signals for Finland and New England
US–Finland ties have been busy this fall. Here’s what’s worth knowing.
Technology and critical minerals. On October 29 in Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen signed a Technology Prosperity Deal and a Critical Minerals Framework. Together they cover cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and energy infrastructure. Earlier this year, Finland also joined Pax Silica, an initiative to secure supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals and AI infrastructure. For New England’s AI, quantum and deep-tech ecosystem, this opens new doors for Finnish–American research and business partnerships.
Icebreakers. The Arctic partnership is now real business. The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded contracts for eleven new icebreakers, four of which will be built in Finland, at Helsinki Shipyard and Rauma Marine Constructions. The first new vessels are expected to enter service in 2028. It is the first time the United States is building icebreakers in another country.
Trade. The EU–US trade deal is now in force. The EU removes duties on US industrial goods, and a 15% tariff ceiling applies to most EU exports to the US. Steel and aluminum are not covered. For New England companies buying from or selling to Finland, that brings welcome predictability.
Security, with a New England link. The bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement gives US forces access to 15 facilities and areas in Finland. New Hampshire’s own Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met President Alexander Stubb at the 2026 NATO Summit.
Closer to home. Massachusetts and Nova Scotia signed an agreement in February to cooperate on offshore wind and regional power sharing. It’s a reminder that New England’s energy future is increasingly North Atlantic, an area where Nordic know-how is well known.
Closing Note: The Fall Invitation
Fall is the season of follow-through. The connections we made this year, at Independence Gala Dinner, FinnFunn, around the sauna benches of U.K.T.S., at fireside chats and in the halls of Washington, now become something more lasting: partnerships, friendships and a stronger Finnish–American community.
This December we celebrate 109 years of a Finland that someone once had the courage to imagine. My invitation is simple: join us on December 5, bring a friend, and help write the next chapter together, remember to get tickets by November 19th.
THE NEF - NEW ENGLAND FINNS NEWSLETTER
Connecting New England, Finland, and the Nordic region through trade, education, culture, and community.
Founded from the enthusiasm of Finnish New Englanders, NEF follows our shared journey — past, present, and future. Our community now includes 3,100+ LinkedIn followers and many more readers through email and the NEF blog.
Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Henrik Totterman, Honorary Consul of Finland to Boston and the New England states of MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT.
Next Issue: #30 — December 2026