Chester Monument Ceremony
2017-06-11 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | PA
Sylvia and Earl Seppälä at the Chester Monument
The tradition continues on Sunday June 11 at 3pm, when FASDV and DVFA (Delaware Valley Finnish-Americans) together honor the Finns and Swedes, who came to the Delaware Valley in 1638 and thus became the first permanent European settlers in the Tri-State area. They developed friendly relationships with the Lenape and Susquehannock Indians and learned invaluable skills from them that helped them survive and eventually thrive in the new continent.
The ceremony begins at 3pm on Sunday, June 11, followed by a dinner at 4pm at the Embers Restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, off of I-95 at Naamans Road exit.

Finnish Movie Night
2017-05-28 16:20 - 17:30 | Ritz at the Bourse, 400 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, United States
Join FASDV for a Finnish (fully subtitled) movie night
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (Hymyilevä mies)
on Sunday, May 28 at 4:20pm
at the Ritz at the Bourse, at 400 Ranstead Street, on 4th Street between Chestnut and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
(Alternate movie times: 1:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:40pm, opening on May 26.)
The true story of Olli Mäki, the famous Finnish boxer who had a shot at the 1962 World Featherweight title. Immensely talented and equally modest, Olli’s small town life is transformed when he is swept into national stardom and suddenly regarded as a symbol of his country. There’s only one problem: Olli is falling in love. Inside the ring, it’s Finland vs. the USA, but outside, boxing and romance become unlikely adversaries vying for Olli’s attention. Captured entirely in 16mm black and white film, this widely-celebrated feature debut from Juho Kuosmanen was awarded the Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
“The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (Hymyilevä mies) is a portrait of a man who is ultimately a nurturer rather than a destroyer – in spite of punching people for a living — and it’s one of the best films of the year.”

Beyond the Atlantic: Finland's Independence Viewed from across the Sea
2017-05-21 14:00 - 15:00 | American Swedish Historical Museum, 1900 Pattison Ave, Philadelphia, 19145, United States
Marianne Wargelin
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Finland this year, you are invited to a free lecture Beyond the Atlantic: Finland’s Independence Viewed from across the Sea, presented by author and historian Marianne Wargelin on Sunday May 21 at 2pm at the American Swedish Historical Museum.
In the lecture, Wargelin will take a new vibrant look at how Finland arrived at independence and maintained its independence in the 20th century. She will examine the vision and bravery of its citizens, who were willing to pay a huge price and endure an enormous sacriﬁce, and how they played a pivotal role in the destiny of Finland. The uniqueness of her lecture is in how she takes a fresh look at the country’s historic and contemporary details through the lens of the Finnish diaspora living in the US.
Marianne Wargelin has co-authored Women Who Dared: The History of Finnish American Women and published numerous essays and articles on Finnish and Finnish American folklore, popular culture and the arts. She studied at the Universities of Michigan and Minnesota and is currently completing her dissertation at the University of Tampere, Finland. She lives in Minneapolis, MN. She became an Honorary Consul of Finland in 1999 and President of FinnFestUSA in 2004. ~

FASDV annual meeting
2017-05-21 12:45 - 14:00 | American Swedish Historical Museum, 1900 Pattison Ave, Philadelphia, 19145, United States
FASDV Annual Meeting will take place at ASHM on May 21 at 12:45pm, just prior to the Marianne Wargelin lecture. All are welcome.
