Dancing at Midsummer

Photo courtesy of David and Marianne Bournes

We kicked off our Midsummer Celebration with a traditional Finnish dance this year. Everyone joined hands in a circle as Marja Leena Keast explained the simple steps and repeated the Finnish lyrics for us a couple of times. We got the hang of the steps all right, but for most of us, the lyrics remained a bit of a mystery! It was a wonderful icebreaker and it definitely put us all in the mood to celebrate the beautiful weather at our hosts’ lovely home on the Gatineau River.

Around 45 members of the CNS and Canadian Friends of Finland, Ottawa, joined the celebration this year, with great company, lots of delicious food and our traditional Nordic sing-along led by CNS President Trygve Ringereide and accompanied by Margit Viia-Maiste. There was a song for each of the five Nordic countries as well as a couple of Canadian songs in English and French. I must say that participation in the singalong this year was excellent and much appreciated.

Singalong photo courtesy of Marian McLennan

From left to right, Marja Leena Keast, Marja Leena Majeed, Mirja Kapsalis, President of the Canadian Friends of Finland, Ottawa, Margit Viia-Maiste, and Raija Hilska. Thank you Raija for providing the photo, and thank you Nui Esser, who took it!