It is getting close now. This is now proven by the fact that I have started to hear hints about the Finnish tradition of the new dad throwing a party for his male friends to celebrate the newcomer. Varpajaiset siis.
I started thinking about the etymology of the word varpajaiset (I probably should not have). The literal translation is somehing like "the toeing". Yeah, I know. Sounds spooky. There seem to be several theories for the background of the name - but it seems to originate from the western side of Finland. It either has to do with the belief that the baby will not sprout toes before the dad's friends get their share of party (some weird beliefs, huh?), or about the fact that "the worst is over when you can see the toes". Or in a more mundane fashion, a requirement for the party is to count the number of toes and if it is a perfect ten, the baby is perfect - what a cause for jubilation! I actually like the "worst is over" -school of thinking - although I do believe that the worst hits only when the kid gets to the teenage years, and most likely you get to see the toes a few times by then.
The party itself? Yes, of course it involves drinking. It is a Finnish tradition. Duh. Tradition also stipulates cigars. Ladies are discriminated against, i.e., only males allowed. In the old fashioned way it is celebrated already the first night after the baby is born, when the mom is still hospitalized. Modern men, of course, are there for the family in the beginning, and only after a few days does their conscience allow the level of happiness / drunkenness proper for varpajaiset - which also allows proper preplanning by the friendly entourage of co-toers.
No, this is not an invitation.
1 comment:
Varpajaiset, rotinat (Russian: rodiny), pirttipussit etc. are old traditions but varpajaiset is not originally a party of men. I won't translate following text but Finnish speaking readers can comment on this:"…1800-luvun etnografit Eljas Raussi ja Johannes Häyhä antavat aikansa itäsuomalaisten maalaisyhteisöjen juomakulttuurista vivahteikkaan kuvan. Raussi kertoo viinaa käytetyn synnytyksen yhteydessä lieventämään äidin kipuja ja vahvistamaan häntä. Lopuksi synnytyksessä avustaneet ”asianaiset” ryyppäsivät varpajaisia ja ravitsivat itseään voilla, lihalla ja leivällä.
"(Tiede magazine 6/2003)
Short summary: Varpajaiset was a party of women, who were helping during childbirth. Party involved drinking and eating. ;-)
Have a nice party!
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