Finnish Independence Day 2020
Candle End
Constance’s human family has Finnish antecedents, so she has been helping to make candles…collecting candle wicks and lumps of beeswax..
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Aluminium
…and the aluminium shells leftover after burning tea lights…
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Wicks
…and we bought some wicks, already inserted into candle bases.
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Melt
Then we melted the beeswax in a dedicated pyrex measuring cup in a pan of water over medium low heat.
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stick
We dipped a wick into the melted wax, and fixed it to the bottom of a tea light shell…
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Pour
…and poured the melted wax into the shells.
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Tea Lights
…and made tea-lights (40 of them!).
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Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää
On December 6th, Finns and people with Finnish ancestry place two candles in the window, to show that people would find a safe haven in the house during times of oppression.
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Happy 103 years of Independence, Finland!
On Finnish Independence Day 2011 Constance and Tansy became involved in a great Reindeer Saga, the entire story can be seen by following this link Start by reading the bottom post first – they are in reverse order for some reason.
A great on-line Finnish Advent Calendar can be found here…
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Your celebration of Finland’s Independence Day is as soft and fragrant as the melted beeswax burning warmly in your window. I know I would find solace if I walked past your house and saw your window. I would seek refuge there. I know I have already found refuge there, each day that I come to view and read a Quimper Hitty post. Thank you so much and may blessings flow to the Finnish descendants in your home.
We love the smell of beeswax – my grandfather kept bees, and my mother used to dip taper candles with us when I was little. It always smells like Christmas to me…and the two candles in the window was a message of hope, and I think it still is!
So Beautiful, Blessing and Happiness to you all, Thank you, Love, nia
Thank you so much, Nia, I wish the same for you and your loved ones!
Very inspiring and interesting! Thank you!
You are welcome…we are glad to have saved the candle-ends and the little cups… and extra glad to have found a source for the wicks! Everything came together at just the right moment!
I love this Hugs from one of your Finnish pals
From Ann Rogers
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Thanks so much Ann – I remember our Finnish expedition fondly, and I’m so glad you introduced us to the Regatta Cafe!
The tea lights look so welcoming. This is a beautiful custom. Happy Finnish Independence Day. The great Reindeer Saga stories is one of my favorites. It was fun to read it again.
We were very glad to get so many made – and all out of the dregs and ends of candles that could have been thrown away. The only thing we bought new were the wicks! We are so pleased with the result, and are very happy that the candles in the window seem welcoming to you!
Kauniita kynttilöitä! Constance is a Hitty of many talents 🙂
Kiitos, Kate, we are so happy that we got the candles all made, and that they work! Constance is a good companion – she is always very encouraging and calm!
very clever candle making, I’ll have to start saving my tea light containers. Happy Independence Day.
Thanks very much Onesmallstitch – we were rather pleased with ourselves – feeling productive as well as thrifty!
What a great tradition. Very meaningful especially in light of their history.
My brother has been to Finland …fun to read of this. And of course fun to see Constance in action!
We have been saving candle-ends for so long – it was the perfect day to use them! Constance loves to help!
You are a light in the darkness! Thank you!
Thank You – it is a dark time of year…hooray for little lights!