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Association of Finnish Culture and Identity

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Finnish cultural organization
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Association of Finnish Culture and Identity
Formation12 May 1906; 118 years ago (1906-05-12)
HeadquartersHelsinki, Finland
PresidentProfessor Emeritus Ilmari Rostila [fi]
Websitesuomalaisuudenliitto.fi

The Association of Finnish Culture and Identity (Finnish: Suomalaisuuden Liitto), also known as the Finnish Alliance, is a Finnish cultural organization. The official name of the association is in German Verband für das Finnentum e. V. and in French La Ligue Finlandaise.

History

The Finnish Alliance was founded by writer Johannes Linnankoski in 1906. The founding date was the 100th anniversary of Johan Vilhelm Snellman, a prominent national Finnish philosopher and statesman. The purpose was and is still today to awaken and to strengthen the sense of national identity, to promote Finnish, especially Finnish speaking, culture. A significant goal is to cultivate the Finnish language.

One of the most far-reaching manifestations of the Finnish Alliance’s activities was the mass fennification of family names in 1906–1907. This was repeated in 1935–1936 with the result of more than 200,000 people changing their family names into Finnish. The Association of Finnish Culture and Identity has played a remarkable role in Finnish cultural life. It provided the initiatives which led to the creation of the Finnish Cultural Foundation (Suomen kulttuurirahasto), Finland Society (Suomi-Seura, an organization to unite the Finns abroad), and the Family Federation of Finland (Väestöliitto). The association started a magazine, Suomalainen Suomi (Finnish: Finnish Finland), which was renamed as Kanava (Finnish: Channel) in 1973.

The President of the Finnish Alliance in 1930–1932 was Urho Kekkonen, the President of Finland in 1956–1981.

The Finnish Alliance is an important element in the Finnish establishment. It provides expert advice on matters such as the displaying of the Finnish flag and Finnish family names. It creates and maintains contacts between Finland and Finns living abroad. The Association of Finnish Culture and Identity is well known for emphasizing the Finnish pupils’ and students’ right to determine for themselves the foreign languages they wish to study.

In addition, the Association of Finnish Culture and Identity pursues research, publishes books, sells Finnish flags made in Finland, gives lectures and is involved in many other activities in its goal to strengthen the Finnish identity.

Current board

The current chairman of the association is professor emeritus Ilmari Rostila, 1st vice chairman is Susanna Koski, and 2nd vice chairman is Sebastian Vilja.

Chairmen

The founder of the Association of Finnish Culture and Identity, writer Johannes Linnankoski.
Chairmen
Johannes Linnankoski 1906
Kaarle Krohn 1907
J. J. Mikkola 1907–1909
Väinö Voionmaa 1915–1916
A. A. Koskenjaakko [fi] 1917–1918
Väinö Salminen 1919
Rafael Engelberg [fi] 1920–1924
J. R. Koskimies [fi] 1925–1926
Yrjö Ruutu 1928
Elpiö Kaila [fi] 1929
Urho Kekkonen 1930–1932
Veikko Heiskanen 1933–1947
Niilo Kallio 1948–1954
Veikko Heiskanen 1955–1956
Erkki Salonen [fi] 1957–1968
Kauko Sipponen [fi] 1968–1970
Kari Tarasti 1970–1974
Jouko Hulkko 1974–1978
Veikko Löyttyniemi [fi] 1978–1986
Martti Häikiö 1986–1988
Erkki Pihkala [fi] 1988–1996
Seppo Heikinheimo 1996–1997
Pentti Huttunen 1998–2003
Heikki Tala [fi] 2003–2009
Sampo Terho 2009–2017
Ilmari Rostila 2017–present

References

  1. ^ "Suomalaisuuden Liitto". 2017-12-10. Archived from the original on 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  2. ^ Andrew G. Newby; Richard Mc Mahon (2017). "Select Document: John Hampden Jackson, 'Finland and Ireland: assorted comparisons' (1937)". Irish Historical Studies. 41 (160): 259. doi:10.1017/ihs.2017.35. S2CID 165268135.
  3. "Yhteystiedot – Suomalaisuuden Liitto" (in Finnish). Retrieved 2021-02-07.

External links

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