Therese and I were walking along a quiet street, looking for a church (that had a very tall spire) but we were out of luck. As we had no pressing schedule, we were meandering, minding our business, when we were approached by old lady #1.
She spoke to us in passable English and asked if we were heading toward the square where the singing would start at noon . We had no idea of what she was talking about. She went on the explain that they were going to gather to sing a national Song that some politicians where talking about banning. The song had some Christian connotations, and given that the population was becoming more varied (about 80% of the population is Lutheran). But the locals were standing up for their song and culture, and we're going to gather around the corner and sing it together. Around 3000 people were expected.
We arrived at the square about 11.20, so, plenty of time. It was like a market square, with a few stalls, a few people, and a cafe with tables and seats. One of the tables was free, so I asked Therese if she wanted to sit down and have a tea. We settled down, and I went to the counter to order a coffee, a tea and two local cakes. All for €9.50. I returned to the table with our drinks and noticed that next to us was a lady with two enourmous poodle like dogs. Meet old lady #2.
She introduced herself as a retired opera singer, and her two dogs, were also retired champion show dogs. I liked them. They got to know me. The lady went on to tell us about the event, and that her sister, who ran the Helsinki Opera, was organising this event. She felt very strongly about the threat to their national / cultural show and wanted to let the people express their feelings about this proposed ban. She explained that there would be a bunch of opera singers appear on the balconies of the apartments around the square and that they would sing the song. And be joined by the crowds gathered. More than 2000 people were expected. It was not a large square, so I expected that it would be crowded.
Old lady #1 dropped by to say hello, she had found her friend and moved to sit on another table. A few minutes later, another old lady approaches us and asks if she can sit down on our table. Meet old lady #3. This lady was also Finnish, but had lived in the sates for 25 years and been very successful in the corporate world. Now, she was living out here days in her beloved Finland.
This lady told us more about the song and the event. Now we considerd ourselves experts. The conversation moved on to the living conditions in Finland and the mood of the people. Apparently, not all is well in Finland. High unemployment, people are depressed, and the government is divided and unable to act decisively.
As we talked, the crowds were growing, to the point were the square was full of people. All of a sudden, we heard clapping and about 20 men dressed in black tie came out on the verandas of some of the flats that were facing us. Within a few minutes, the head of the helsinki opera spoke (not in English) and we assume introduced and talked to the issue of the national song. A lot of cheering and clapping followed.
All of a sudden, the men started singing, and more than 2000 voices joined them. It was an amazing experience. People were voicing their stand by their presence. Every time the chorus started, voices from all over were heard.
It was an amazing experience, one that we would have missed had we not been meandering and been happy to talk to some of the locals. Three old ladies and two dogs called Boris and Carlos.
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