Thanks!
- Written by Minna Janhonen
- Published in Archive, Arkisto, English, Suomi
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For what can one be thankful?
Autumn has always been the time to be thankful. In Finnish pagan times, when the harvesting ended, people celebrated Kekri and thanked all the Gods for giving good crop. Similar customs are found everywhere. For example the American Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what one has, and sharing for those that are less fortunate. Acoording to wikipedia, merican Thanksgiving has its roots in the ”First Thanksgiving” that was celebrated by the pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in 1621. [1]
It is good to remind oneself about being thankful, even once a year. I recommend doing it more often. I could say I really learned this in 2012. I attended Esa Saarinen’s, famous Finnish philosopher, Paphos-seminar a little over a year ago. I have never felt more powerfully connected with 120 people and with myself at the same time, than I did during that one summer week in 2012. Well, it is easy to be thankful, when it is summer, location is perfect, weather is amazing and the people are awesome, right? I have to say, that the location makes it unforgettable, but there is more! What that one summer week does with deepening ones thoughts and understanding the meaning of, well, life and the people in it, is life changing. I would say, it is the Magic of Paphos, the Tulenkantajat (Fire Bearers)-seminars mystical essence.
Those early pagan Finns during the rough and dark autumn months lit a huge goat made of straw into flames when celebration of Kekri took place. It was a joyful fest, dancing, singing, drinking and eating. Most of all, it was being thankful for the crop.
In today’s western world, where people have it all: roof over their heads, all the technical gadgets they can think of, cars, clothes, food – it can be too easy to forget how one got there. When taking part to this Paphos -seminar in 2012 I learned a good trick: think at least 3 things every day that you are thankful. Some days I demand myself to come up with 4 or 5 things. Dark November mornings didn’t feel so dark after this exercise!
I challenge you to do the same. During December, come up at least one thing per day that you truly are thankful. Cherish that thing or a person, whatever that is. If it indeed is a person, let he or she know.
Here’s the blog text in English:
For what can one be thankful?
Autumn has always been the time to be thankful. In Finnish pagan times, when the harvesting ended, people celebrated Kekri and thanked all the Gods for giving good crop. Similar customs are found everywhere. For example the American Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what one has, and sharing for those that are less fortunate. Acoording to wikipedia, merican Thanksgiving has its roots in the ”First Thanksgiving” that was celebrated by the pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in 1621. [1]
It is good to remind oneself about being thankful, even once a year. I recommend doing it more often. I could say I really learned this in 2012. I attended Esa Saarinen’s, famous Finnish philosopher, Paphos-seminar a little over a year ago. I have never felt more powerfully connected with 120 people and with myself at the same time, than I did during that one summer week in 2012. Well, it is easy to be thankful, when it is summer, location is perfect, weather is amazing and the people are awesome, right? I have to say, that the location makes it unforgettable, but there is more! What that one summer week does with deepening ones thoughts and understanding the meaning of, well, life and the people in it, is life changing. I would say, it is the Magic of Paphos, the Tulenkantajat (Fire Bearers)-seminars mystical essence.
Those early pagan Finns during the rough and dark autumn months lit a huge goat made of straw into flames when celebration of Kekri took place. It was a joyful fest, dancing, singing, drinking and eating. Most of all, it was being thankful for the crop.
In today’s western world, where people have it all: roof over their heads, all the technical gadgets they can think of, cars, clothes, food – it can be too easy to forget how one got there. When taking part to this Paphos -seminar in 2012 I learned a good trick: think at least 3 things every day that you are thankful. Some days I demand myself to come up with 4 or 5 things. Dark November mornings didn’t feel so dark after this exercise!
I challenge you to do the same. During December, come up at least one thing per day that you truly are thankful. Cherish that thing or a person, whatever that is. If it indeed is a person, let he or she know.
