Heikki Lunta is the embodiment of the Finnish snow god character who originated in the mythology of the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan – also known as Upper Michigan or colloquially the U.P. – is the northern and more elevated of the two major landmasses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan; it is separated from the Lower Peninsula by ...
.
The character of Heikki Lunta is a product of the heavy
Finnish-American
Finnish Americans ( fi, amerikansuomalaiset, ) comprise Americans with ancestral roots from Finland or Finnish people who immigrated to and reside in the United States. The Finnish-American population numbers a little bit more than 650,000. Man ...
presence in Michigan's Keweenaw Upper Peninsula combined with a tremendous annual snowfall. Over time, the biography of Heikki Lunta has been expanded through stage plays and children's stories. These feature his origins in central Finland as the son of Eljas and Saima Lunta. He has named siblings and may have married his childhood sweetheart, who is named Aino Mäkinen. Over time, the character has become an important part of local culture, enough to generate a significant number of news articles and scholarly papers.
History
David Riutta created "Heikki Lunta" (the name translates to "Hank Snow" in English) in 1970. When an upcoming snowmobile race hosted by the Range Snowmobile Club of
Atlantic Mine was endangered by the lack of snowfall, Riutta, a worker at
WMPL
WMPL (920 AM, ''Wimple'') is a radio station located in Hancock, Michigan which broadcasts a talk radio format during the day and a sports radio
Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcast ...
in
Hancock Hancock may refer to:
Places in the United States
* Hancock, Iowa
* Hancock, Maine
* Hancock, Maryland
* Hancock, Massachusetts
* Hancock, Michigan
* Hancock, Minnesota
* Hancock, Missouri
* Hancock, New Hampshire
** Hancock (CDP), New Hampshir ...
, aired the "Heikki Lunta Snowdance Song". The song goes on to ask "Heikki Lunta," the Finnish snow god, for snow in time for the race. According to local tales, the snow fell and fell, until there was too much. People were superstitious that Riutta's song had caused too much snow for the race, so in response to public outcry, Riutta recorded a separate track entitled, "Heikki Lunta Go Away." The
45 showcased each song on alternate sides.
Heikinpäivä - What’s With Heikki?
eikki Lunta – A Modern Copper Country Folk Hero By Jim Kurtti. Accessed online September 19, 2022
See also
*Jack Frost
Jack Frost is a personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold. He is a variant of Old Man Winter who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, ...
*Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan is a giant lumberjack and folk hero in American and Canadian folklore. His exploits revolve around the tall tales of his superhuman labors, and he is customarily accompanied by Babe the Blue Ox. The character originated in the o ...
*Rain dance
Rainmaking is a weather modification ritual that attempts to invoke rain.
Among the best known examples of weather modification rituals are North American rain dances, historically performed by many Native American tribes, particularly in the ...
*Saint Urho
Saint Urho ( fi, Pyhä Urho ) is a fictional saint of Finland, created and elaborated by Finnish Americans in Northern Minnesota in the 1950s, to celebrate their heritage and extend celebrations of St. Patrick's Day. His celebration day is set to ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Not Just Talking About the Weather: Tradition, Social Change and Heikki Lunta
Hilary Virtanen
(song), lyrics from Da Yoopers
Da Yoopers are an American comedy and novelty musical group from Ishpeming, Michigan, United States. They are known primarily for their comedic songs and skits, most of which center on life in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The band's name inclu ...
1991 release, "Yoopy do Wah"
Heikki Lunta - A Modern Copper Country Folk Hero
Jim Kurtti
Guess Who's Coming to Sauna? (Heikki Lunta)
b
Conga Se MenneHeikki Lunta Snow Dance and other traditions
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Fakelore
Fictional Finnish people
Finnish-American culture in Michigan
Hancock, Michigan
Michigan folklore