''Posankka'' () is a

statue A statue is a free-standing sculpture in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or Casting (metalworking), cast in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone. Typical statues are life-sized or close to ...

located in

Turku Turku ( ; ; , ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Southwest Finland. It is located on the southwestern coast of the country at the mouth of the Aura River (Finland), River Aura. The population of Turku is approximately , while t ...

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

. The statue, which is located near the campus area of the

University of Turku The University of Turku (, shortened ''UTU'') is a multidisciplinary public university with eight faculties located in the city of Turku in southwestern Finland. The university also has campuses in Rauma and Pori and research stations in Kevo ...

and the Turku Student Village, represents a hybrid between a

marzipan pig The marzipan pig is a traditional German, Dutch, Belgian, and Scandinavian confectionery consisting of marzipan shaped as a pig. During Jul (Norway), Jul in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, a tradition is to eat a rice porridge known as Rice puddin ...

("possu") and a

rubber duck A rubber duck, or a rubber duckie, is a toy shaped like a duck, that is usually yellow with a flat base. It may be made of rubber or rubber-like material such as vinyl plastic. Rubber ducks were invented in the late 19th century when it became ...

("ankka"). It is a pink animal with a duck's lower body and a pig's head. The statue was designed by Alvar Gullichsen in 1999 when it was placed floating in the Aurajoki river in Turku. The statue has stood at its current location since 2001. Every winter, a

Santa Claus Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...

hat is put on ''Posankka''s head, and on

Walpurgis Night Walpurgis Night (), an abbreviation of Saint Walpurgis Night (from the German language, German ), also known as Saint Walpurga's Eve (alternatively spelled Saint Walburga's Eve) and Walpurgisnacht, is the Vigil#Eves of religious celebrations ...

it is capped with a Finnish student cap.

References

Further reading