Smile on Saturday

Summer joys

Illustration by Mauri Kunnas, Finnish artist 

Sent by Sirma frpm Kärkölä, Finland

 

Smile on Saturday

Goodnight, Mr. Clutterbuck. Hyvää Yötä Mr Hakkarainen

Children's book by  Mauri Kunnas,  

Mauri Tapio Kunnas ( 1950 -) is a Finnish cartoonist and children's author.

Kunnas is most famous for his numerous children's books, illustrated by himself and featuring anthropomorphic animals. His most famous children's book series is called Koiramäki (Dog Hill), set in historical Finland, featuring anthropomorphic dogs. His other works include Riku, Roope ja Ringo (Ricky, Rocky and Ringo), some "horror" books and books about Joulupukki

 

Time to rest

Illustrastion Lennart Helje, Swedish

Illustration Mauri Kunnsa, Finnish

Illustration Jaana Aalto, Finnish artist

Illustration Sirkku Saukonoja, Finnish artist

Sent by Seija on Christmas 2018 from Lohja Finland

Christmas Greetings from Germany

Sent by Karin on Dec 8, 2022 from Hannover

"Whether signaling far off planets or softly shadowing the snow, holiday lighting , at its best, is a beacon of  peace."

Photo Earl Carter

Sent by Annie from Michigan U.S.A.

Christmas Dance

Postcard from the 1950s

Illustration Bjarne Uttuslien ( 1909-1977) Finnish, Norwegian

Postcard from 1970s 

Illustration " Sirkku 15" Finnish  

Christmas dance at Dog Hill

Illustration Mauri Kunnas, Finnish 

Christmas Misc

Christmas 1971

Original illustration by Gunila Stierngranat 1902-1960 Swedish illustrator 

Gunila Stierngranat made comics, postcards, Christmas letters, coloring books, story books and girls' books and illustrated in weekly magazines.

Christmas 2017

Peaceful Christmas¨

Original by Charles Golding, Swedish illustrator 

Christmas 2020

Illustration Mauri Kunnas, Finnish illustrator 

Christmas 2021

 Snowman and Angel

Illustration Maarit Ailio, Finnish illustrator

Christmas 2021

Bread recipe

Illustration Ingrid Elf, Swedish illustrator 

Christmas Greetings by Mauri Kunnas

Mauri Tapio Kunnas (born 11 February 1950) is a Finnish cartoonist and children's author.

Kunnas is most famous for his numerous children's books, illustrated by himself and featuring anthropomorphic animals. His most famous children's book series is called Koiramäki (Dog Hill).

Beach Time

Greetings from beach!

Illustration Mauri Kunnas 

Sent by my friend from Mikkeli, Finland

US-5652154

Roker and Saeburn, Sunderland, United Kingdom 

Sent by Stefanie on 36 Oct 2018  from Naples, Florida U.S.A.

La Zenia, Torrevieja, Spain 

Sent by my grandchild on 17 Jun, 2017 from Torremolinos, Spain 

 

Keep Calm Christmas Is Coming

Illustration from Mauri Kunnas' book Joulupukki, Santa Claus. Otava 1981

The whole family bakes Christmas pastries and gingerbread cookies.  

I received this card in 1981 and it was sent by my niece

Delicious Christmas pastries are filled with plum jam and covered with powdered sugar when they have cooled off. But the scent of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg is inseparable from Finnish Christmas. It comes from baking gingerbread cookies. The dough is delicious by itself, especially if you ask your children. Gingerbreads can be different shapes like hearts, stars, trees or pigs.

Gingerbread pig illustration Katja Saario

Gingerbread tree for birds, illustration Omppu Omenamäki

Our gingerbreads will be boys, girls, moon and Samoyed dog :)

Advent Calendar Day 9. - Christmas Sports

I hope the Korvatunturi Hockey Team  helps Finland to win the world championship next year.

Korvatunturi  Elf Sledging Team teams' preparations progressing well.

No Doping Girls-Team ready for competition!

Advent Calendar Day 8. - Christmas Escape

What if Santa gets totally bored to the whole Christmas thing....

and travels with his elves to some warm and distant tropical island?

Or Santa and his reindeer stop to the nearest pub .....  Don't expect to get any presents :(

Inkognito. Gerhard Glück. "Hoppers Freude"

Advent Calendar Day 7. - Christmas Music

Artist Mauri Kunnas wishes you A Heavy Christmas!

and also Peaceful Christmas with  " Silent Night"

Rehearsing for Christmas party by Marja-Liisa Pitkäranta

Elf Band by Kjell E Midthun

Advent Calendar Day 2. - Tiernapojat, Star Boys

Tiernapojat - "Star Boys"

Doghill Martha And The Christmas Pageant by Mauri Kunnas

Mauri Kunnas’s Doghill books are familiar to kids all over the world. In this Christmas-flavoured story, little Martha heads off with her mother to Porvoo, an romantic old town under a blanket of clean white snow, redolent with the magical atmosphere of the days before the Christmas holiday.

Tiernapojat, "Star Boys" is a story about the three wise men’s journey to see the newborn Jesus and king Herod’s order to kill all baby boys to get rid of him. The play is part of Christmas festivities in most schools so its songs and lines are well-known among Finns.

Iloista Pääsiäistä Koiramäeltä - Happy Easter from Doghill Farm

Illustration Mauri Kunnas

An ancient Easter dish still commonly eaten in Finland is the cold malt porridge mämmi. It was perfect food to be eaten on Good Friday, when lighting a fire and cooking was forbidden. Nowadays mämmi is mainly eaten as dessert.

More about mämmi here.