Happy New Year

Happy New year and Peace on Earth

Sent by Shelley on Dec 12, 2022 from Hamilton, Canada

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. Mahatma Gandhi

Sent by Steffi on 8 Dec, 2022 from Sigmaringen, Germany

Happy New Year 

Aunt Tyyne sent this card to my family on Dec 28, 1964

Happy New Year

This card was sent to me by my cousin on Dec 30, 1963

Happy New Year 

Uncle Aatto sent this card to my family on Dec 27, 1961

Work

 Cobbler at the turn of the century, Philippines

From Pin, Philippines

Fisherman at the turn of the century, Philippines

From Jomanne, Philippines

Trader

Rarity postcard from series "Greetings from Moscow", "Russian types" , "Types of Russia", issued by Moscow publishing houses in 1900-1910, have been reprinted. From the collection of Moscow City Museum. 

From Natalia, Russia

Real Photo Postcards

This old postcard was sent by Olga from Latvia. She chose this card for me as I like old photos and postcards.  This family lived somewhere in Latvian countryside and the photo was taken in  their garden in the 1930s.

Distance: 619 km

Travel time: 4 days

Old photo from the city of Rudolfov in  Czech Republic comes from Mirka in Březnice. A group of people standing in front of  an inn -  Hostinec u Listonoše

( Postman's Inn ? )

Rudolfov  is a small town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located next to the city of České Budějovice. It has around 2,400 inhabitants.

Distance: 1,539 km

Travel time: 5 days

This is my entry to Maria's  "Postcards for The Weekend" at "Connections to the World-blog" and the theme for this week is Monochrome

The Joy of Cycling

I. K. Inha ( 1865 Virrat –1930, Helsinki) was a Finnish photographer, author, translator, and journalist. Inha is considered to be one of the grand masters of Finnish photography. Sometimes he is even referred to as "the national photographer" of Finland. He is especially known for his documentation of Finnish folk tradition, old habits and customs, and landscapes. In addition to his documentary work he was a significant portrayer of modernisation in the early 20th century.

Inha was an avid cyclist and made many of his trips in Finland and in Europe on a bike. He was also among the first to import bicycles to Finland and even the Finnish word for bicycle (polkupyörä) is often claimed to have been coined by Inha. In this photo Inha's brother drives a big wheel bicycle at Virrat and villagers follow him.

Facebook swap from Sari

A finnish couple going shopping on wheels.
Direct swap from Mari in Helsinki.

That's mine!
Soviet Union Illustrated Monthly, 1954
My old collection

Amerikkaan - To America

My great-uncle sent this card from Copenhagen to his wife on his second journey to America in 1923.

In the autumn of 1891 the Finnish Steamship Company started regular traffic between Hanko and Hull. The company also made an agreement with the Companies running the Ocean Liners from England to America. From the beginning of the 20th century most of the emigrants from Finland traveled with the Finnish Steamship company. The journey from Hanko, via Copenhagen to Hull in England 4-5 days

 My great-uncle received this card in 1928 from Hull. His cousin was on the  way to America and everything was "ok" 

 Oberon collided on 12-19-1930 in fog near Laesø in Northern Kattegatt with S/S Arcturus of Finland Steamship Co Ltd., while on passage from Finland via Copenhagen to Hull, and sank in three minutes with loss of 25 crew members and 17 passengers. 36 people were saved by the crew of Arcturus.

These two cards I received from Annet, Netherlands. 

 In England, the Finns arrived in Hull and continued by train to Liverpool, Southampton or Glasgow. They continued their journey with ocean liners to North America, arriving in New York, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia or Portland. In Canada the arrival ports were Halifax, Quebeck, Montreal and St. John. Totally the journey from Finland to North America usually lasted an average of two weeks.

And this one is from Steffilie, Germany

Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt A.G. was established in 1847 and also called HAPAG, Hamburg-America Line.  HAPAG for the first time, introduced a sandwich to their passengers with meat in it. This inspired later businessmen to sell this (until then) unknown food in the US, creating the 'Hamburger'.

Netherlands

Received on: 21 Jun, 2013

Distance: 1,512 km (940 miles)

Travel time: 8 days

In June Yvon sent greetings from Netherlands. It was still cold and rainy and she thought the spring forgot to come.  I hope she enjoyed  the sun and summer heat later.

Received on: 26 Jul, 2013

Distance: 1,478 km (918 miles)

Travel time: 4 days

Bert lives in Holland near German boarder and on his way to German he often sees this beautiful Irsee church, former Benedictine abbey church, now the parish church of Virgin Mary and St. Peter and Paul.



Received on: 27 Jun, 2013
Distance: 1,501 km (933 miles)
Travel time: 4 days

Hennie lives in a small town  called Olst.  I think it was getting warmer in Netherlands because Hennie offers refreshing cool drink, perhaps ice tea. Thank you Hennie, I like it! 

Riga, Latvia

The House of Blackheads in Riga 1925

Received on: 30 Jul, 2013

Distance: 638 km (396 miles)

Travel time: 8 days

Madara from Riga sent this old city view from old town Riga. 

The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.  It was destroyed in 1941 and its ruins were completely demolished by the Soviets in 1948, but it finally rose from the ashes in the late 1990s.

The belfry of Bruges, Belgium

Received on: 30 Apr, 2013

Distance: 1,635 km (1,016 miles)

Travel time: 5 days

I received this real vintage card of Bruges from Nicole. She writes : "The card is showing the Belfort  which was very important for the city because it gave the city " city rights". Many tourists visit this city every year."  

The belfry is one of the city's most prominent symbols, it formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger.

Praha

The Old Town Square of Prague 150 years ago.

Postcard from the eastern side of Staroměstské Square

Received on: 12 Apr, 2013

Distance: 1,493 km (928 miles)

Travel time: 3 days

I received this card from Milan.

She lives in small town Cernosice near Prague and castle Karlštejn.

Thank you Milan, again I learned lots of new things and words in Czech!

The Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) is one of two main squares in Prague. The Old Town Square dates from the 12th century and started life as the central marketplace for Prague. Over the centuries buildings of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles were erected around the market, each bringing with them stories of wealthy merchants and political intrigue.

The Church of Our Lady before Týn (Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem), a characteristic dominant of the Old Town, was constructed from the 14th to the beginning of the 16th century. The two spires of this powerful looking, Gothic church can be observed from all over Prague.

Second on the left is the Golz-Kinský Palace wich was built in the years 1755-1765

The father of Franz Kafka had a small shop on the ground floor of the Palace.



It's Time to do Some Gardening

Birhtday cards from May 1958

Now it’s time to get busy in the garden.

It’s time to get flowers, trees and shrubs planted,

 walls, fences and greenhouses built, patios and arbours installed.

Or perhaps it's time to enjoy the sun, sit on garden bench listening birds singing.

I think I'll choose the garden bench  :)

For more cards visit Beth's blog and Postcard Frienship Friday

Kiirastorstai - Maundy Thursday - Wielki Czwartek

Wesołych zdrowych i pogodnych Swiat Wielkanocnych

życzy  Barbara

Cieszyn, Poland

Our daughter got this card from her friend Barbara in 1989.

It is hand written and it was a little difficult for us to read and understand Polish at that time - no Google translator - it was quite difficult still now, even with the help of Google. But from the picture we understood it to be an Easter card with Happy Easter wishes.

In Poland they celebrate Easter with the Blessing Basket. They prepare the basket the Saturday before Easter. Inside the basket they place beautifully colored eggs, bread, cake, salt, paper and white colored sausages and with the basket they then go to church to have the basket of food blessed. It is believed that Great Lent which is the forty day fast before Easter is not over until the basket has been blessed hence the reason why it is called Blessing Basket.

All that is contained in the basket is of meaning such as the colored eggs mean the risen Christ, the bread and salt are for good health and a prosperous life, the sausages are supposed to be a wish for enough food and fertility for the coming spring. There is also cheese and marzipan which are another part of the Easter basket.

Życzę Wam miłych, zdrowych i pogodnych Świąt Wielkanocnych!

Toivotan teille hauskaa ja rauhallista pääsiäistä!

Tikkutiistai - Holy Tuesday

 

 

 Easter decorations in Finland show lots of colored eggs and yellow flowers. Colourful flowers, like tulips, daffodils and carnations, are popular at Easter time. Bright colours like yellow and green and all things reminding of spring, sun and new life are popular Easter items also here in Finland, even though it is usually still very wintry outside, with snow covering the ground in many parts of the country. 

 

Some Finnish families sow grass in small pots before Easter, and put eggs in them when the grass has grown. To decorate the homes, bare twigs of birch and willow trees are brought in well ahead of Easter. The twigs may be decorated with colourful feathers and other Easter ornaments.

Malkamaanantai - Holy Monday

Happy Easter

I got this card from my aunt Anna in 1955.

 

Easter is one of the popular holidays in Finland. It is the start of warm spring when the snow has mostly melted and the freezing weathers are behind. This year we still have lots of snow but the weather is a little warmer so hopefully the snow melts in soon.

 

Easter is preceded by a quiet week (Hiljainen viikko) that culminates on Good Friday (Pitkäperjantai – meaning Long Friday). The actual Easter starts with Easter Sunday (Pääsiäissunnuntai) and ends with Easter Monday (Toinen pääsiäispäivä). Good Friday Easter Monday following the Easter Sunday are a days off.

 

Pääsiäinen means “to get away from fasting” referring to the Lent that is taken to run from Ash Wednesday (Tuhkakeskiviikko) to Maundy Thursday (Kiirastorstai).

 

The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week in Finnish called ‘Hiljainen viikko – Quiet week’ or ‘Piinaviikko – Torment Week’ is also used. In Finland the Holy Week’s days have their own names:

 

Palm Sunday – Palmusunnuntai or Virposunnuntai
Holy Monday – Malkamaanantai
Holy Tuesday – Tikkutiistai
Holy Wednesday – Kellokeskiviikko
Maundy Thursday – Kiirastorstai
Good Friday – Pitkäperjantai
Holy Saturday – Pääsiäislauantai, Lankalauantai or Hiljainen Lauantai
Easter Sunday – Sukkasunnuntai or Pääsiäissunnuntai



Evening in Sotchi

The Finnish group from Vaasa region got an invitation to dinner, offered by Sotshi Intourist.

The dinner was served on the 7th of November 1981 at restaurant Kamelia Sotchi.

 

" The dinner was excellent and the show after that was wonderful."

Restaurant Kamelia, Sotchi
 

Sotchi - The Pearl of Black Sea

Сочи. Сквер со сталагмитами ( ? )

I tried to translate by google ......

Park with stalagmites or Stalagmite Square

Tippukiviaukio Sotshissa

1981 my mother writes:

" My first day here and I'm recovering from the flight.

This place is beautiful, so warm and lots of lovely flowers in the parks.

Take care!  "

Näytä suurempi kartta

View from Lenin Hills

Moskow 13.7. 1976

to my father, mother and sister from family friends.

Greetings from Moskow!
A view from Lenin Hills, at the front Luzhniki stadium. 

Sparrow Hills (from 1935-1999 – Lenin Hills) is the name of a location in the south-west of Moscow, positioned on the high right bank of the Moscow River and covered in forest.

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Memorial to the Defenders of Moskow

To my father, mother and sister 6.11.1975 from family friends

Moskovan puolustajien monumentti on suuren isänmaallisen sodan Moskovan taistelussa kuolleiden muistoksi rakennettu muistomerkkikompleksi. Muistomerkki valmistui vuonna 1974. Muistomerkin betoninen obeliski on 42 metriä korkea ja se kuvaa kolmea tyyliteltyä kiväärin pistintä. Muistomerkki alueeseen kuuluu, myös 27 metriä korkea Kunnian kukula, joukkohautakumpu, johon haudattiin ensimmäiset uhrit jo vuonna 1941

Memorial to the Defenders of Moscow

This memorial is dedicated to the Russian defenders of Moscow, during the Battle of Moscow and is built on the spot where the first Russian soldiers were buried in mass grave in the winter 1941. The 42 meters high bayonet shaped concrete memorial symbolize the riffle. It stands on a mass grave known as " Hill of Glory" which rises to a height of 27 meters. 



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Fountain Friendship of Nations

Kansojen ystävyys-suihkulähde

5.9.1988 from my sister.

The People’s Friendship Fountain (also known as Friendship of Nations) on Moscow features 16 gilded statues of maidens in their national costumes, representing all the Soviet Union Republics. The fountain is framed by an octahedral bowl of red granite with a surface area of 4,000 square meters. The fountain is serviced by a complex system of eight powerful pumps that can shoot 1,200 liters of

water from 800 jets to the height of 24 meters per second.

1000 Jahre Buer

St. Marien-Hospital 1916


Recieved on: 28 Jan, 2013
Distance: 1,538 km (956 miles)
Travel time: 11 days

Thank you Christina from Germany

Christina starts her card with a small trip throug the region:
"We have no more mines but soccer in big stadiums,
industrial culture, green spaces from mine dumps,
zoos and about 5 million people.
Culinary we are easily satisfied,
currywurst and fries plus a cold beer,
maybe the current Bundesliga results for dessert."


 Buer is the largest suburb of Gelsenkirchen.



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Name Day

This card I got from Aunt-Irja on my name day year 1955.

Finns celebrate their name days (Finnish nimipäivä, Swedish namnsdag) according to their given name  on the date given by the calendar published by the University of Helsinki Almanac Office (Almanakkatoimisto). Every day except new Year's Day, Christmas Day and Febryary 29 is a name day. For each day there are names in both Finnish and Swedish.

A card to my brother Jaakko ( Jacob, James ) from our cousin Heikki ( Henry ).

Many traditional beliefs attach to various name days, especially involving the weather and the appropriate times to perform seasonal agricultural tasks such as planting some particular crop. For example there is a saying that "Jaakko (James) casts a cold rock into the water", meaning that on Jaakko's day, the 25th of July, the waters start getting colder, which is not far from true on average.

The seven days from July 18 to 24th, being all women's name days, are known as the women's week. It is popularly believed to be an especially rainy week, and this is to some extent supported by statistics, as late July and early August are the rainiest time of the year in Finland.

On November 25 it is Kaisa's ( Kathy, Kate ) day and it should be mild weather because it forecasts mild winter and good harvest for the next year. It also forecasts beautiful weather until Christmas. On the other hand if it's cold on Kaisa's day it will be raining on Christmas.

This is my entry for Postcard Friendship Friday hosted on Beth Niquette's blog, The Best Hearts are Crunchy. Just click the button under.