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The Baltic Sea region: from the periphery to the centre.
by Anna-Cara Keim

by Mateusz Zatonski
Every nation celebrates the biggest dates in its history differently. For instance, Fourth of July gathers Americans at hot-dog eating contests and firework shows. The British Remembrance Day is a rather more solemn affair, with the omnipresent poppy commemorating the victims of the Great War, and parades of war veterans applauded by crowds of tourists and locals. Other countries opt for body paints, historical re-enactments, and countless other ways of celebrating national unity and pride.

by Kārlis Caune
How did Latvia become Latvia? History is a funny thing. Every country and nation have a different story of how its name came into being. Often these names and their etymology can be traced back hundreds and thousands of years into history. Many linguists  are still struggling  whether the Baltic languages are actually a branch of the Slavonic languages  but one is certain: true Latvians are not getting enough credit where credit is due.

by Anna-Cara Keim
On December 5th the British newspaper The Independent published information about a Scottish government document revealing that, upon a Scottish independence, the current government in Edinburgh wants Scotland to “become Scandinavian”.
The idea is to build closer ties with Scandinavia and North Eastern Europe. Additional plans suggest that Scotland should join the Nordic security co-operation and the Nordic Council.

by Ilze Dimanta

(“Ziemas svētki” or “Ziemas saulgrieži” in Latvian)

By Kristofer Jäntti
The Northern Lights are a curiosity, especially in the northern countries of the Baltic Sea Region. Their beauty captivates the imagination, and for many, including this author, the prospect of seeing one remains an unrealised dream.

by Peter Lindén
Helsinki is often ruled out when big name pop artists embark on tours of Nordic capitals. A city on the outskirts of Scandinavia, on the other side of the Baltic sea, it just isn’t worth it for many artists to make the trip out East to Finnish lands. While this exclusion from global tours has become less and less of a problem as word of lively Helsinki crowds has reached music agents, the city’s nightlife still operates in remarkable isolation from the other Nordic capitals.

by Mateusz Zatonski
Amidst all this a silver river flowsUnder crags by the waving reeds,The far-flowing Vistula pours over marble pebbles,Her head in a wreath of willows;She divides into three at the coast,Where boats toss gently, and like dolphinsOn the water glimmering with goldThe shores shine with amber…
(Jan Kochanowski [1530-1584], The Pennant or Homage to Prussia)

Copyright © Leena-Mari Laukkanen
Copyright © Leena-Mari Laukkanen

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Tags: Finland, Kuopio, Winter

by Kristofer Jäntti
This Sunday Finland will elect herself a brand new president to follow the two terms of Conan O’Brien’s look-alike Tarja Halonen. The question at hand is: is Finland ready continue on its progressive path and elect a gay man as head of the country and armed forces?