Visit Helsinki : City of Helsinki’s official website for tourism and travel information | Visithelsinki.fi is the city of Helsinki’s official website for tourism and travel information. Elsewhere in the web Former Ambassadors and Ministers | Helsinki, Finland - Embassy of the United States Helsinki, Finland - Embassy of the United States Sep. 10, 1952 Sep. 19, 1955 *McFall was named Minister to Finland in 1952 and Ambassador when the post became an embassy in 1954. Ministers to Finland: Mar. 19, 1920 Feb. 17, 1921 This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. The Jewish Traveler: Helsinki | Hadassah Magazine The Jewish Traveler Email In sports, it is easy to confuse Finland with Israel. Both have national teams that use blue and white uniforms, based on national colors.

If you go shopping in Helsinki, you may notice that most of the stores have names that end with the word “oy.” In Finnish, the Yiddish expression is simply the equivalent of “Co.” or “Ltd.” Helsinki’s synagogue. Photo by Jono David. While superficial similarities are easy to explain, there are affinities between the Jewish state and Finland that go beyond coincidence. Though not immune to the kind of anti-Israel rhetoric common in much of Europe, Finland seems to have a hardier strain of pro-Israel sentiment than most countries on the continent. One factor in this attitude is a vein of pro-Jewish feeling among Finnish Christians. Another is 20th-century history, during which Finland fought hard to achieve and maintain its independence from a neighbor many times its size. And Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen recently cited Israel’s high-tech success as a potential model for his country to emulate. History One key to Finnish friendship toward Israel and admiration of its own Jewish community is military. There are few diaspora nations where Jews established a high military profile. Among the exceptions, only in Finland did Jewish residence begin with military service.

Under a century of Russian rule (1809-1917), the Grand Duchy of Finland was off-limits to Jewish settlement—with the exception of Cantonists, the term applied to Jews in the czar’s army. In 1858, Czar Alexander II proclaimed that Jews finishing their service in Finland could remain. Finland had considerable autonomy within the Russian Empire and in the beginning local authorities imposed residential and occupational restrictions on its Jewish subjects. Many Jews supported themselves by dealing in old clothes, businesses that eventually became the foundation of Finland’s textile industry. Several Jewish merchants set up shop in the city’s Narynka Market, a cluster of Russian stalls that, after Finnish independence, became a predominantly Jewish market. Beginning in the 1830s, there was a Jewish prayer room inside the Suomenlinna Fortress, the military base spread out over five islands that protects Helsinki. Jewish soldiers shared the prayer room with Muslims, mostly Russian Tatars. (To this day, Helsinki’s Jews maintain warm relations with the Tatar community.) The first synagogue in civilian Helsinki opened in 1870 in the Langen Villa, in the city’s Siltasaari section.

For the next 45 years, there were short-lived Jewish sanctuaries in at least three other locations, including the Atheneum Art Museum, which had a big hall suitable for the High Holy Days. Over time, conditions for Jews were eased. In 1906—when there were still pogroms in other corners of the Russian Empire—the Helsinki community dedicated its first permanent home on Malminkatu Street, on a plot of land donated by the city. That same year, because limitations on meetings and free speech were looser in Finland than in Russia proper, Russian Zionists held their convention in Helsinki. The two events raised the Jewish community’s profile and had a catalytic effect on cultural life. That same year saw the foundation of a Jewish literary and theater society and a Jewish sports club, which today is regarded as the oldest continuous Maccabi organization in Europe. In 1909, the Finnish Parliament abolished all restrictions on Jews. Russia never ratified the law, so Jews did not earn full civil rights until Finnish independence eight years later. Taking advantage of the chaos that followed the Russian revolution, Finnish nationalists proclaimed independence in December 1917. World War II was especially complicated for Finland and its Jews.

By Finnish reckoning, the country fought not one but three wars between 1939 and 1945. In the first, the Soviet Union attacked. Finnish forces, under the command of Marshal (and later President) Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, outmaneuvered the superior Soviet numbers and held off a winter assault. With the German conquest of Denmark and Norway, the chance of any relief from the Allies evaporated. Finland faced the prospect of a renewed Russian attack that could snuff out their independence, Nazi occupation or some kind of cooperation with Germany. They chose the third option. German troops were allowed on Finnish territory and the two nations became cobelligerents against the Soviets. Finland declined to sign a formal agreement with Germany and refused to call itself an ally. It also resolutely refused German calls for any kind of persecution of Jews. Throughout the war, more than 300 Jews served in Mannerheim’s army. Troops under the command of one Jewish officer, Captain Solomon Klass, were called to rescue German soldiers surrounded by the Soviets. For his efforts, Klass was given an Iron Cross, which he never wore.

Jewish soldiers had a tent synagogue during the war; Isak Smolar led the services, and soldiers adopted his nickname in calling their sanctuary “Scholka’s shul.” The memorial to Helsinki’s Jewish refugees. Photo by Jono David. Mannerheim knew that Finland had to be on the “right” side of the war by the time it ended. In August 1944, he became president and in September he signed a separate peace with the Allies, ceding 10 percent of Finnish territory to the Soviet Union. The accord meant war with Germany, which still had troops in the country. In their retreat, the Germans burned every city and town in Lapland. In November 1944, while the hostilities with German troops continued, Mannerheim visited the Helsinki synagogue for a memorial service honoring the 23 Finnish Jewish soldiers who died during the war. There was one stain on the nation’s history during the war. In 1942, the Germans asked for the extradition of a large number of German, Russian and Baltic refugees in Finland. Twenty-seven were handed over—including eight Jews who were shipped to concentration camps. News of the deportations caused an uproar in Finland and the government refused further cooperation.

The director of the Finnish Security Police, Arno Anthoni, was held responsible for the deportations. After the war he was tried and reprimanded by the Supreme Court, but not jailed. In 1948, 29 Finnish Jews went to Israel to fight in the War of Independence. During the next two decades, some 200 more immigrated to the Jewish state. Community Finland’s Jewish population stands at about 1,800, of whom 1,500 live in Helsinki. There are smaller communities in Turku (which has its own synagogue) and Tampere. About 70 percent of the country’s Jews are native born, many descended from the Cantonists who chose to remain in Finland in the 19th century. More recent arrivals are from Russia, Israel and the United States. The Jewish Community of Helsinki is at Malminkatu 26 (011-3589-586-03110; ), a 10-minute walk from the center of the city. The synagogue’s ritual is Modern Orthodox.

Siddurim are in Hebrew and Finnish: There is likely not another language with so few Jewish speakers that can make a claim to have prayer books in that native tongue. In 2013, the community welcomed Simon Livson, its first Finnish-speaking rabbi. Shabbat morning services begin at 9 A.M. throughout the year. Because of the late sunset, Friday evening services during the summer months begin at 7:30 P.M. and, according local tradition, are completed at home. Sights Helsinki is a city etched by cobblestones and tram tracks and surrounded on three sides by the Baltic Sea. It was little more than a village until 1748, when construction began on the Suomenlinna Fortress just offshore. Growth accelerated after 1812, when Czar Alexander I made it the capital of Finland. In the 20th century, Helsinki became a showcase for Modernist architecture, but much of its charm is of 19th-century vintage, when many of the architects who gave shape to the city, with stone buildings influenced by neoclassical and Palladian styles, also worked in St. Petersburg.

This shared heritage explains why Helsinki has often served as a stand-in for its Russian neighbor in Hollywood films (Doctor Zhivago, Gorky Park, White Nights). At Malminkatu 26, facing the street, is the synagogue, a yellow-stone building with tall arched windows topped by a Byzantine-style silver dome. Behind and connected to the original building is a community center added in 1961. The complex also houses the community’s mikve, school—for students aged 3 to 15—and various communal organizations. The Jugendstil-influenced sanctuary has pastel green walls, a central wooden bima and high-backed wooden benches; the community’s history is written into many of the sanctuary’s fixtures. One of the 14 Torahs in the Ark was rescued by a Jewish soldier in the Crimean War. The crown above the Ark is from an old Swedish warship (God’s name was mounted onto the artifact). There are two menoras on the sanctuary’s front wall with Stars of David hanging from the branches—each star inscribed with the name of a Jewish soldier who died defending Finland.

Down the hall from the main sanctuary is a small chapel that includes a handmade brass plate from the Jewish prayer room in the Suomenlinna Fortress. The hallway also has reminders of the community’s most illustrious visitor. Photos of Mannerheim are on the wall, next to a glass case containing the wreath he brought in memory of fallen Jewish soldiers. Any Jewish itinerary in the Finnish capital should include a visit to the Helsinki Cathedral, which shares Senate Square with the prime minister’s office and the University of Helsinki. The cathedral (358-9-2340-6120), noted for its five green cupolas and white Corinthian columns, is the square’s most imposing landmark. Though its main entrance faces south, it is above the western portal that you will find the name of God chiseled in Hebrew. Such inscriptions are somewhat common in Lutheran churches in Finland. Helsinki’s iconic cathedral. To get a better sense of Finnish history, one of the best places to visit is the Mannerheim Museum. Located in the city’s seaside Kaivopuisto section, the white, two-story villa was Mannerheim’s primary residence from 1924 until his death in 1951.

The furnishings tell the story of his life, his decades of service in the Russian army, his mission as a spy, his love of books and languages and his military and political leadership of Finland. Perhaps the most striking single feature of the house is his austere bedroom—and the military cot he slept on. The museum is at Kalliolinnantie 14 (358-9-635-443; ). The most visited place in Helsinki is Suomenlinna (358-29-5338-300; ), the naval fortress in the Baltic. Both the city of Helsinki and its Jewish community owe their development to the fort built by the Swedes, beginning in 1748, to defend against Russia. (The Swedes would ultimately give up the fortress without firing a shot.) Living conditions for Swedish soldiers were grim. They slept in the cold, damp casements of the fort’s walls and lived on porridge. More perished in the building of the fortress than would ever die defending it. By the time the first Jewish soldiers arrived under Russian command, there were barracks at the fort.

Suomenlinna, named a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1991, has six museums. Not to be missed are the eponymous Suomenlinna Museum, which reviews the history of the fortress and its construction, and the Ehrensvärd Museum in the residence of the fort’s architect. Be sure to stop at the visitor center and sign up for a guided tour of the fortress. In addition to the historic attractions, the Suomenlinna complex has nine restaurants and cafés and many shops. To reach Suomenlinna, take one of the city ferries from the eastern end of Market Square. Not far from Market Square, facing the terminal for the larger cross-Baltic ferries, is Tähtitorninmäki, a small park. In 2000, the Finnish government dedicated a memorial to the Jewish refugees surrendered to Germany during the war. The monument consists of a rectangular stone, bearing the names of the eight deportees (seven of whom died), set on top of a cobblestone circle. The memorial is within sight of the spot from which the refugees were deported in 1942.

Books Le Chaim!: Images from the History of the Jews in Finland, published by the community, is more than its cover proclaims; accompanying the photographic history are detailed chapters (in English as well as Finnish) that provide a comprehensive overview. The book is for sale at the community center, as is the Finnish-Hebrew siddur. Carl Gustaf Mannerheim has been the subject of many biographies; one especially good one is Mannerheim: President, Soldier, Spy (Haus Publishing) by the British author Jonathan Clements. For a unique look at Mannerheim’s relationship with the Jewish community, see Rachel Bayvel’s summer 2006 article in the London-based Jewish Quarterly. Arguably the best-known Jewish personality in Finland is Police Inspector Ariel Kafka, the central character in a series by Harri Nykänen, a crime novelist and former journalist. The first in the series, Nights of Awe (Bitter Lemon Press), is the one most focused on the Jewish community. Personalities Once dominant in the textile industry, today Jews can be found across the professional spectrum. Many have become prominent in Finnish society and abroad.

Max Jacobson served as Finland’s ambassador to the United Nations; he was a candidate for United Nations secretary general in 1981, but was defeated by Austria’s Kurt Waldheim. Historian Max Dimont, author of Jews, God and History, was born and raised in Helsinki. Other personalities include Ben Zyskowicz, the first Jewish member of the Finnish parliament; the abstract artist Sam Vanni, well represented in the collection of the Atheneum Art Museum; pop singer Marion Rung, who twice represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest; and theater and film director Mauritz Stiller, who discovered Greta Garbo. Recommendations One of the best deals for visitors is the Helsinki card, which provides access to public transportation (including ferries), entry to major museums and discounts at many restaurants and shops. Cards can be purchased at several hotels as well as at the Helsinki Tourist Center at Pohjoisesplanadi 19 and online at . Finland is famous for design, and some of its most popular items for tourists shopping for souvenirs are wood and glass pieces as well as jewelry, most with the same smooth, contemporary lines found in Finnish architecture.

Next door to the synagogue, at Malminkatu 24, is Zaafran & Co., Finland’s only kosher deli, café and market (358-442-564-032, ). Zaafran serves cruise ships docked in Helsinki and, with advance notice, can also send kosher meals to nearby hotels. Karelian pies are a popular national comfort food: The “pies” are essentially rye-crust pastries with a potato or rice filling. And salmon appears on menus everywhere, notably salmon soup and graavilohi, similar to gravlax. Graavilohi is sometimes used to prepare Finnish sushi, with potato replacing the rice. Helsinki has many fine hotels, but it’s hard to imagine a better base from which to see general and Jewish sights than the Radisson Blu Royal ( ki), at Runeberginkatu 2, right across the street from the synagogue—a shorter walk than the first Jewish soldiers had from their barracks to their fortress prayer room.

Finland | history - geography | Britannica.com Kemi River Finland is heavily forested and contains some 56,000 lakes, numerous rivers, and extensive areas of marshland; viewed from the air, Finland looks like an intricate blue and green jigsaw puzzle. Except in the northwest, relief features do not vary greatly, and travelers on the ground or on the water can rarely see beyond the trees in their immediate vicinity. The landscape nevertheless possesses a striking—if sometimes bleak—beauty. Marshland lake in Finland. © Taina Sohlman/Fotolia Finland’s underlying structure is a huge worn-down shield composed of ancient rock, mainly granite , dating from Precambrian time (from about 4 billion to 540 million years ago). The land is low-lying in the southern part of the country and higher in the centre and the northeast, while the few mountainous regions are in the extreme northwest, adjacent to Finland’s borders with Sweden and Norway. In this area there are several high peaks, including Mount Halti , which is, at 4,357 feet (1,328 metres), Finland’s highest mountain.

The coastline of Finland, some 2,760 miles (4,600 km) in length, is extremely indented and dotted with thousands of islands. The greatest number of these are to be found in the southwest, in the Turun (Turku; Åbo) archipelago, which merges with the Åland (Ahvenanmaa) Islands in the west. The southern islands in the Gulf of Finland are mainly of low elevation, while those lying along the southwest coastline may rise to heights of more than 400 feet (120 metres). Helsinki archipelago, Finland. © Dainis Derics/Shutterstock.com The relief of Finland was greatly affected by Ice Age glaciation.The retreating continental glacier left the bedrock littered with morainic deposits in formations of eskers , remarkable winding ridges of stratified gravel and sand, running northwest to southeast. One of the biggest formations is the Salpausselkä ridges , three parallel ridges running across southern Finland in an arc pattern. The weight of the glaciers, sometimes miles thick, depressed the Earth’s crust by many hundreds of feet.

As a consequence, areas that have been released from the weight of the ice sheets have risen and continue to rise, and Finland is still emerging from the sea. Indeed, land rise of some 0.4 inch (10 mm) annually in the narrow part of the Gulf of Bothnia is gradually turning the old sea bottom into dry land. Drainage and soils Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Finland’s inland waters occupy almost one-tenth of the country’s total area; there are 10 lakes of more than 100 square miles (250 square km) in area and tens of thousands of smaller ones. The largest lake, Saimaa , in the southeast, covers about 1,700 square miles (4,400 square km). There are many other large lakes near it, including Päijänne and Pielinen , while Oulu is near Kajaani in central Finland, and Inari is in the extreme north. Away from coastal regions, many of Finland’s rivers flow into the lakes, which are generally shallow—only three lakes are deeper than about 300 feet (90 metres).

Saimaa itself drains into the much larger Lake Ladoga in Russian territory via the Vuoksi (Vuoksa) River. Drainage from Finland’s eastern uplands is through the lake system of Russian Karelia to the White Sea . Lake Saimaa in Finland. © rubiphoto/Shutterstock.com In the extreme north the Paats River and its tributaries drain large areas into the Arctic. On Finland’s western coast a series of rivers flow into the Gulf of Bothnia . These include the Tornio , which forms part of Finland’s border with Sweden, and the Kemi , which, at 343 miles (550 km), is Finland’s longest river. In the southwest the Kokemäen , one of Finland’s largest rivers, flows out past the city of Pori (Björneborg). Other rivers flow southward into the Gulf of Finland . Soils include those of the gravelly type found in the eskers, as well as extensive marine and lake postglacial deposits in the form of clays and silts, which provide the country’s most fertile soils.

Almost one-third of Finland was once covered by bogs, fens, peatlands, and other swamplands, but many of these have been drained and are now forested. The northern third of Finland still has thick layers of peat, the humus soil of which continues to be reclaimed. In the Åland Islands the soils are mainly clay and sand. Climate Eureka The part of Finland north of the Arctic Circle suffers extremely severe and prolonged winters. Temperatures can fall as low as −22 °F (−30 °C). In these latitudes the snow never melts from the north-facing mountain slopes, but in the short summer (Lapland has about two months of the midnight sun), from May to July, temperatures can reach as high as 80 °F (27 °C). Farther south the temperature extremes are slightly less marked, as the Baltic Sea- and Gulf Stream-warmed airflow from the Atlantic keeps temperatures as much as 10 degrees higher than at similar latitudes in Siberia and Greenland . Winter is the longest season in Finland. North of the Arctic Circle the polar night lasts for more than 50 days; in southern Finland the shortest day lasts about six hours.

Annual precipitation, about one-third of which falls as sleet or snow, is about 25 inches (600 mm) in the south and a little less in the north. All Finnish waters are subject to some surface freezing during the winter. Page 1 of 20 Finland Send me a copy Subject: Email addresses provided here will be used solely to email the link indicated. They will not be saved, shared, or used again in any manner whatsoever. The CAPTCHA code you entered is not valid, please reenter the CAPTCHA code Finland Official Name: Republic of Finland Last Updated: August 30, 2016 Embassy Messages Not required for stays under 90 days VACCINATIONS: Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(358) 9-616-250 and select 0 Fax: +(358) 9-174-681 See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Finland for information on U.S.–Finland relations. Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements Finland is a party to the Schengen Agreement . Visit the Embassy of Finland website for the most current visa information. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your stay.

For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet . You may enter Finland as a tourist for up to 90 days without a visa. Students and prospective students must apply for a residence permit if you plan to study at a Finnish educational institution for more than 90 days. More-detailed information is available on the Finnish Immigration Service website . HIV/AIDS restrictions. The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Finland. Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our customs information page . Safety and Security Terrorism: Credible information indicates terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Europe. European governments are taking action to guard against terrorist attacks; however, all European countries remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations. Crime: Crime remains low compared to other developed countries. Violent crime is rare in Finland, but, as in other large cities, sexual assaults do occur. You should remain vigilant of your surroundings at all times. Non-violent crimes, such as petty theft and pick-pocketing, are most prevalent in Finland.

Pay attention to your personal safety, and avoid leaving personal possessions unattended. Theft or skimming of ATM/debit/credit card PIN numbers at both ATM machines and in stores has increased significantly. Be aware of your environment when using debit/credit cards, and guard your PIN numbers. Organized crime groups operating in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe are present in Finland. Remain vigilant with regard to your personal security and exercise caution. See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams. Victims of Crime: Report crimes to the local police by dialing 112, and contact the U.S. Embassy at +(358) 9-616-250. Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips. Local Laws & Special Circumstances Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Your U.S. passport will not prevent you from being arrested, detained, or prosecuted for breaking local laws. Furthermore, some crimes are also prosecutable in the United States regardless of local law.

For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website. Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information. Special Circumstances: Commercial and financial transactions in Finland are increasingly automated and online. Cash is almost always acceptable (the currency is the euro), and most major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are very common, and many U.S.-issued bankcards are compatible with them. Students: See our students abroad page and FBI travel tips . Women Travelers: See our travel tips for women travelers . Health Medical facilities and staff are generally excellent and widely available for emergency services. English is commonly spoken by Finnish medical personnel. The public hospital system and many private hospitals honor foreign credit cards, but be prepared to pay cash if necessary. We do not pay medical bills, and U.S. Medicare is not valid overseas. Local medical centers, clinics, or first-aid stations are located at hospitals and will provide a full range of services to tourist and temporary visitors. Dial 112 for emergency medical services throughout Finland. Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel & Transportation Road Conditions and Safety: Finland has an extensive network of highways and excellent public transportation services throughout the country. Driving in Finland is on the right side. A valid U.S. driver’s license may be used while visiting Finland, but drivers must be at least 18 years of age. Traffic approaching from the right has priority, even if entering a primary roadway from a secondary one; as such, stop signs are rarely used in Finland. It is common practice in Finland, including in large cities, to turn off traffic lights at certain intersections in the early morning hours. Some roads in Helsinki designated as two-way are narrow, making passing difficult. Road signs use standard international symbols and Finnish text. Many urban streets have traffic lanes reserved for public transportation only. Winter driving in Finland can be hazardous. Daylight hours are very short and drivers should be comfortable driving in darkness. Icy road conditions are common. Your vehicle must have snow tires from December through February. Engine heaters are strongly recommended. When driving at night, drivers must be alert to moose wandering onto major roadways. Striking a moose can severely damage a vehicle and even fatally injure its occupants.

If you are in a car accident, you must have your insurance paperwork with you. Traffic Laws: Unless otherwise noted on traffic signs, the speed limit varies from 30 to 40 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on open roads, and 120 km/h on expressways during summer (100 km/h in winter). Vehicles must use headlights at all times. Use of seatbelts is mandatory for drivers and all passengers. Children under 135 cm (approx. 53 inches) in height must be seated in approved child or booster seats or use appropriate safety equipment as stated on the Finnish Police website and the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications fact sheets . Drunk-driving laws are strict. Police strictly enforce all traffic laws and institute random roadside breath-analyzer tests. Drivers who register a 0.05% or higher blood-alcohol content are subject to immediate arrest. For more information, please review the Finnish Police website . Public Transportation: Public transport in Finland is of good quality and is the recommended method of travel. Passenger trains, intercity buses, and air flights provide regular service over longer distances.

Public transportation in urban centers includes buses, subways, trams, suburban trains, and taxis. Taxis are more expensive than in major U.S. cities. Most local residents use public transport in Helsinki as parking can be hard to find and expensive. The bus, train, and subway systems are safe and easy to use. Helsinki | Define Helsinki at Dictionary.com Helsinki [hel-sing-kee, hel-sing-] /ˈhɛl sɪŋ ki, hɛlˈsɪŋ-/ Spell a seaport in and the capital of Finland, on the S coast. Expand [hel-sing-fawrz; Swedish hel-sing-fawsh] /ˈhɛl sɪŋˌfɔrz; Swedish ˌhɛl sɪŋˈfɔʃ/ (Show IPA). Finland noun 1. Finnish Suomi . a republic in N Europe: formerly a province of the Russian Empire. 130,119 sq. mi. (337,010 sq. km). Capital: Helsinki. Gulf of, an arm of the Baltic, S of Finland.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for Helsinki Expand Contemporary Examples But it was the Helsinki Birth Cohort of 1934-1944 that allowed more than 6,000 Finnish women to be studied. How Mom's Hip Size Predicts Her Daughter's Risk Kent L. Thornburg, PhD October 23, 2009 “They got letters,” says Simo Muir, adjunct professor of Jewish Studies at Helsinki University. Nine Amazing Places To Skinny Dip Around The World Erin Cunningham September 20, 2013 Historical Examples As most travelers, most tourist travelers come into the Soviet Union on a prearranged tour—many do come from Helsinki. Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15) The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy In this he states that he applied for a Soviet tourist visa in Helsinki on October 14. Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15) The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy And it may be that the Soviet Embassy in Helsinki is accustomed to processing unusual cases or something.

Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15) The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy Is there any other port of entry into the Soviet Union that is comparable to Helsinki in the context you are using it here? Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15) The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy What is so unusual and relatively uncomplicated about Helsinki as a point of entry? Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15) The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy British Dictionary definitions for Helsinki Expand noun 1. the capital of Finland, a port in the south on the Gulf of Finland: founded by Gustavus I of Sweden in 1550; replaced Turku as capital in 1812, while under Russian rule; university. Pop: 559 330 (2003 est) Swedish name Helsingfors (hɛlsɪŋˈfɔrs) Finland noun 1.

a republic in N Europe, on the Baltic Sea: ceded to Russia by Sweden in 1809; gained independence in 1917; Soviet invasion successfully withstood in 1939–40, with the loss of Karelia; a member of the European Union. It is generally low-lying, with about 50 000 lakes, extensive forests, and peat bogs. Official languages: Finnish and Swedish. Religion: Christian, Lutheran majority. Currency: euro. Capital: Helsinki. Pop: 5 266 114 (2013 est). Area: 337 000 sq km (130 120 sq miles) Finnish name Suomi 2. Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea between Finland, Estonia, and Russia Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Expand Helsinki [(hel-sing-kee, hel-sing-kee)] Capital of Finland and largest city in the country; located in southern Finland on the Gulf of Finland; one of the nation's chief ports, as well as its commercial and cultural center. Note: Helsinki is the site of many international conferences. Note: The Helsinki Accords were signed in 1975; their goal was to increase cooperation between eastern and western Europe in hopes of reducing tensions resulting from World War II and the cold war . Finland definition Republic in northern Europe , bordered by the Gulf of Bothnia (an arm of the Baltic Sea ) and Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, Russia to the east, and the Gulf of Finland (another arm of the Baltic) and the Baltic Sea to the south. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki .

Note: Despite centuries of cultural, political, and economic domination by the Russian empire and the former Soviet Union , Finland has managed to maintain an independent identity. The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Helsinki – the Christmas city — VisitFinland.com Helsinki – the Christmas city Helsinki – the Christmas city The first substantial snow usually arrives in time for Christmas in the Finnish capital, draping the city in white and creating an appropriately festive ambience. Christmas lights on the city’s main street Aleksanterinkatu and the bustle of shoppers in St Thomas’ Market exude a cheering warmth. The sun may be reluctant to rise as winter starts to grip Helsinki, but the aroma of mulled wine, or glögi, and shop window decorations warm the soul as Christmas approaches. Christmas is usually a quiet family celebration, so people make the most of pikkujoulu – ‘little Christmas’ – during which they party in bars and restaurants. The mercury may plunge below minus 10 Celsius, but the mood is one of warm conviviality.

Even when temperatures plummet, shops and restaurants emit a welcoming glow and Finnish buildings are famously equipped to expel the harshest frost. Add to the mix carol recitals in the churches and it’s hard to believe that Helsinki wasn’t actually founded for the specific purpose of celebrating Christmas. Open larger map Helsinki Helsinki is a modern, pocket-sized European city known for design and high technology. Helsinki’s attractive and unique character comes from its proximity to the sea, as well as its location between the East and the West. Helsinki Aleksanterinkatu – the Christmas street The switching-on of the Christmas illuminations along Aleksanterinkatu – the official Christmas street – is a sure sign that the festive season is under way. Shop windows are decorated to outbid each other in the Christmas shopper stakes. Aleksanterinkatu, one of Helsinki’s best known shopping streets, is a natural focus for gift seekers. Hot glögi warms the soul Glögi is a traditional Christmas drink, made from spiced wine with a sprinkling of almonds and raisins and, whenever possible, a dash of vodka. The drink is served to welcome Christmas visitors in homes, at office parties and in street markets and events.

Dreams of snow come true White Christmases can´t be 100-per-cent guaranteed in Helsinki, although there is a better chance of them in northern Finland. But in recent years the snow has arrived early and snow nearly always falls at some time over the festive season. Annual treat for children The unveiling of the Christmas window in the Stockmann department store on the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Keskuskatu is an awaited annual event for young Helsinki citizens. Families come into town from the suburbs especially to show the kids the annually-changing display. Can’t wait to skate The Ice Park in the Railway Station Square has become a popular attraction and its opening before Christmas adds to the seasonal atmosphere. Open daily, weather permitting, the ice rink boasts a café and it’s a great venue to chill out and practice your twirls after Christmas shopping. Lucia Day – celebrating winter light The celebration of St Lucia Day is a tradition kept alive by the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland, but the procession of the newly crowned Lucia from the Lutheran Cathedral – complete with horse-drawn carriage, elves and Santa Claus – is a spectacle for everyone. The celebrations take place on December 13, St Lucia’s Day.

Tiernapojat – a Finnish ritual The Tiernapojat (literally, ‘star boys’) tradition, which draws on the legend of the Three Kings and the slaughter of young males, is enacted in Helsinki streets by groups of lads hoping for a coin or two. The characters deliver their dialogue in a series of songs. St Thomas market St Thomas market opens right in the heart of town in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The market consists of over 120 stalls selling handicrafts, lanterns, Christmas decorations, food and hot drinks and is a great, convivial venue for gift shopping. Services in the area

Question: What is the former name of Helsinki, Finland?
Answer: Helsingfors