Annikki and I were invited to a wedding of the daughter of a couple, Sisko and Pentti Paakki, who are good friends. Unfortunately, as Annikki's sister from Helsinki came to spend a few days in Oulu, Annikki could not join me for the event.
(Click on the images to see larger versions.)
The wedding took place in the Haukipudas Church. It is an old church which is decorated on the inside with paintings of scenes from the Bible. It was customary for mariners to build a miniature model of their own ship and donate it to their home church in thanks for making it home after a long voyage. One such model hangs in the Haukipudas Church.
The service was short and sweet - just 30 minutes, and only one hymn was sung.
Sisko and Pentti Paakki have 13 children. They belong to the Lestardian sect of the Lutheran church. I was fortunate today to meet 12 out of the 13 children (one family could not attend) and the better halves of all those who are married. Six of each sex were present. Hanna was married today to Jouni, leaving just three children, two girls (Helena and Maria) and one boy (Jukka) yet to be married. Only the youngest, Maria, stays at home.
The bulk of the children live around Helsinki and its surrounding townships as Espoo, Vantaa, Kerava and Masala.
The reception was held in the adjoining Church Congretational Hall. There was an excellent meal, Finnish new potatoies, beef stew (Finnish style), a vegetable pie, excellent fresh salad, salted salmon slices, cheese slices, bread and butter. The drinks with the meal were a choice from non-alcoholic home made beer, milk, light fruit juice and water.
This was followed by a programme in the hall with hymns, speeches (very short), the cake cutting and afternoon coffee or tea with a variety of delicious cakes and biscuits served with either tea or coffee.
of Sisko and Pentti Paakki. She is studying
in Oulu to be a deaconess.
This was followed by the family photograph session, followed by another round of speeches and songs by relatives and friends. I gave a short speech thanking both families for making me so welcome at their family occasion.
Sitting in the foreground are two daughters-in-law,
Timo's wife Sanna-Maria in white, and
Heikki's wife, Katja, in orange.
It ended with a thank you by the groom, and then the bride and groom left for their honeymoon.
What I saw today was a strong bond between parents and children which is very important if this world is going to survive the crisis it is going through. The bond is based on their strong religious beliefs and is translated into love for all their fellow human beings. I was deeply touched by the friendliness and fellowship shown by all Sisko and Pentti's children and their other halves to me, a total stranger to all of them (save two), before today. For this I must really compliment Pentti and his lovely wife, Sisko (which means "sister" in Finnish) for the upbringing they have imparted to their children.
In fact what I found today was the relationship between Sisko and her children was not a mother - child relationionship, but a sisterly one.
I was not the only person from shores far away. Sisko's relatives from Audstralia were also at the wedding.
The lady is the daughter of Sisko's sister
and she was accompanied by her daughter.
I really enjoyed being part of this lovely family on this beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon in Haukipudas.
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