this song is based on a true story. It is sung from a child's perspective when she had to leave her house and hometown in Karelia with her family. The song is based on winter war between Finland and Soviet union when around 440 thousand finns had to evacuate from Karelia and men had to fight against Soviet union. Most of finns have relatives that had to evacuate and we still are a bit mad that we lost Karelia.
Hi. The song is about the fact, that 400 000 finns were evacuated from southern parts of karelia as the Russians (who else?) invaded our country. The winter war between Russia and Finland wentr on 100 days at 1939-1940 and the "continuation war 3,5 years between 1941-1944. So called winter war was started by Russians at 30.11.1939 and as Finns were not so well prepared to the war, Russians invaded the southern parts of Karelia. in total, about 440 000 finns eventually had to leave their homes. Yep. 440 000 people had to leave and were evacuated from their homes and later settled in to other parts of Finland. My mothers parents have to leave Viipuri, their home town to settle in to Kotka. My father's mother was from island of Seiskari at gulf of Finland. That island was also given to russia after the war. They all were evacuees. This song is very, very, very meaningful to finns as you might imagine. And saddest story of Finland. And yes, we don't want those areas back any more but nowadays, in practice already since 1970ies Finland has been THE most well equipped country in Europe, if you think of military capabilities (not including UK and France as they have the nukes). We also have 6-12 months of military conscript service for every man and also as voluntary service for women. Thousands of voluntary women also go to serve as conscript every year. Regarding the equipment, we are ready. Finland has the latest technology fighter jets and tanks and for example the largest artillery of all western european countries. However, we are not going to invade anyone and the equipment is only for defence. So now, we are extremely well prepared to defend ourselves. And as you can see from current war in Europe, it is as important as ever to be prepared. And we definitely are ready, whatever will happen.
@@daleynevantaus224 wow! This is a lot! So sorry about what happened to your country in the past and I’m happy for the improvement so far; now I understand better, thank you 😊
My Grand parents had that journey with 3 siblings. My great grandfather stay to hold up russian invasion and is buried on that war field somewhare. Great grandmother died at road from home to helsinki. This and couple others song is make me sametime sad and angry. Those stories i have heard from my grandfather ... he was 11 when this happend and die age of 101.
This was very realistic story how things went to so many in the ww2, when russia once more decided that killing neighbours is a good idea, just like today, nothing chances ever. Finnish storytelling musician, composer, and dare say poet Veikko Lavi did this, and undoutable based in reality, possibly seen himself these travels in the avcuee's train. I think all his songs are poems of hars reality without fairytails and sugar coating, but for me he is the master of that area in finland. I don't know how many of hes songs do have translation, but if you find any from here yt you won't be disapointed.
My dad's village was over taken by the Soviet Union. The date was the 6th of december, 1939. Same day as the Finland's independence's day. They had to leave their home, while a loaf of bread was still in the oven. That and we was owned as "serf" (other word for slavery) for over 300 years...Then we bought up our freedom in 1670. I still have the copy of the slave contract in my home, as a reminder of our past.
Look up the barbary slave trade. Many of us Karelians was shipped from Crimea, Ukraine to the far east. Look after the blog of Mike Dash: "Slavery on the Steppes: Finnish children in the slave markets of medieval Crimea". The worst was during "the great wrath", when the Russians took almost half the country in 1714 to 1721.
@@Claire_Reacts There is here in YT, a hour long documentary called "isoviha". Its means in finnish as "The Great Wrath". It haves english subtitles. And no problem, I want to educate that we all more or less been slaves.
