Åland Day in New York City

The Åland Society of New York presents in cooperation with American Scandinavian Society and Finnish & American Women’s Network:

Celebration of the 101st anniversary of Ålands Självstyrelsedag/ Autonomy Day – Åland Day June 9

This is your invitation to celebrate The Åland Islands’ Autonomy Day on June 9th in Manhattan, centered around visiting artist direct from Åland, 18-year old Aina Andersson of Marby, Eckerö. Aina won Finland’s Melodi Grand Prix Song Contest when she was just 10 years old, and she comes to New York with her mother Nina to celebrate her 18th birthday.

A little history: Aina’s great grandmother was the famous “Tant Henny,”; leader for many years of Barnklubben Elsa Rix of the Vasa Order of America. Her grandparents, Herby and Lillian Andersson were the first accordion students of Walter Eriksson of Brooklyn. Walter’s daughter Jeanne was their flower-girl when they got married!

Program

Entertainment – Concert and Sing-Along: Smorgasbandet of NY with Special guest: Aina Andersson, from Åland, winner of Melody Grand Prix Finland Grand Prix Song Competition.

Performance followed by reception with refreshments; LONG DRINK and hors d’oeuvres, coffee and Åland Pannkaka (pancake).

Raffles

• Purchase of an entry ticket includes one raffle ticket and a chance to win a prize.

• Additional raffle tickets to be sold at the event.

• Rye Bread raffle sponsored by ARCTIC SWAN BAKERY.

We thank the Arctic Swan Bakery for their sponsorship of the rye bread raffle!

Åland

The Swedish-speaking Åland Islands are an archipelago between Sweden and Finland, with over 6,000 islands & skerries, technically belonging to Finland, only 35 of them inhabited, and they have their own parliament, flag, stamp, and they are demilitarized. One of their biggest exports is potato chips and their biggest import is tourism, a paradise for seafarers and golfers.

Sunday, June 9th is “Åland Day” starting with an 11 o’clock mass at the Swedish Church, 5 East 48th Street, where Aina will be part of the service. Coffee & Kanelbullar (Swedish buns) will follow, courtesy of The Åland Society of New York.

The day continues with a 2 PM Concert & Reception at The Norwegian Seaman’s Church, 317 E. 52nd Street,  with singing by Aina, Nina, and music and an allsång with SmorgasBandet. Expect some Taube tunes! Following the concert there’ll be a reception with hors d’oeuvres, Finland’s favorite export beverage “Long Drink,” and traditional Ålands Pannkaka and more. This event is in cooperation with the American-Scandinavian Society, FAWN (Finnish-American Women’s Network), the Arctic Swan Bakery, and Föreningen Åland.

Come enjoy the music, celebrate Åland, Aina’s birthday, and a chance to win some exciting prizes too.

Event Details

When: Sunday June 9, 2-4 pm

Where: Norwegian Seamen’s Church, 317 E. 52nd St., NYC, NY 10022 (between 2nd and 1st avenues).
Take number 6 subway to 51, E train to 53 street, or 2nd or 3rd Ave. bus.

Tickets: $20 per person
Pay online below, or if by check, make it payable to: American Scandinavian Society and mail to 317 E. 52nd St., NYC, NY 10022

Special Thanks

Special thanks to the co-sponsors and supporters, ÅLAND IN AMERICA (Åland Society of New York), the American Scandinavian Society, Finnish & American Women’s Network (FAWN) and Long Drink.

Tervetuloa, Välkommen & Welcome!