HANCOCK — What we now call Copper Country Finns & Friends created a new celebration in Hancock Heikinpäivä. The Finnish Theme Committee of the City of Hancock, as it was known then built the celebration on themes taken from Finnish folk saying associated with the name day for St. Henrick’s Day, or Heikki.

According to Visit Keweenaw’s website, St. Henrick’s Day was a time when the farmer took stock of his hay, grains and other commodities, making sure that there was at least half left. Through the years, Finnish Americans in the Copper Country have evolved the proverb into the half way point of the long winter, when the “the bear rolls onto his other side,” during his long hibernation.

While some events of this year’s celebration, organized to keep and to teach Finnish customs, have already taken place, there’s plenty more to come, including food, flim, music, games and a wonderful parade.

Last year the City of Hancock held the inaugural Snow Sculping Invitational with professional and local sculptors creating amazing artworks of snow and ice. This year the invitational takes place during Heikinpäivä, essentially assuring the participants will have large crowds watching them create.

Teams are expected to arrive on Friday Jan. 23 with sculpting getting underway at 1 p.m. and continuing until Sunday, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. While the artists are working Saturday there will be a variety of activities including the TORI and Neighborhood Market at the Finnish American Heritage Center

and the First United Methodist Church. There will be food vendors both at the church and at the Heritage center.

The sculptors will put their tools down at 1 p.m. Sunday with judging to follow and the winners announced at 2 p.m.

Despite the excitement of world class snow sculpting, this is only a part of the fun and excitement that Jan. 24 will bring.

This year’s Heikinpäivä launches the Kick off to Hancock’s Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture year. Saturday’s schedule includes:

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Tori markets Location: Finnish American Heritage Center & United Methodist Church

11 a.m. – Parade, Quincy Street, Hancock. Following the parade on the Quincy Green there will be the passing of the symbolic Finno-Ugric “Tsirk”; Bear Spiral (Karhunpeijäiset – led by Tsirk carriers); Outdoor games – wife carrying contest and children’s kicksled races

1:30 p.m. – The Magic of Sauna Textiles — Lisa Steinmann and Karen Rue (of Saunamekko) host a free talk in the United Methodist Church Fellowship room

1-3 p.m. – Polar Plunge, Location: Hancock Boardwalk on Navy Street (between Takka Sauna Portage and Ramada Inn) Admission is free, $5 donations encouraged (benefitting Hancock’s Finno-Ugric year calendar of events)

Got sisu?! Prove it! Make the Polar Plunge post-parade and then warm up with Takka mini-sauna sessions & specials at Small Craft! Bring warm, dry clothes, and towels. More Event Details

2-4 p.m. – Copper Country Curling demonstration, Small Craft’s outdoor pavilion

2:30 p.m. – “Finno-Ugric World Tour” Talk by Gage Kerä​nen, nited Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, Hancock

2:30 – 4 p.m. – Animal Life: Art from the Kalevala, Opening reception at the Copper Country Community Arts Center

7-10 p.m. – Iltamat (evening dance) $15 per person at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Hors d’oeuvres and raffle available

Heikinpäivä activities continue through the end of the month. For a complete list, visit visitkeweenaw.com