Surprising things can become larger than life, especially in extraordinary circumstances and because they are dear, important and integral to your world view and your everyday life in such a holistic way, affecting you on so many levels. No matter how long and how well you prepare for the future and the probable, there will be a moment when it becomes concrete. And you feel it.
Oh, I'm talking about the festival. More specifically, my own personal and overriding feelings about the cancellation of the event this coming summer.
Moving the event forward by a year has huge implications. It is not yet possible to say what the regional economic impact will be. We all understand that the impact will be neither small nor insignificant.
But the main thing that comes to mind is the emotional impact of what happened. The coming summer without parties will affect so many, on so many levels. The coming summer without its climax is almost impossible to comprehend right now.
The people who make our feast have been on our minds. These celebrations take place throughout the year and for several years in a row. The celebrations are not only prepared in Kaustinen, by the staff and the large number of volunteers working in our organisation. A huge resource is the network of Friends of Kaustinen spread throughout Finland, who also do all kinds of voluntary work for our common celebration, also throughout the year.
NOW YOU MIGHT FEEL, that the work already done has been in vain and is running like sand through your fingers. In particular, it is a huge disappointment that the 2020 summer programme will not be implemented as planned. It would have been wonderful and worth experiencing. However, no work is in vain; it takes us forward in its own way.
The spirit of Kaustinen is and will remain. Our unique, living heritage carries us forward and brings comfort in these very exceptional times. In these weeks, I have often thought of the people who have worked so hard to make this celebration possible, which has been going on for decades.
There are many difficult times in the history of the celebrations, and the continuity of the celebrations has required incredible efforts and sacrifices from so many. It obliges us to keep working, to lift our chins and look to the future.
Together, we continue to work towards a great celebration in a small village, and although the journey is longer now, the happiest days of summer will come again.
”The gift of song, the sound of music,
the victory of the forces of matter and spirit.”
Wiljami Niittykoski, 1981.
Thank you all for the countless messages and contacts, for all the support and encouragement we have received.
caustic #kfmf2021
Text:
Ira Korkala
Pro Kaustinen ry
Chairman
Photo:
From the author's home album