Pretty Marc frontman Marc Aulén in Helsinki (Image: Tuukka Kouri)

IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC that is placing unprecedented pressures on small musical acts that now have to contend with cancelled bookings and shuttered venues, a shared passion for the craft of music is vital for keeping creativity alive.

Assyrian king and Marduk-zakir-šumi I of Babylon shaking hands

Coronavirus pandemic has forced us to change many of our habits. People everywhere have become hygiene-aware and are more careful about what they touch. Right from the beginning of the spread of the now pandemic Covid-19, hand washing instructions, songs and memes mushroomed in every channel of the social media. Today hardly any two people shake hands when they meet. 

Screenshot from a Masha i Medved video

The fifth-most watched YouTube video in the world of all time is an episode of a Russian cartoon for little children. The formidable title of being the "most viewed non-music video" belongs to it as well. Titled "Recipe for Disaster", the 17th instalment in the Russian cartoon series "Masha and the Bear" (Masha i Medved) has, as of 2019, garnered 4.213 billion views. Although primarily intended at very young audiences, the delightful, vivid and intricate 3D animation, sprightly music and acoustics, gripping, fast-paced narrative, and a witty, fastidious, and acute English translation render it attractive to any age-group.

The movie has its roots in the legend taken from a joke in a Finnish newspaper.

It’s already been several years since the chilling rumors of Russians who dug until hell started to flow around the internet. The story says that the drillers on the Kola Peninsula released something unidentified from the underworld, whereas the scientists recorded the sounds of sinners screaming. It’s hard to imagine a better idea for horror or thriller filmmakers, which has scientific context and has been a popular topic in many countries for years. 

Tattoos are not a taboo anymore. Image: Pixabay

As time moves on and attitudes change, so too does what is seen as acceptable within society. After all, how we view certain issues now, is much different than in the 1920s, for example. This change in attitudes has become even more fast-paced in recent years, with the effects that a growing globalisation has had. But what is globalisation? 

In simple terms, it is the process by which the world is becoming more connected and and nations around the globe have increasing influence on one another.

The 'calm and tranquil' stamp won the prize for best stamp in the world between 2013-2017 (Image: Lehtikuva)

A NUMBER OF FINNISH POSTAGE STAMPS have won international recognition for their design, with one (main image) being voted as the 'best in the world' for the 2013-2017 period. The annual Nexofil Awards consists of a panel representing 37 countries, tasked with awarding recognition to the best stamp designs around the globe. 

If you are not in a private party or have traveled south for the holidays, there are several ways to celebrate your new year’s eve in Helsinki. The city is arranging a free concert and fireworks as usual, and some clubs and restaurants have special events. One place however which is a sure choice every year is Casino Helsinki. 

There are still tickets available for this year’s New years’s dinner and show where local artist Sebastian Rejman will perform the best hits of Bruce Springsteen while you are having a menu of Finnish delicacies.

Volbeat's concert in Helsinki's Hartwall Arena for tomorrow 27th of November has been cancelled as the band was not able to get their equipment to Finland. The cargo ship sailing under the Finnish flag was stopped by sympathy strikes of other unions supporting the nationwide strike of postal employees.

The Pet Shop Boys’ released a new single called ‘Dreamland’ on October 25, 2019, with Finnish fans now able to purchase it in physical, digital and 12-inch vinyl formats. The title of the new single coincides with how the Finland national football team players felt after they secured their first ever qualification to a major football tournament, thanks to two goals from rising football star Teemu Pukki, this enabled Finland to secure automatic qualification to next year’s UEFA Euro 2020 tournemnt. 

Creating theater with Los Angeles’s most marginalized communities in places like skid row and California State maximum security prisons has given a unique perspective to the Strindberg Laboratory’s work in Finland. The Strindberg Laboratory has created an abridged and unique take on Macbeth along with co- creating No Labels No Walls a social movement and festival with Finnish partner Kukunori that is sure to shake up the status quo here in Finland.