~Experiencing Moomin Day (August 9th) in Finland~

Are you familiar with "Moomin Day"?

In fact, August 9th, which is coming up soon, is "Moomin Day".

Why is this day "Moomin Day"?
It is because this day is the birthday of the Finnish Moomin author, Tove Jansson.

Among Moomin fans in Japan, I suspect many are paying attention to "Moomin Day" because new products, such as anniversary merchandise, are released.

Moomin's popularity in Japan is incredible.



According to a past survey on character recognition, the recognition rate of Moomin in both Finland and Japan is over 90%, which is almost the same.

Since coming to Finland, I have realized even more how much Japanese people love Moomin.

In Moomin character shops in Finland, there are almost always Japanese customers, no matter when you go.

I also saw several groups of Japanese people at the Moomin Museum in Tampere.

And, there are probably more Moomin goods sold in Japan than in Finland (lol).
(There are things imported from Finland + many things manufactured in Japan.)

Some even say that Moomin is more popular in Japan than in Finland.

Perhaps that is the case.

However, I felt that the way people in Finland, the home of Moomin, relate to Moomin is completely different from Japan.

I feel that for Finns, Moomin is no longer just a character, but an existence that symbolizes Finnish culture itself.

First of all, among the customers who come to Moomin shops in Finland, there are naturally Finnish people, and it is not rare to see grandparents visiting.
(I was impressed by how many of them were happy to find and buy merchandise of the Groke, a large, grey female monster who freezes everything around her.)

Those who have read the Moomin novels will likely agree that the stories often carefully depict nature and one's relationship with it.

And these depictions are not always pleasant. In fact, they are usually eerie or something that leaves one feeling at the mercy of nature.

Since coming to Finland, I have realized that these are primarily depictions of the Finnish climate and nature.

Perhaps Finns see themselves in the Moomins, who live their lives while being frightened, troubled, and tossed about in such an environment.

And perhaps it is precisely because they have been loved for so long that "Moomin" is naturally present in homes (such as Moomin mugs), and Moomin is passed down along with the Finnish spirit.

I welcomed last year's "Moomin Day (Muumin päivä)" while holding such thoughts in my heart.

Last year was a commemorative 80th anniversary since the publication of the first Moomin novel, "The Moomins and the Great Flood," in Finland in 1945. (The same year as the end of World War II.)

Stockmann department store, which has been seriously involved with Tove Jansson since 1956, placed a giant Moomin decoration at its main entrance for a limited time until the end of August. Inside the store, Moomin characters greeted visitors on every floor, and even the shopping bags were Moomin-designed, dyeing the entire store in Moomin colors.

Now, how should I spend my first Muumin päivä in Finland...

It seemed that commemorative ceremonies and events were being held in Tampere, where the Moomin Museum is located, but
since I am lucky enough to live in Helsinki, where Tove Jansson was born and raised,
I want to walk through the town of Helsinki on that day while thinking of Tove Jansson.

Thinking this, I found a column titled "Helsinki, Following in the Footsteps of Tove Jansson" on the city-run event website, so I decided to use it as a reference to visit places associated with her.

I left my apartment early in the morning with great enthusiasm, went to the elementary school she attended (now the Design Museum), admired the exterior, and then visited the studio apartment nearby where she lived from 1944 until her death in 2001, reflecting on her life.

From there, I headed to a park called "Tähtitorninvuori" (Observatory Hill).

I really wanted to enter from the front of the park, so I went out of my way to take the long route.

The straight path leading to the park was beautiful with its buildings and trees, and the sound of the bells from the German Lutheran church just before the park welcomed me.

This place is said to be one of the models for the observatory in my favorite Moomin novel, "Comet in Moominland."

The cobblestone path leading straight to the observatory looks quiet yet majestic.

Recalling scenes from the story, I imagine the Moomins finally arriving at the observatory after their long journey.

In fact, this building is still used as the Helsinki University Observatory.
The general public can also enter as a museum (though for most people, it is paid and limited to certain days of the week).

And there is one more place said to be a model for the observatory in "Comet in Moominland."
I didn't go there that day, but it is the observatory in Kaivopuisto (Well Park).
This is a small, round observatory, and you can feel the attention to design in its onion-shaped decoration at the top.

From Tähtitorninvuori, I will now walk along the coast toward the market.

There is Esplanadi Park, a place of relaxation for everyone.

When it comes to Helsinki, I imagine many people think of this Esplanadi.

However, I wonder how many people know that the statue of this fountain on the seaside of Esplanadi was modeled after Tove Jansson.

Standing before the statue, my heart filled with respect and gratitude for Tove Jansson,
and next, I will head to 'Tove Jansson Park,' where she played in her childhood.

If you walk straight along the coast from Esplanadi, you will see Uspenski Cathedral.

The park is located just behind the cathedral.

Actually, this park was originally named Katajanokka Park.
(It is located in the Katajanokka area)

However, after Tove Jansson passed away, there was talk of whether a park could be created to preserve her legacy,
and this park, where she often played in her childhood, was chosen, and it seems it was renamed "Tove Jansson Park" in 2014, the year of her 100th birthday.
Reference: https://yle.fi/a/7-818853

In the park, there are a few pieces of playground equipment decorated with Moomin illustrations.

When the park was renamed, it seems there was some planting of flowers and the like, but
the fact that it wasn't overly flashy felt very Finnish.

I thought that the young Tove Jansson surely never imagined that this park would one day bear her name.

I want to thank this park for making me think that perhaps I, too, could become someone amazing enough to have something public named after me one day (it's free to dream).


It was a place that made me excited all over again, reminding me that life is still just beginning.

After that, I looked at the apartment in Katajanokka where she spent her childhood, and returned to the city center.

And then, for one last push, I extended my trip to the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM).

At the Helsinki Art Museum, there was an exhibition of Tove Jansson's work, and on Moomin Day, you could actually see all the exhibitions in the building for free.

(The doors to the exhibition were open, but I was worried about whether I could just go in, so I asked a nearby staff member, "Is it a free day today?" They smiled and welcomed me, saying, "Yes, it is! Enjoy!")

It left a deep impression on me when the staff member in charge of the Tove Jansson exhibition area called out to me in English, saying, "If there is anything you are curious about in the exhibition, please feel free to ask!"

It was a precious "Muumin päivä" where I could feel Tove Jansson's presence all day long.

~~~

If you are in Finland during this time and are interested in Moomins, why not spend your own special "Muumin päivä" that you can only experience in Finland?

(You might even want to extend your stay!)

I also found this site, so please feel free to translate and read it if you'd like.
It lists all kinds of Moomin spots✨

I hope you all enjoy Moomin Day in your own way🐦