WELCOME TO “ÅLAND DAY IN NEW YORK CITY” - JUNE 9, 2024 to celebrate The Åland Islands’ Autonomy Day

• Welcome.....................Jeanne Eriksson Widman Andersen, FÅ
• Greetings from Lars Nilsen, President of The American
Scandinavian Society of New York & Kerstin Nordin,
President of FAWN, Finnish American Women’s Network
• A Little History of........... The Åland Islands & The Anderssons
• SMÖRGÅSBANDET.................................Jeanne, Wayne & Chad
• AINA ANDERSSON.......accompanied by Tor Morten on piano
• Duvemåla hage from Kristina från Duvemåla....music & text:
B. Ulvaeus & B. Andersson
• Kärleken är.................... I. Forsman, H. Almqvist, B. Ljunggren
• Hallelujah................. Leonard Cohen, Py Bäckman Svensk text
• Vem kan segla förutan vind..................traditional from Åland,
with Nina Andersson in Finnish and Swedish
• Think of me, Phantom of the Opera......... Music: A.L.Webber,
Lyrics: Charles Hart
• NINA ANDERSSON...................... accompanied by Tor Morten
• Innerst I sjelen............................ O. Paus, Ö. Englund, L. Borke
• Vinden drar.............traditional from Åland, a’capella & drum
• Så skimrande var aldrig havet................................Evert Taube
• ALLSÅNG PÅ NEW YORK CITY! ..........SmörgåsBandet & You!
• All tunes on the songsheet .....................Everyone sing along! •
WELCOME TO “ÅLAND DAY IN NEW YORK CITY” - JUNE 9, 2024
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. When Herby & Lillian got married on June 1, 1958, both Emmy & Walter were in the wedding party, along with Einar Ericson & Artie Carlson (original members of SmörgåsBandet). Little 7-year-old Jeanne was their flower-girl. Herby & Lillian’s first born, Bengt, was born in Brooklyn on Eighth Avenue, once known as “Lapskaus Boulevard.” They moved to Åland short thereafter and that’s where Nina and her sister Anita were born. Nina & Anita are well- known for their singing career, and Bengt is a fine accordionist, and also happens to be Walter Eriksson’s Godson. Walter’s father, Axel Algot, one of 11 children, was born in Finström, one of 16 provinces of Åland. He emigrated to America, along with his fiddle and accordion, and settled in Finntown, Brooklyn. Find more info at www.WalterEriksson.com.
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. They became autonomous through the League of Nations, a treaty signed 101 years ago on June 9, 1923. If you haven’t been to Åland, take a few days when next in Finland or Sweden and hop on the ferry to “Paradise.” For more info, go to www.VisitAland.com.
Föreninging Åland was formed in New York in 1915, and celebrated 100 years at the Scandinavia House on Park Avenue in 2015, together with Mariehamns Choir and SmörgåsBandet. It is an honor to celebrate Åland Day today with all of you who attended the Swedish Church and the Norwegian Church. Special thanks to Lars Nilsen, Daryl Eckman-Lanfranca & Kerstin Nordin, and the Åland Day Committee, and the musicians and sound coordinators Tor Morten, Wayne Söderlund and Chad Widman. After the concert you are all invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Anne Siuvatti and the special dessert “Ålands Pannkaka (Ulrika Bengtsson of Björcks Café). HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY AINA!

TACK SÅ MYCKET! MANGE TAKK! KIITOS! THANK YOU!
AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETY: www.AmericanScandinavian.org FINNISH AMERICAN WOMENS NETWORK: www.FAWNET.org
LONG DRINK: www.TheLongDrink.com
SMORGASBANDET: www.SmorgasBandet.com & www.SmorgasBand.com
FÖRENINGEN ÅLAND NY: www.AlandSocietyNewYork.com- also on Facebook: “Åland in America”
IKEA LONG ISLAND: www.IKEA.com
ARCTIC SWAN BAKERY: www.Swanbakery.com
SWEDISH CHURCH: www.SvenskaKyrkan.se
NORWEGIAN CHURCH: www.Sjomannskirken.no
/jeanne eriksson widman andersen: [email protected]/718-415-0602
“ÅLAND DAY”