Kirkkokatu street 19, the Trade House of Lang, Window of the Vaakahuone room in the Lang courtyard
Where is Christmas elf Briskie going tonight? Katinhäntä is his patrol area, and Pekkatori square is his destination tonight. We must get moving and not just dream about the past.
It is a beautiful frosty night. Elf Briskie is hanging around Pekkatori Square. This is his favorite place. Here he remembers the early years of his elf career. It was during the heyday of sailing ships that he got his job as an elf from Katinhäntä. Pietari Brahe stands proudly in the middle of the square.
"It's handsome," elf Briskie muses to himself. He remembers how the people of Raahe collected money for the statue.
A few times a month, the burghers organized evening parties with entertainment. There was music and singing, Briskie recalls. On Epiphany, at the Town Hall masquerade, the gentlemen showed off their dark red velvet suits and the ladies flaunted their silk dresses from the time of Gustav III. And of course, they danced the minuet.
- It was a magnificent event when the statue was unveiled in 1888. Of course, I had to sneak in to watch the event, even though it was pouring rain. Briskie finds it a little amusing that people had to stand under umbrellas. But no one noticed him.
- The sculptor who carved this statue was Walter Runeberg, the son of the national poet, Briskie recalls, remembering his mother Fredrika, whose family roots are in the Raahe region.
"That reminds me that many shipowners gave their ships names from the Kalevala, such as Unto, Kalervo, Sampo, Tapio, Ilmari, Ilpotar, Aino, Ahto, and perhaps others. Perhaps the Kalevala was read more than Runeberg's poems at that time, the elf ponders to himself and wonders what the bestseller is today. Perhaps Potter?
- Samuli Pauhalaharju's Wanha Raahe (Old Town Raahe) is one of my favorite books. It was great when the Raahe Society organized that reading marathon. It has been listened to and admired in Korvatunturi as well. I have to puff out my chest on behalf of the people of Raahe, Briskie thinks proudly. But where is elf Briskie going tonight? Katinhäntä is his patrol area, and Pekkatori is his destination for tonight.
So it's time to get moving and not just dream about the past. He says good night to Pietari Brahe and sneaks into the courtyard of Lang's Trading House. It's always nice to pop in at Lang's to say hello to Severi, the sauna elf.
"It's only the beginning of December, so there's no rush, Briskie thinks to himself. Severi will probably make some coffee, and the elves can take a little break to think things over.
His electronic notebook beeps. Taavetti, the library elf's digital buddy, reminds his fellow elves of the importance of books. Briskie replies to the message and reminds gift hunters that Lang's shop also sells books, even Paulaharju's Wanhan Raahe.
- Sailors encountered many strange creatures on their voyages, and dolphins would sometimes swim alongside their ships. Severi begins the story and continues by saying that the men ate the dolphins. "They dropped the harpoon on the dolphin's neck and threw the tasty fish into the cook's pot." This is what Severi has been told. Believe it if you will.
- Sailors also ate flying fish, which provided fresh seafood, Severi explains, adding that he has heard that flying fish can fly up to twenty meters before falling into the water.
- The sailors told many incredible stories to their families. Fortunately, Samuli Paulaharju came to Raahe and wrote a book, Briskie nods contentedly.
The electronic notebook beeps. Touho, the elf apprentice, is lost: should he go to Reiponkatu street or Ämmänkatu street tonight? What a dilemma!
"Well, just this once," Briskie sighs and continues his rounds on this beautiful frosty night.
The text is based on and partly quoted from Samuli Paulaharju's book Wanha Raahe (Old Town Raahe).
More information
Samuli Paulaharju: Wanha Raahe
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