{"id":598,"date":"2026-07-23T08:10:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T08:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mattilantalo.fi\/?p=598"},"modified":"2026-07-24T13:23:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T13:23:26","slug":"juhlahumua-kesaista-riemua-ja-sulosavelia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mattilantalo.fi\/en\/juhlahumua-kesaista-riemua-ja-sulosavelia\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebration, Summer Joy, and Sweet Melodies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our beloved Aunt Sirpa celebrated a milestone birthday shortly after the middle of July. What better reason could there be to gather the whole family for a summer celebration around her birthday? The concept is not entirely new in our family. In fact, summer gatherings have often been arranged specifically around Sirpa\u2019s birthday. Many people are on summer holiday at that time, and, by the day of the celebration, the snow has usually managed to melt as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The celebration has been held many times before at Grandma\u2019s house in Impi\u00f6, but this was the first time at Mattilan talo. The house and the yard were the same as always, of course, but this time I had the pleasure of hosting the event in my role as the owner of a guesthouse and event venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Well, I probably shouldn\u2019t brag too much of that hostess role. The celebration was organized the same way it always has been: together. Our WhatsApp group was buzzing when my other aunt, Kaarina, started coordinating the catering and RSVPs together with Sirpa. The menu gradually took shape into something that made you hungry every time you opened the group chat. More and more people were added to the group as enthusiasm for preparing food began to spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juhlap\u00e4iv\u00e4ksi valikoitui sunnuntai 19.7.2026. Edelt\u00e4v\u00e4st\u00e4 torstaista alkaen Mattilaan alkoi saapua majoittujia: minun kumpikin siskoni puolisoineen, perheineen ja koirineen sek\u00e4 omat tytt\u00e4reni (sek\u00e4 toisen poikayst\u00e4v\u00e4) ja Kaarina-t\u00e4ti miehens\u00e4 kanssa. Lauantaiaamuna majataloaamiaisen j\u00e4lkeen alkoi juhlien valmistelu. Koska Mattila on Kaarinan ja Sirpan sek\u00e4 siskojeni entinen koti, kaikki sujui aivan kuin ennen vanhaan. Mattila t\u00e4yttyi iloisesta hy\u00f6rin\u00e4st\u00e4 ja py\u00f6rin\u00e4st\u00e4, naurusta ja kiljahtelusta, imurin hurinasta ja vatkainten surrauksesta. Lauantaina saapui viel\u00e4 lis\u00e4\u00e4 majoittujia. Porukalla laitettiin pystyyn mm. trampoliini pienempien juhlavieraiden iloksi. Mik\u00e4\u00e4n ei ole yht\u00e4 riemukasta kuin trampoliinin kokoaminen tutulla porukalla, joista osaa on n\u00e4hnyt edellisen kerran vuosikymmeni\u00e4 sitten, mutta tuttuakin tutumpi intt\u00e4minen ja kevyt keljuilu l\u00e4mmittiv\u00e4t my\u00f6s vierest\u00e4 seuraavan, ulkosaunaa l\u00e4mmitt\u00e4v\u00e4n majatalon em\u00e4nn\u00e4n syd\u00e4nt\u00e4. (Eli minun, jonka ei kuulemma tarvinnut katsoa, neuvoa eik\u00e4 kommentoida tekemist\u00e4.) L\u00e4mp\u00f6 t\u00e4ytti syd\u00e4meni. N\u00e4m\u00e4 ovat minun heimoani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the morning of the celebration, empowered by the successful trampoline assembly, the men quickly put up the party tents in the yard. Soon the lawn was filled with delightfully mismatched table groups in every imaginable style. Inside the Pirtti, the long festive buffet began to take shape, and what a magnificent sight it was. In the traditional style of Impi\u00f6 gatherings, the table groaned under countless delicacies, both savoury and sweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Guests started arriving at eleven o\u2019clock. We had already been given permission, and even encouragement, to park cars in the neighbour\u2019s yard across the road. The additional parking space was certainly needed, as nearly one hundred guests attended the celebration. From the long buffet table in the Pirtti, people filled their plates with delicious treats. Outside, beneath the party tents, we had set up a drinks station where a large coffee maker produced fresh coffee almost continuously, while beautiful beverage dispensers offered juice and homemade (non-alcoholic) beer brewed by Mattila\u2019s Tintti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sirpa had ordered good weather for the day, and once again her order had been delivered perfectly. The sun was shining, and a slight coolness in the air made sitting outdoors especially pleasant. Happy conversation filled both the yard and the Pirtti. People played M\u00f6lkky, threw darts, passed a volleyball around, and bounced on the trampoline. We enjoyed good food, caught up on each other\u2019s lives, and simply savoured a relaxed summer day together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Later, we all gathered in the Pirtti to enjoy a succession of wonderful performances. There were speeches, poetry recitations, instrumental music, and singing. Being a musical family, we naturally ended up singing together as well, and the Pirtti echoed with joyful voices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The video below offers a small taste of the beautiful Italian song Torna a Surriento, performed by the outstanding tenor Heikki Rainio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n