Finland-Swedes in everyday life – Part 2: Family

Sandra Holmgård works as a journalist at the Swedish-language newspaper Österbottens Tidning in Jakobstad. From time to time, she interviews sources in Finnish – but not without careful preparation, as she finds the language challenging. “You have to learn quite a lot of rules before you can really say anything,” she says.

For Nicklas Holmgård, the situation is different. He studied in Finnish and now also uses the language at work, where he is employed as a construction engineer.

Culturally, the family tend to look towards Sweden. “We watch Swedish television and prefer Swedish news. We know more Swedish celebrities than Finnish ones,” Sandra Holmgård says.

At the same time, they are mindful of staying connected to Finland. For example, they have only been on holiday in Sweden once, while they have travelled extensively within Finland.

They are also keen to ensure that their children develop a connection to the Finnish language. “We want to give the children the chance to learn Finnish. For example, they go to gymnastics classes in Finnish,” Sandra Holmgård says.

In Jakobstad, Sandra and Nicklas Holmgård have much of their family close by, which is a significant help in everyday life, with grandparents among those who assist with childcare.

This closeness became especially important when the couple’s eldest son, Oliver, fell ill. “When he became ill, it meant a lot that everyone was nearby,” Sandra Holmgård says. Oliver would have turned ten this year, but he died in early 2020. He had a rare genetic condition that gradually shut down the body’s functions.

Although Oliver is no longer physically present in the family, he remains part of everyday life – on the shelf above the dining table, in photographs on the walls and in the family’s conversations. “We talk about him a lot, look at photos, and visit the grave together. The children also talk a lot about Oliver. He is very present in our lives,” the parents say.

Vide, now five, was born shortly after Oliver’s death. Julius arrived later. The family are now expecting another child, a little sister. They have not yet decided on her name, although Olivia is one possibility.