One of the over 1,700 volunteers in Louna-Jukola has her own special bond to the Jukola relay. This volunteer is Riitta Marsala, who is working in the cafe during the event and whose father was one of the founding members of the Jukola relay.
– In our guest book there are names of some of the founding members of Jukola, such as Jaakko Kahila, from when they visited our home in Suomenlinna in Helsinki, says Marsala.
Pekkanen had planned the relay around the texts of Aleksis Kivi, a well-known Finnish author, and his friends who were also involved in the planning, often got together in their home. Marsala’s guest book for example includes the words that Jaakko Kahila wrote in 1948, six months before the first Jukola relay in 1949: ”I will surely come here more often now that we have this Jukola relay”.
– My mother used to say that the Jukola relay was founded in our kitchen, Marsala explains.
Riitta Marsala enjoys the atmosphere in Jukola. Photo: Heikki Silvennoinen.
Kahila and Pekkanen were the two key persons in the first Jukola – Event manager and course planner.
In the 40th anniversary race in Pudasjärvi’s Iso-Syöte in 1988 Pekkanen’s task was to fire the starting pistol – but only in the Venla relay, because Prime Minister Harri Holkeri was given the honor in the Jukola relay.
– My father said fiercely that “I will not show up if cannot fire the starting pistol for the Jukola brothers”. Holkeri reportedly did not object to this.
What would Marsala’s late father Pekkanen think now if he saw the Jukola relay today?
–I think he would find the event to be a bit too big, says Marsala.
Times change but traditions remain. This is the first time in Jukola for Marsala, whose friend asked her to volunteer.
– I’m glad I came, concludes Marsala.
Marsala still has the trophy designed for the first Jukola relay in 1949. Photo: Heikki Silvennoinen.
