Finnish or Finnish American Food? A Comparison of Food Cultures among Finnish Americans in Florida, Minnesota, Michigan, and Washington

Abstract This article examines the heritagization of certain foods as Finnish American foods. By comparing certain Finnish American festivals with the Finnish and Finnish American community in Florida, the article aims to showcase which foods are considered to be Finnish American today. By comparing the foods served at Finnish American festivals in Minnesota, Michigan, Washington with the foods eaten in Florida, the authors are able to limit the regional traditions and find out which foods are seen as important for Finnish American culture, or, in other words, what foods are seen as part of Finnish American heritage.