The Healing Power of Himmelis exhibition showcases the works of himmelist Eija Koski, along with the original himmelis created at the sanatorium, which have been restored by former head nurse Tuula Paakkanen.
Eija Koski is an internationally renowned himmelist who usually exhibits outside of Finland. Now, a rare opportunity arises to experience their charm in Paimio. Koski, who lives on a farm near Vaasa on the west coast of Finland, uses only her own organically grown rye for making her himmelis. She organizes exhibitions and courses worldwide and has authored numerous books on himmelis that have been translated into several languages.
Tuula Paakkanen is a former head nurse of the sanatorium and a skilled himmeli maker. She has restored the himmelis made during the past decades, which are now also on display.
The himmeli exhibitions are showcased in the main building of the sanatorium, and admission is free.
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Famine. Christmas food. Geometry. Divine order. Platonic circles. Harmony, symmetry. All of this condenses into the old Finnish Christmas tradition of the himmeli.
Himmelis are complex three-dimensional geometric structures that require time and tranquility for their construction. Preparing the work necessitates an uninterrupted environment and a meditative dedication to the project.
The word “himmeli” originates from Germanic languages, specifically Swedish, and literally means “sky.” Another name for it is “straw crown.” The shape is believed to have been inspired by candle holders found in medieval churches. Himmelis were Christmas decorations in all Finnish homes, not just in rural houses but also in cities, until about 1870.
Himmelis are made for Christmas and hung in living rooms as bringers of good fortune for the harvest. The greater the bringer of fortune, the greater the hope for an even larger harvest. This means there were truly large himmelis that could only be constructed by hanging them in barns and assembling them similarly.
Why rye instead of wheat or oats? Winter-hardy rye, or winter rye, is the most resilient grain and has been essential for the population’s survival in Finland for centuries. Rye is also referred to as the grain of the gods or God’s grain, and it has been the most important staple food in Finland.
The himmeli also symbolizes the connection between nature and humanity: as it grows, rye bends at the stem, forming small joints, which has been seen as a symbol of human life. Life progresses from one stage to another. After Christmas, the himmelis were burned so that the following year could start anew. This was also for practical reasons, as it is challenging to preserve such a delicate structure.
For centuries, Christmas was the only day of the year when farming communities could rest and enjoy food. The Christmas food was not covered but left on the table. This tradition still lives on in many Finnish families, even though famine is no longer of the same magnitude today.
The himmeli serves as a reminder of this time, of one’s origins, history, and the connection between nature and humanity. It is also a more abstract symbol of universal beauty and harmony.
Plato described universal beauty based on geometric shapes. The so-called five Platonic solids—tetrahedron, octahedron, cube, icosahedron, and dodecahedron—are polyhedra, or polygons, that exhibit the highest possible symmetry.
According to Plato, these forms constitute the foundation of the universe’s harmony. In traditional himmeli, the octahedron is a central shape. The octahedron is also referred to as heaven and earth, and its element is air. The himmeli embodies air—space and emptiness—created between the straw edges.
Thus, the harmony of the himmeli arises from its form (the octahedron), its relationships (the sizes of the octahedrons in relation to each other, often according to the golden ratio), and its symmetry.
The sky is always symmetrical; it hangs at its highest point and is therefore mirror-symmetrical.