Heikki Lunta is the embodiment of the Finnish snow god character who originated in the mythology of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.[1] The character of Heikki Lunta is a product of the heavy Finnish-American presence in Michigan's Keweenaw Upper Peninsula combined with a tremendous annual snowfall.[2] Over time, the biography of Heikki Lunta has been expanded through stage plays and children's stories. These feature his origins in central Finland as the son of Eljas and Saima Lunta. He has named siblings and may have married his childhood sweetheart, who is named Aino Mäkinen.[3] Over time, the character has become an important part of local culture, enough to generate a significant number of news articles and scholarly papers.[4]
David Riutta created "Heikki Lunta" (the name translates to "Hank Snow" in English) in 1970. When an upcoming snowmobile race hosted by the Range Snowmobile Club of Atlantic Mine was endangered by the lack of snowfall, Riutta, a worker at WMPL in Hancock, aired the "Heikki Lunta Snowdance Song".[5] The song goes on to ask "Heikki Lunta," the Finnish snow god, for snow in time for the race. According to local tales, the snow fell and fell, until there was too much. People were superstitious that Riutta's song had caused too much snow for the race, so in response to public outcry, Riutta recorded a separate track entitled, "Heikki Lunta Go Away." The 45 showcased each song on alternate sides.[6]