What incredibly beautiful writing, I wasn't expecting to cry reading a piece about moomin mugs. We have a small collection of Moomin mugs hanging up on the dresser here, and when someone visits and has a cup of tea, I try to match the character on the cup as closely as I can with their character or mood. I was very excited when my uncle came to visit recently and I could instantly match him with the Snufkin mug.
Thanks Sarah, I'm glad the piece meant something to you. What character matches you best would you say? I like to say I'm a snufkin but really I'm probably a groke.
Oh hello fellow turkulainen substack author! What a small world! My first moomin mug is also a gift from a Finnish person. Actually in was a part of a gift with fazer sininen chocolate and paulig coffee - a gift full of classics :)
This made my heart so happy. I love the Moomin books and always pass over the mugs because, well, I don't need more mugs. But thinking about the way these small things bring such joy spoke to me . . . and I might need a Moomin mug now.
We are a bit obsessed with the Moomins in our family. As well as the books, my children grew up on the animated series which has some of the most annoying dubbed voices EVER, but some of the animation is beautiful and they are some of the very limited number of DVDs we still keep out. I still buy the books for adults I think will appreciate them, not everyone gets them. A case in point being the recent Good Read which discussed Moominland Midwinter. Harriet Gilbert thought you had to grow up with them to appreciate them, but I don’t think that’s true, I feel as though I learn something new on every reread and always so much with that particular book which I reread every year.
In terms of the characters, I think the beauty of them is that we can all see elements of ourselves in all of them. But I feel a very strong affinity to both Moominmamma and The Groke. I love the Groke. We have many of the enamel mugs, jugs and saucepans - the mugs a feature of winter picnics throughout my kids’ childhoods. All China mugs so far smashed. I badly want a Groke mug. I put it on every birthday and Christmas list and am on the verge of just buying it for myself.
I love the groke. Misunderstood so often. And I totally agree about seeing ourselves in these special characters. I think that's why they become so important to people as well. Hope you get that groke mug, Catherine. I really think you should treat yourself to one asap.
What a wonderful read! Thank you for sharing this Will.
I remember when my husband and I got engaged. We were gifted a matching pair of Moomin mugs by his Finnish sister in law. Her home is full of Moomin products, including an extensive mug collection, and is something that she has involved other family members in, gifting mugs and teapots to her nearest and dearest. Receiving my own Moomin mug marked a huge milestone. I was officially becoming part of the family, being welcomed into the fold with a beautiful mug, the perfect size for a coffee.
Thank you, Adelina. And thanks for sharing this!!! I had no idea so many people reading here would have their own mugs. It's made me smile. And I totally understand your feelings when getting that mug of yours. Really lovely to hear this, thanks again. Ps. What character was on your mug??
It is nice to see a fellow group of Moomin enthusiasts! The mug has Moomintroll and Snormaiden on it. Besides your first mug, what’s your favourite mug in your collection?
Lovely story. I may have one of those mugs. We had some Finnish backpackers once and after they went home they sent us a cup with cute pictures on it and some sour lollies! They were lovely girls and I’ve always loved the mug!
I love my moomin mugs so much. My first ever was a gift from my mum, a totally black moomin mug featuring moomin papa fishing. A few years ago I smashed it, I instantly looked online to buy a new one, to my horror it was a limited addition one that was now selling for £250. I trawled Etsy and eBay for months and in the end managed to replace it for £90 (still horrifyingly expensive for a mug). I now have a collection of over 30 which I treasure. I’ve had some more breakages along the way but managed to resist spending hundreds of pounds on replacing them and now have a few kintsugi mugs in my collection.
They have this very limited edition hand painted mug on sale at the moment. You have to enter a ballot to win the chance of buying one for 190€. I may have entered.
What a wonderful piece of writing. I loved the Moomin books (and the stop motion TV series) as a child. So sad and strange. I have a Little My mug, brought back from Finland by a friend. I agree with Elisabeth that it’s too small for tea but it’s in regular rotation for my morning coffee and always makes me smile (wistfully).
Thanks so much, Clare. And my mother would be in total agreement about the size of them for tea. Whenever she visits me here she is always aggrieved when I give her tea in such a small vessel.
I immediately felt the loss of loved ones in your writing. The mixed emotion of happiness and comfort of memories and the wistful sadness of the emptiness left behind. Thank you for the essay.
Thanks, dl. We have had a loss recently. I considered mentioning it here but realised the whole piece was about it really so being explicit wasn't really necessary. Thanks for being here and I appreciate your words.
love yr Moomin story! I remember the books very well, read them to my own childrren. Have 3 hard-working moomin mugs in my cupboard, just the right size for morning coffee, too small for breakfast tea.
What incredibly beautiful writing, I wasn't expecting to cry reading a piece about moomin mugs. We have a small collection of Moomin mugs hanging up on the dresser here, and when someone visits and has a cup of tea, I try to match the character on the cup as closely as I can with their character or mood. I was very excited when my uncle came to visit recently and I could instantly match him with the Snufkin mug.
Thanks Sarah, I'm glad the piece meant something to you. What character matches you best would you say? I like to say I'm a snufkin but really I'm probably a groke.
I wish I was Snufkin, but I know in my heart (and have also been told by others) that I am Little My
Oh hello fellow turkulainen substack author! What a small world! My first moomin mug is also a gift from a Finnish person. Actually in was a part of a gift with fazer sininen chocolate and paulig coffee - a gift full of classics :)
Finally!! My first fellow Turkulainen!! Nice to meet you!
This made my heart so happy. I love the Moomin books and always pass over the mugs because, well, I don't need more mugs. But thinking about the way these small things bring such joy spoke to me . . . and I might need a Moomin mug now.
Thanks, Kristin. I'm starting to think I should've had the Moomin Company pay me for this essay now!
We are a bit obsessed with the Moomins in our family. As well as the books, my children grew up on the animated series which has some of the most annoying dubbed voices EVER, but some of the animation is beautiful and they are some of the very limited number of DVDs we still keep out. I still buy the books for adults I think will appreciate them, not everyone gets them. A case in point being the recent Good Read which discussed Moominland Midwinter. Harriet Gilbert thought you had to grow up with them to appreciate them, but I don’t think that’s true, I feel as though I learn something new on every reread and always so much with that particular book which I reread every year.
In terms of the characters, I think the beauty of them is that we can all see elements of ourselves in all of them. But I feel a very strong affinity to both Moominmamma and The Groke. I love the Groke. We have many of the enamel mugs, jugs and saucepans - the mugs a feature of winter picnics throughout my kids’ childhoods. All China mugs so far smashed. I badly want a Groke mug. I put it on every birthday and Christmas list and am on the verge of just buying it for myself.
I love the groke. Misunderstood so often. And I totally agree about seeing ourselves in these special characters. I think that's why they become so important to people as well. Hope you get that groke mug, Catherine. I really think you should treat yourself to one asap.
Lovely, poignant writing, Wil. I've just put this book (and another Moomin story) on hold at my library and look forward to exploring Moominvalley.
Awesome. Please let me know what you think!
What a wonderful read! Thank you for sharing this Will.
I remember when my husband and I got engaged. We were gifted a matching pair of Moomin mugs by his Finnish sister in law. Her home is full of Moomin products, including an extensive mug collection, and is something that she has involved other family members in, gifting mugs and teapots to her nearest and dearest. Receiving my own Moomin mug marked a huge milestone. I was officially becoming part of the family, being welcomed into the fold with a beautiful mug, the perfect size for a coffee.
Thank you, Adelina. And thanks for sharing this!!! I had no idea so many people reading here would have their own mugs. It's made me smile. And I totally understand your feelings when getting that mug of yours. Really lovely to hear this, thanks again. Ps. What character was on your mug??
It is nice to see a fellow group of Moomin enthusiasts! The mug has Moomintroll and Snormaiden on it. Besides your first mug, what’s your favourite mug in your collection?
There are many I could choose. I probably like best this old one I found of a very peaceful island scene. https://www.mukify.com/en/arabia-moomin-mug-night-sailing-2010
That is a lovely scene. I didn’t realise quite how expensive the mugs became once they weren’t the current collection!
Lovely story. I may have one of those mugs. We had some Finnish backpackers once and after they went home they sent us a cup with cute pictures on it and some sour lollies! They were lovely girls and I’ve always loved the mug!
I love my moomin mugs so much. My first ever was a gift from my mum, a totally black moomin mug featuring moomin papa fishing. A few years ago I smashed it, I instantly looked online to buy a new one, to my horror it was a limited addition one that was now selling for £250. I trawled Etsy and eBay for months and in the end managed to replace it for £90 (still horrifyingly expensive for a mug). I now have a collection of over 30 which I treasure. I’ve had some more breakages along the way but managed to resist spending hundreds of pounds on replacing them and now have a few kintsugi mugs in my collection.
They have this very limited edition hand painted mug on sale at the moment. You have to enter a ballot to win the chance of buying one for 190€. I may have entered.
Going to enter immediately 👀
Loss, love and fear, all sitting and dancing a slow waltz in your story and life. My sincere condolences Wil for the loss of your loved one.
The little blank curry receipt, that’s so sweet, beautiful and full of hope.
Always appreciate the time you take to read and comment, Lisa. Hope all's well with you.
Thank you Wil, I really enjoy your writing, all well here.
What a wonderful piece of writing. I loved the Moomin books (and the stop motion TV series) as a child. So sad and strange. I have a Little My mug, brought back from Finland by a friend. I agree with Elisabeth that it’s too small for tea but it’s in regular rotation for my morning coffee and always makes me smile (wistfully).
Thanks so much, Clare. And my mother would be in total agreement about the size of them for tea. Whenever she visits me here she is always aggrieved when I give her tea in such a small vessel.
I’m sorry for your loss Wil and this story says so much about loss and hope and memories. Thank you for sharing. Hugs
That's very kind, thanks.
I immediately felt the loss of loved ones in your writing. The mixed emotion of happiness and comfort of memories and the wistful sadness of the emptiness left behind. Thank you for the essay.
Thanks, dl. We have had a loss recently. I considered mentioning it here but realised the whole piece was about it really so being explicit wasn't really necessary. Thanks for being here and I appreciate your words.
love yr Moomin story! I remember the books very well, read them to my own childrren. Have 3 hard-working moomin mugs in my cupboard, just the right size for morning coffee, too small for breakfast tea.
Thanks, Elisabeth! Which characters do you have on your mugs?? Important detail.
How cool. Finns are known for being very polite, glad to hear thats true with you.