Korvatunturi is a fell in Lapland, located within Urho Kekkonen National Park in the municipality of Savukoski. Its name literally means “Ear Fell” in Finnish due to its unique shape. Korvatunturi is best known as the home of Father Christmas (or Joulupukki in Finnish). According to Finnish Folklore, this land is the location of Father Christmas’ secret workshop, where toys, trinkets and gifts are made and eventually wrapped by gnomes. Known for their good natured demeanor and their role as guardians of homes, these gnomes are also responsible for analysing weather patterns for the yearly gift-giving trip around the world. People have also said that the ear-shaped structure of the fell allows Father Christmas to hear the wishes of every child on Earth.
References:I have an aluminum tray with an etching of a Finnoy church at Hesby. If someone would like to have it I may be able to send it your way. DWK
House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.