Does the names of places in Helsinki has a meaning?

[Bavarian]

This one was discussed back in January:

[jmakinen]

10 papaguayo stamps for the one who knows why there is one part of Helsinki called 'Arabia?'

[Rosamunda]

Wikipedia knows....

[jmakinen]

Arabianranta (earlier known simply as Arabia) derives its name from the famous Arabia ceramics and glassware factory, which is located on Hämeentie street. The housing area is located on the bayside of Hämeentie.

Nope - that's the usual misconception.

[silk]

10 papaguayo stamps for the one who knows why there is one part of Helsinki called 'Arabia?'

A quote from the factory website:

"Lokakuussa 1874 tehdas valmistuu Arabia-nimiselle huvilatontille Helsingin Vanhankaupungin lahdelle. Arabian tehtaan valikoima laajeni nopeasti astioista uuneihin ja saniteettiposliiniin.

Tontin nimi Arabia otettiin tehtaan nimeksi, ja sittemmin se on tullut koko kaupunginosan nimeksi. Arabian naapurissa sijaitsevat mm. Intiankatu, Koreankatu ja Kaanaan niityt. Kun silloisen huvila-alueen tontteja ja katuja nimettiin, tuntuivat ne sijaitsevan kovin kaukana Helsingin keskustasta. Siksi ne myös saivat eksoottisia, romantisoituja nimiä."
http://www.arabia.fi/designor/web/a...mp;LANG=fi ( -> Arabian historia)

Damaskuksentie, Koreankatu ja Intiankatu kuuluvat eksoottisten kadunnimien ryhmään."

[jmakinen]

Sorry folks - no cigar -keep trying

[silk]

So the information provided by the factory is incorrect?

The quote states that at the time the factory was built, the area was cottage country and so far from the Helsinki city center that lots and streets there were named after exotic, far away places. There was India Street, Korea Street, Canaan Fields, Arabia among others. Arabia factory was named after the lot it was built on. Later on, the whole area came to be called Arabia.

I thought that was a cute story.

[jmakinen]

Actually yes the 'factory's' account is close - but missing the key point and it has to do with the (colloquial) Swedish language. I'll tell tomorrow if no one gets it before.

(I wasn't able to access the exact factory's explanation - link broken etc. - went to main page and didn't see - anyhow there's a twist that's missing from what was actually posted here.)

[jmakinen]

Here's what I understand to be the origins of Arabia - I had a copy of an academic journal with the explanation but can't locate it.

Anyhow - in the 16th century when the Helsinki area was settled - there was a large congregation in the present traditional harbor area.

These were basically Swedes - and of course the Swedish language was prominent/dominant (not even aware myself how much Finnish was floating around that area in those days anyhow)

One group took off for the area we now know as Arabia.

++

Just as English uses Greek ("it's Greek to me") and Finnish uses Hebrew( similar) to refer to something being strange and exotic - Colloquial Swedish has used 'Arabia' to signify 'beyond the Pale' so to speak.

So when these folks moved out of the 'settled' area - the 'older settlers' said they had moved to 'Arabia' - the term caught on - and various streets etc. started to refer to:

"Far away places with strange-soundin' names
Far away over the sea
Those far away places with the strange-soundin' names
Are callin', callin' me "

+++++++++

Arabia - the ceramic factory - could try to fill in more of this story - and also try to snuffle out the totally wrong idea that the area's name comes from their factory. It's much more interesting this way, too.

[johannast]

OK, I guess you are right. But when something is just simply Pike Bay a word play like that is a bit far fetched.

that would be because the whole article those examples came from was written tongue-in-cheek, a bit like NYT's translations of Finnish idioms.


Anyway, I thought up a couple. Unfortunately I am not feeling very funny today so they won't be anything exciting like Hau kilahti...
Ruskeasuo - Brown Swamp
Munkkivuori - either Monk Mountain or Doughnut Mountain
Linnanmäki - Castle's Hill
Kaivopuisto - Well Park
Vartiokylä - Guard Village
Myllypuro - Mill Brook

I've got a question though - what's niemi in English?


EDIT. ahhh, the Finnish expressions, translated by NYT: http://www.finlandforthought.net/2007/0 ... o-english/

[jmakinen]

How about:

Suo-mi = Suo-maa = Swamp-land -- ?

already we know:

Fin-land = Fenn-land = Swamp-land

[Pursuivant]

Helsinki telephone mapbook has the best angling spots... Fishless (kalaton) Rotten Ditch (mätäoja, actually quite beautiful at the rapids) and Shytepond (paskalampi)

Now if you want to have fun, do a search on all the cusswords in the national survey map service. You now know where to go if you get told to immerse yourself into the horsepussy