Forest Finns

Forest Finns (Swedish skogsfinnar, Norwegian skogfinner, Finnish metsäsuomalaiset ) is a term for the Finns who immigrated between the late 16th and the late 17th century to Sweden and Norway. In contrast to the immigrants since the mid -16th century Finns who worked mainly in mining and metallurgy, they created by burning (Finnish huuhta ) its large natural coniferous forests in the interior new agricultural land. Hence, the alternative designation Swedish svedjefinnar ( slash and burn Finns ).

History

In the 16th century the inhabitants of the Finnish countryside Savo ( swedish Savolax ) colonized by slash and burn in a short time large, previously uninhabited forest areas in the then part of Sweden to Finland. After the burning of smaller woods a specially bred for this purpose varieties of rye ( the so-called svedjeråg ) was seeded directly into the warm, nutrient-rich ash. The yield was compared to conventional agriculture enormously, however, was after a few years of strong, so that new areas had to be burned.

This utilization led to a fast-growing, highly mobile population. When the unused areas began to run out, many inhabitants migrated from the west. Up to 12,000 Finns, mainly from the northern Savo and Häme ( swedish Tavastland ), moved to Värmland, Dalarna, Hälsingland and into southern Lapland, partly lured by tax breaks as part of the colonization of the Swedish king, Charles IX. The new settlements were called Finnmark ( " Fin Land" ) or Finnskog ( "Finnish forest ").

The state was ambivalent about immigrants. On one hand, they paid taxes and improved by the development of new areas, the food supply in the country. On the other hand, they came through the burning of the forest increasingly into conflict with the rapidly growing industry which required large amounts of charcoal. 1647 and 1664 were therefore adopted in Sweden for the first time laws against fire Roden. Although these bans were never fully enforced, they complicated the traditional agriculture, so that many Finns have had to seek other sources of income. Many worked in the forestry or the Köhler for the new ironworks. The spent soils on which after a few years thrived no more grain could be used as pastures so that the livestock occupied an increasingly important role. The slash and burn lost more and more important, until they ceased altogether in the late 19th century.

Culture

In some isolated regions survived the Finnish language and culture, cut off from the Finnish mainland and without Finnish literary works, more than 350 years until the beginning of the 20th century, especially in the Värmland regions Fryksdalen and Klarälvdalen and adjacent Norwegian municipalities in Finnskog. In the years 1817 and 1821 to 1822, born in Savo ethnologist and Fennoman Carl Axel God Lund ( 1796-1875 ) traveled the settlement areas of the Forest Finns in Sweden and Norway, describing in detail the life and traditions of the inhabitants. He also recorded the local legends and fairy tales as well as some runic songs. He also tried with some success to improve the often difficult economic situation of forest Finns, including through petitions to the Swedish Government. His efforts to help the Finnish populated areas to independence and autonomy, but were unsuccessful.

Situation today

Today the Forest Finns are completely assimilated into the Swedish society. In Norway, the Forest Finns the status of a recognized minority (besides Jews, Kven, Sinti and Roma). Thousands of Finnish place names are reminders of its role in Scandinavian history. More recently, attempts to actively preserve the forest and to promote Finnish culture. The Grue Norwegian and Swedish Torsby, both the main locations in the Finnish forest colonization, have been twinned with the Finnish Rautalampi, whence came many of the immigrants.

Public Characters forest of Finnish descent are Björn Skifs, Dan Andersson, Gunnar Myrdal, Sven -Goran Eriksson, Leif Boork, Gunnar Broberg and Tage Erlander.

The Open Air Museum in Elverum Glomdalsmuseet has multiple buildings, for building traditions of the forest Finns in Norway.