Kainuu people
Savonians, other Finns |
Kainuu people (Finnish: kainuulaiset) are Eastern Finnish inhabitants of the Kainuu region.
Kainuu was settled by
Kainuu people speak the Kainuu dialect, which is a part of the Savonian dialects of Finnish. Kainuu people are sometimes considered to be Savonians. However, Kainuu people themselves do not think so but have a separate Kainuu identity.[1]
Most Kainuu people are
Name
Originally, the area of Kainuu was called Oulujärvi municipality (Oulujärven pitäjä), and later Kajaani Province (Kajaanin lääni).[3][2] Kajaani is the name of the largest town in Kainuu, although Kainuu is still called "Kajanaland" in Swedish (and the Kainuu people "kajanaländare").
In the 17th century, the term Kainuu, which was previously used to refer to the coasts of Ostrobothnia, was first used to refer to the area of modern-day Kainuu. In 1663, the provost of Paltamo Johannes Cajanus referred to the inhabitants of Paltamo and Sotkamo ("Cainoa") as "cainolaiset". However, this term didn't gain wider usage at the time.[4]
In the early 20th century, when the Kainuu identity was forming, multiple names were used for the region, such as Kainuu, Kainuunmaa (land of Kainuu), Korpi-Kainuu (Wilderness Kainuu), Nälkämaa (Hunger land) and Ylimaa (Upper land).[5] Eventually the name Kainuu, which was supported, for example, by the local newspaper Kainuun Sanomat, became the standard. In the newspaper, Kainuu people were usually called Kainuun kansa (the people/nation of Kainuu). Other terms used included kyntäjäväki (plowing people), talonpoikaiskansa (peasant people), korpiloukkojen kansa (people of wilderness hollows), and Kalevan heimo (tribe of Kaleva).[6]
The etymological origin of the word Kainuu is unknown. Theories include kainu/kaino ’lowlands’ from Germanic (like Swedish dialectical hven ’wetland’), kainus ’knob-headed staff, wedge-shaped object’, a
History
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16th century
In the turn of the 16th century, there were no fast settlements or villages in Kainuu. However, the Kainuu wilds were still used by few nomadic Sámi, as well as
17th–18th centuries
As a result of the war, Kainuu was made a part of the Ostrobothnia County. Between 1650 and 1680, the region gained remarkable administrative improvements under the ownership of Count
19th–20th centuries
In the 19th century, the tar industry became incredibly important for the people of Kainuu, as Kainuu was the center of the industry in Finland.
During the Winter War, the Soviet Union tried to split Finland in half by going through Kainuu to Oulu. This advance was stopped by Finns in the Battle of Suomussalmi.
Dialect
Kainuu people speak the Kainuu dialect which is one of the Savonian dialects of Finnish. It differs from other Savonian dialects in its vocabulary which has been heavily influenced by Central and Northern Ostrobothnian dialects.
One common feature in the dialect is diphthong reduction: Kaenuu ("Kainuu").[15]
Example from Puolanka:
No niitähän sitä oesin niitä savottareissuja kyllä, kyllä palijoo mitä on, on siellä pohjosessae ´asennoitu. Sellaisissa niin kurjissa oloissa että ihtesäp pitänys saunat lämmitteä ja puu laittoas siihe ja, kiuassaona. Siellä ulukona sittä värjötelläl lämppiysaeka jos kuim pakkane on. Ja siellä, saonan eessä keitteäk kahvesak keittosa, tuiskussa pakkasessa. No sittä kun ne on niin täynnä ett_ei sovil liikkumaan. Moatar ruvet-, ruvettii yhelläek kämpällä ni, kur rupesi kerran kylellee – no ei oov vara keäntyös selälleen se oli niin täysi. Ja kylymä. Voatteet kylymetty peä alla.[16]
In standard Finnish:
No niitähän sitä olisin niitä savottareissuja kyllä, kyllä paljon mitä on, on siellä pohjoisessakin asennoitu. Sellaisissa niin kurjissa oloissa, että itse pitänyt saunat lämmittää ja puu laittaa siihen, ja kiuassauna. Siellä ulkona sitä värjötellä lämmitysaika jos kuinka pakkanen on. Ja siellä saunan edessä keittää kahvinsa, keittonsa, tuiskussa, pakkasessa. No sitten kun ne ovat niin täynnä, ettei sovi liikkumaan. Maata ruvet-, ruvettiin yhdelläkin kämpällä, niin kun rupesi kerran kyljelleen – no ei ole varaa kääntyä selälleen, se oli niin täysi. Ja kylmä. Vaatteet jäätyivät pään alla.
Culture
Descriptions
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Kainuu was a poor region that had often suffered from famines.[17] Kainuu got a reputation of being a "hunger land", which is reflected in the regional anthem of Kainuu, Nälkämaan laulu ("Song of the Hunger Land"). It was seen as a harsh place to live. On the other hand, these descriptions praised the striking nature of Kainuu, as well as the strength and sisu of the Kainuu people.[18] Kainuu people have been described as honest,[19] hard-working, quiet,[20] independent, calm, lacking confidence, uncertain, polite, hospitable, and complaining. Bragging has traditionally been seen as a negative trait, possibly a factor in causing the perceived large amount of complaining instead.[21] Kainuu people are also seen as being proud of their homeland and feeling a strong connection to it.[22]
Authors from Kainuu have played a part in creating the impressions of Kainuu and its people. Author Ilmari Kianto, from Suomussalmi, often described the poor conditions of the Kainuu wilderness. Author Veikko Huovinen, from Sotkamo, described nature.
A letter sent to the newspaper Uusi Häme in 1938 by an anonymous girl from Kainuu described the Kainuu identity thus: "-- we, the current inhabitants of Kainuu would like to be our own tribe, even though we are a mix of Karelians and Savonians, possibly other tribes as well. -- A Kainuu person has a quiet and introverted personality. If you want to get to know them, they need to be approached, because a Kainuu person will not take the initiative in that matter. They will become friendly and warm when they consider the stranger their friend. -- If you understand a Kainuu person as sweet and ingenuous, you'll make friends that will never forget you."[23]
Cuisine
The most important ingredients in traditional Kainuu food are fish, game (especially fowl), berries (especially
Kainuu houses traditionally had Eastern Finnish style ovens which food was prepared in, resulting in a wide variety of pies (teos), soft bread, kukko (fillings baked inside a loaf of bread) and other oven-made foods. Everyday food included fish or meat, and various kinds of soups (velli) were common. Finer foods for special occasions included
Some foods traditional to Kainuu include
National dresses and textiles
National dresses in Finland are reconstructed from 18th and 19th century festive clothing used by commoners. The following national dresses have been reconstructed and officially recognized from Kainuu: Kainuu dress for women, Kainuu suit for men, and Suomussalmi dress for women.
Kainuu women's national dress was designed by Tyyni Vahter and released in 1947. The sewing patterns were checked for historical accuracy by craft teacher Eila Parviainen, applied arts bachelor Minna Meriläinen and homemade craft teacher Marja-Leena Pahkala. Kainuu men's national suit was officially accepted in 2001.[25] Suomussalmi women's national dress was designed by Tyyni Vahter in 1953 based on materials collected by Selma Juntunen. One basis for the dress were U. T. Sirelius 's descriptions of the Southern Lapland dress as it was based on a vest found from Hyrynsalmi.[26]
Peilikäs is a raanu pattern which has become a symbol of Kainuu textile tradition. Originally used in blankets, it later spread to decorations such as pillowcases, carpets and sweaters.[27]
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A blanket with the peilikäs pattern on display in Kainuu Museum.
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Traditional woman's vest found in Hyrynsalmi.
Festivals
The Finnish harvest festival Kekri is celebrated in Kainuu. Up until the early 20th century, Kekri was a more important holiday than Christmas. Christmas was seen more as a celebration of the upper classes, and Kekri held a meaning for the peasants. It was celebrated at the end of the harvest and included elements such as dressing up, fortune telling for the coming year, and burning bonfires. Due to urbanization, Kekri lost its importance, and many of the Kekri traditions have moved to now widely celebrated Christmas and New Year. The Finnish Father Christmas figure, Joulupukki, has his origins in a character called Kekripukki.[28] Regardless of this, Kekri celebrations are still organized in Kainuu. Kajaani has been holding a Kekri celebration annually since 2002. This includes the burning of a Kekri goat (giant goat made out of straw), as well as music performances, art shows, catering, children's activities, markets, and other events depending on the year.[29][30] The heavy metal concert KekriFest has also been held, for the first time in 2019.[31]
Genetics
In Kainuu,
Famous Kainuu people
- Daniel Cajanus, giant
- Anders Chydenius, philosopher
- Veikko Huovinen, author
- Joonas Kemppainen, ice hockey player
- Marko Kemppainen, skeet shooter
- Ilmari Kianto, author
- Heikki Kovalainen, Formula 1 driver
- Anne Kyllönen, cross-country skier
- Merja Kyllönen, politician
- Jenna Laukkanen, swimmer
- Eino Leino, author and poet
- Laura Malmivaara, actress
- Väinö Markkanen, sports shooter
- Kaisa Mäkäräinen, biathlete
- Riku Nieminen, actor
- Janne Pesonen, ice hockey player
- Osmo Tapio Räihälä, composer
- Johan Gabriel Ståhlberg, priest
- K. J. Ståhlberg, 1st President of Finland
Notes
- ^ Helo (2006:61).
- ^ a b c Helo (2006:24).
- ^ Väisänen (1998:13).
- ^ a b c d e f Mäkinen (2002:4–8, "Oulujärven erämaasta Kainuun maakunnaksi" by Jorma Keränen).
- ^ Helo (2006:26).
- ^ Helo (2006:34–35).
- ^ "Kainuu - Suomen etymologinen sanakirja". kotus.fi. Kotus. 1992–2000. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
- ^ Jutikkala; Pirinen (2002:93–94).
- ^ Väisänen (1998:26–27).
- ^ Väisänen (1998:30–31).
- ^ Keränen (1986:427)
- ^ Terva - Suomen ensimmäinen vientituote. kainuunterva.com. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
- ^ Keränen (1986:586–587).
- ^ Lönnrotin aikainen Kainuusta tallennettu kansanrunous. juminkeko.fi. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
- ^ Vattula, Laura (2019). Kulkemista ja paikallaan olemista ilmaisevat verbit Kainuun murteen verbisanastossa. University of Oulu. Page: 19.
- ^ Puolangan murrenäyte. Kotimaisten kielten keskus. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
- ^ Väisänen (1998:213).
- ^ Helo (2006:37–38)
- ^ Helo (2006:61).
- ^ Rask, Regina (2015). Heimoerot: kainuulaiset. yle.fi. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
- ^ Helo (2006:46–47).
- ^ Helo (2006:63).
- ISBN 978-952-351-803-2. Page: 254.
- ^ a b c Kainuulaista ruokaperinnettä. (1987). Kainuun maatalouskeskus r.y. Kainuun Sanomain Kirjapaino Oy.
- ^ Kainuun kansallispuku. kajaani.fi. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ Suomussalmen kansallispuku. suomussalmi.fi. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ Lonkila, Helena (2004). Peilikäs peilinä – kainuulaisen peilikäsraanun kulttuurisen arvon määräytyminen. University of Jyväskylä. Page: 2.
- ^ Pape-Mustonen, Terhi (2019). Luulitko, että halloween on amerikkalainen juhla? Syksyn kummitusjutut ja naamiaisasut ovat myös ikivanha suomalaisperinne. maaseuduntulevaisuus.fi. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ^ Loukasmäki, Arto (2012). Roihuava pukki kerää katselijoita. yle.fi. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ^ Suutari, Tiina (2020). Kekrijuhla monipuolistuu ja tuo valotaidetta linnanraunioille – valopatsaat nousevat yli kilometrin korkeuteen. kainuunsanomat.fi. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ^ Kähkönen, Sanna (2019). Stam1na ja Klamydia marraskuussa Kajaaniin – "Vuoden pimeimpään aikaan sopii raskas musiikki". yle.fi. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
- ^ Preussner, Annina (2021). Assessing Finnish Y-chromosomal haplogroups using genotyping array data – Towards understanding the role of Y in complex disease. University of Helsinki. Page: 34.
- ^ Meinilä, Maria; Finnilä, Saara; Majamaa, Kari (2001). Evidence for mtDNA Admixture between the Finns and the Saami. Human Heredity Vol. 52, No. 3. S. Krager AG.
References
- Väisänen, Heino (1998). Kainuun kansan waiheita vv. 1500 – 1900. Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy. ISBN 952-91-0373-5.
- Helo, Maria (2006). Kainuulaisuus – Omakuva ja alueellinen identiteetti. University of Joensuu.
- Jutikkala, Eino; Pirinen, Kauko (2002). Suomen historia. Sixth edition. WSOY. ISBN 951-0-27217-5.
- Mäkinen, Antti (editor, 2002). Elämää Kainuussa – Kainuun asutus 450 vuotta. Kainuun museo.
- Keränen, Jorma (1986). Kainuun historia I. "Uudisraivauksen ja rajasotien kausi". Kainuun Sanomain Kirjapaino Oy.