Savonian people

Last updated
Savonians
Savo.vaakuna.svg
Coat of arms of the historical province of Savonia
Regions with significant populations
North and South Savo
Languages
Finnish (Savonian dialects)
Religion
Lutheranism
Related ethnic groups
Russian Karelians, other Finns, especially Tavastians, Kainuu Finns, Finnish Karelians, Forest Finns, Ingrian Finns

Savonians (Finnish : savolaiset; Savonian : savolaaset, savolaeset), or Savo Finns, [1] are a subgroup (heimo) of Finns who live in the areas of the historical province of Savonia.

Contents

History

The areas where the Savonian dialects are spoken Savolaismurteet.png
The areas where the Savonian dialects are spoken
A maid from Savonia churning butter. From Boken om vart land by Zachris Topelius Savon neito.jpg
A maid from Savonia churning butter. From Boken om vårt land by Zachris Topelius
Man from Kuopio in his winter clothes (1831) Kuopiolainen.jpg
Man from Kuopio in his winter clothes (1831)

Savonians are descendants of Tavastian and Karelian peasants who, during the Middle Ages, had settled in the areas that would later become known as Savonia in order to find new lands suitable for slash-and-burn agriculture. [2] The Treaty of Nöteborg split the area between Sweden and Novgorod Republic, Savonia going to Sweden and Karelia to Novgorod. This tied Savonia to the Finnish language and Lutheran religion. While Savonia as a region was first mentioned in writing in 1323 in the treaty, Savonians as a separate group emerged around the year 1700 as a result of the mixing of Karelians and Tavastians. [3]

Savo already had fast settlements in 500 CE. Genetically, it was thought that Savo was populated mainly by South Karelians but DNA research has shown that under sixth of the population originates from Karelia and most are from Tavastia or belong to an older Sámi population in the region. [4] [5]

During 16th and 17th centuries, many Savonians emigrated to Eastern Norway and Central Sweden where they became known as the Forest Finns. In the 17th century, there was also a migration to Swedish Ingria (now part of Russia), where they became known as Savakot and collectively known as the Ingrian Finns together with the Äyrämöiset (Finnish Karelians).[ citation needed ]

Description and stereotypes

The stereotypical Savonian is talkative, easy-going, [6] jolly and humorous, occasionally even to an offensive degree. Traditionally, the Savonians have often been considered to be "sneaky" and "mendacious." However, recent research has shown that this infamy is largely due to misunderstandings caused by the traditional Savonian social indirectness. [7]

Savonians and Karelians were the first people in Finland to use surnames, beginning during the Middle Ages. These surnames are known for containing the "nen" diminutive.[ citation needed ]

Notable Savonians

References

  1. ↑ Solantie, Reijo (1988-12-31). "Climatic conditions for the cultivation of rye with reference to the history of settlement in Finland". Fennoscandia Archaeologica (V). ISSN   2737-0135.
  2. ↑ Crosby, Alfred W. (2001). Encountering the past in nature : essays in environmental history (Rev. ed.). Athens: Ohio University Press. p. 58. ISBN   9780821413579.
  3. ↑ Pasanen, Karja; Kääriäinen, Jarkko (2020). "Saimaan alueen asukkaiden alueellinen identiteetti". University of Eastern Finland. pp. 11–12.
  4. ↑ Korhonen, Elisa (2025-06-28). "Kainuulaisten sukujen DNA-testaus etenee – "Lähes kaikki kainuulaiset ovat sukua keskenään"". kainuunsanomat.fi. Kainuun Sanomat. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  5. ↑ Vironen, Petri (2024-07-14). "Isältä pojalle -testi mullistaa sukututkimusta – ja voi jopa järkyttää jälkipolvia". yle.fi. Yle. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  6. ↑ Holliday, Grace; Coldwell, Will (29 August 2017). "10 of the best lakeside towns and villages in Europe". the Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2022. However, Savonians are traditionally very laid-back, and happy to while away their afternoon at a waterside restaurant serving fresh fish lunches and tart berry deserts.
  7. ↑ Yle News Savolainen kierous onkin vaarinymmarrys : http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5338205
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