Savonian people
Savonians (Finnish: Savolaiset, Savonian: Savolaaset, Savolaeset) are a subgroup of the Finnish people descending from the inhabitants of historical province of Savonia. Savonians differ from other Finnish clans by their dialect (see Savonian dialects) and cultural tradition. Originally they are descendants of the historical Finnish Karelians and the Tavastians. Nowadays the historical homeland of the Savonians is divided between the provinces of Northern Savonia and Southern Savonia. The regional identity of Savonians, like that of the other traditional Finnish clans, is declining. Savonians and Karelians were the first people in Finland to use surnames, beginning during the Middle Ages. These surnames are recognisable for containing the "nen" diminutive.
Savonians traditionally practiced slash-and-burn agriculture. During 16th and 17th centuries many Savonians emigrated to Eastern Norway and Central Sweden and became known as the Forest Finns there. In the 17th century there was also migration to Swedish Ingria (now part of Russia), where they are known as Savakot and are collectively known as the Ingrian Finns with the other migrant group, Äyrämöiset (Finnish Karelians).
The stereotypical Savonian is talkative, easy-going, jolly and humorous, occasionally even to an offensive excess. Traditionally, the Savonian people have often been considered as "sneaky" and "mendacious." However, recent research has shown that this infamy is largely due to misunderstandings caused by the traditional Savonian social indirectness.[1]
Famous Savonians
- Juhani Aho
- Hannu Aravirta
- Juhan af Grann
- Harri Hakkarainen
- Pekka Halonen
- Teemu Hartikainen
- Jukka Hentunen
- Marco Hietala
- Kari Hietalahti
- Pekka Janhunen
- Olli Jokinen
- Jussi Jääskeläinen
- Juha Kankkunen
- Kasperi Kapanen
- Sami Kapanen
- Klaus Karppinen
- Urho Kekkonen
- Kalle Kerman
- Harri Kirvesniemi
- Hannes Kolehmainen
- Mikko Kolehmainen
- Sakari Kuosmanen
- Kaapo Kähkönen
- Esapekka Lappi
- Kari Laukkanen
- Juice Leskinen
- Otto Leskinen
- Erkki Liikanen
- Paavo Lipponen
- Eetu Luostarinen
- Paavo Lötjönen
- Otto Manninen
- Sanna Marin
- Jarmo Myllys
- Ari-Pekka Nikkola
- Spede Pasanen
- Joonas Rask
- Tuukka Rask
- Timo Rautiainen
- Olli Rehn
- Rasmus Rissanen
- Antti Ruuskanen
- Eero Saarinen
- Eliel Saarinen
- Arja Saijonmaa
- Heikki Silvennoinen
- Kari Tapio
- Ilpo Tiihonen
- Jussi Timonen
- Kimmo Timonen
- Erkki Toivanen
- Marko Tuomainen
- Allu Tuppurainen
- Kari Ukkonen
- Jenni Vartiainen
- Iiro Viinanen
- Jukka Voutilainen
References
- Yle News Savolainen kierous onkin vaarinymmarrys : http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5338205
Articles of the – Finnish people – its subgroups and its diaspora |
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Traditional groups (or "heimot") |
Tavastians | Karelians | Savonians | Finns proper | Swedish-speakers |
Diaspora |
Finnish Americans | Finnish Canadians | Ingrian Finns (Savakot, Äyrämöiset) | Sweden Finns (Tornedalians, Forest Finns) | Kvens | Finnish Argentines | Finnish Australians | Finnish Brazilians | Finns in Switzerland |