Kansanperinteet

Kansanperinteet, Finnish for "folk traditions," denote the beliefs, customs, arts, and expressions passed through generations within a community. They include oral literature (myths, legends, folk tales, proverbs, ballads), traditional music and dance, seasonal rituals, folk costumes, crafts, games, and healing and practical knowledge about nature and agriculture.

In Finland, Kansanperinteet have been central to cultural identity and linguistic history. Collectors in the 19th century gathered runos and songs that fed national epics such as Kalevala; Kanteletar is a later collection of lyric poetry. Regional variations exist among Finnish-speaking communities and among Sámi and other minority groups, reflecting different landscapes, languages, and histories.

Transmission occurs mainly in families and communities, but also through schools, museums, folk festivals, and media. Common manifestations include juhannus (midsummer) celebrations, Christmas customs, name-giving rites, folk dances (kansantanssi), and traditional crafts and dress (kansallispuku). Folk medicine, herbal knowledge, and seasonal agricultural practices also form part of Kansanperinteet.

Preservation and study are supported by institutions such as Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura (Finnish Literature Society), folklore archives, university departments of folklore and ethnology, and national archives. Digitization projects and public folklore programs help document and disseminate traditions. Today Kansanperinteet are treated as an element of intangible cultural heritage, reflecting regional diversity, historical change, and ongoing cultural expression in Finland.