Kekri

Kekri is the traditional autumn harvest festival of Finnish folklore. It marked the end of the harvest season and was a time for feasting, giving thanks, and remembering the dead. In historical practice, kekri encompassed communal meals, sharing of food with guests and the poor, and rituals intended to secure fertility and protection for households and communities. Offerings to household spirits and visits to graves were among the customary observances, reflecting a close link between agricultural cycles, community life, and the spiritual world.

Over time, the Christianization of Finland influenced kekri. Its dating and character became increasingly associated with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, and by the early modern period the festival had largely faded as a public celebration in many regions. Some of its customs persisted in altered forms, blended with autumnal and religious observances, while others disappeared from everyday life.

In contemporary Finland, kekri is kept alive primarily as a folkloric or cultural concept. Regional associations, museums, and folk culture initiatives may hold kekri-themed events or exhibitions that showcase traditional foods, crafts, music, and demonstrations of historical harvest practices. The modern usage tends to emphasize cultural heritage and education rather than as a widely observed public holiday.

The exact origins and terminology of kekri are debated among scholars, with various theories about its linguistic roots and pre-Christian significance. Today, it remains a symbol of autumn, communal gratitude, and the historical rhythms of rural life in Finland.