Vuoshaun

Vuoshaun refers to a cycle of 400 solar years used in ancient Finland and parts of Swedish Lapland. This system of timekeeping was based on observations of the stars and took into account the Earth's precession cycle. The word "vuos" means "year" in Finnish, and "haun" is an archaic word meaning "age" or "era".

The Vuoshaun was employed primarily by the indigenous Sami people. It was used to plan religious and cultural events, particularly the celebration of the Sami National Day, often associated with the Midsummer festival. In Vuoshaun, each year was calculated based on the precession of the seasons and the movement of celestial bodies.

One full cycle of Vuoshaun comprises 400 years, after which the repeating pattern of seasonal shifts would repeat. This cyclic pattern is based on observations and calculations of astronomical phenomena. Elements of Vuoshaun were incorporated into coordinating Sami shamanic and spiritual practices.

Calculations are based on advanced knowledge of astronomy, and the Sami people used Vuoshaun for religious, cultural, and sometimes practical purposes like scheduling agriculture activities. The knowledge and significance of Vuoshaun was largely memorized and passed down through generations in an oral tradition.

There is limited historical documentation about Vuoshaun, and most of our information comes from Finnish folklore and limited research on Sami indigenous knowledge.