tämiselle

Tämiselle is a term that originated in Finland and refers to the traditional Scandinavian custom of marrying one's farm to the son or daughter who is most suited to take it over. The practice is typically practiced in rural areas where family farms or other large tracts of land are involved.

The process of becoming the heir to the family farm, known as "tämiselle", typically begins in early childhood, as children are raised with the understanding that they will one day take over the family farm. As children grow older, they participate in the management of the farm and are expected to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully run the property.

The primary objective of "tämiselle" is to ensure the continued operation of the family farm through the passage of family values, skills, and traditions from one generation to the next. In cases where only one child is involved in the transition, it is often referred to as "semina", meaning "being the only" in Finnish.

To facilitate the process, new generations of family members often continue to live in the parents' home until they are married or reach a certain age. This proximity allows for closer family involvement and easier knowledge transfer over time.

Historically, "tämiselle" played an essential role in keeping family farms viable during times of urbanization or societal change by ensuring the property remained in family hands. Today, as the number of family farms has decreased in Finland and other Scandinavian countries, "tämiselle" remains an important social and cultural tradition for those families who still adhere to this practice.