Scan Magazine
|
Special Theme
|
Top Experiences in Finland
Discovering North Karelia – home of ancient traditions and enchanting nature North Karelia’s unique food, music, art and mythology can be traced back centuries, but are still tangible in Karelian culture today. Located in the heart of Finnish Lakeland, the region is a true hidden gem. By Ndéla Faye
|
Photos: Harri Tarvainen
Located in eastern Finland, North Karelia is perhaps best known for its national parks and beautiful untouched forests and wilderness. It is home to some of Europe’s oldest bedrock, and the stunning nature has served as inspiration for many renowned Finnish artists. In many ways, North Karelia can be seen as a meeting point of Eastern and Nordic 60
|
Issue 162
|
January 2024
cultures. Its unique food, dialect, music, art and mythology have been rooted in the history of this area for centuries. “The Karelia region has a longstanding tradition of storytelling and singing, and some of the stories featured in Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala, were collected from the province. The places described in the Kalevala can be experienced right here,” says Minna Rautiainen-Cimrin, communication and marketing manager at VisitKarelia. Unique traditions and sites The calming effects of Karelia’s nature have been utilised in the region’s long