Send message to Author

Paper short abstract

This paper examines the meanings and multiple connections between laments and forests in Karelia and Finland from the early 20th century to the present, with a focus on contemporary interpretations.

Paper long abstract

This paper explores the meanings and multiple connections between laments and forests in Karelia and Finland from the early 20th century to the present, with a particular focus on contemporary interpretations. In lament poetry, forests and trees serve as metaphors, as tangible materials for constructing coffins or heating the bridal sauna, or, in the age of the Eco-Crisis, as the source of grief. On the other hand, several contemporary lamenters experience a forest as a suitable physical environment for lamentation, and even traditional Karelian burial grounds are often located in forests. In some instances, the forest and its trees are personified and positioned among the listeners—or witnesses—of the laments.

Throughout the period examined, the practice of lamentation has experienced substantial changes. The Karelian lament tradition has been revived in Finland with diverse interpretations. Some emphasise its aesthetic qualities, others focus on emotional release, and some highlight Karelian cultural identity.These reinterpretations and reframings have also affected the meanings of the tradition, leading to the fading of certain nuances and the emergence of new elements. Similarly, the relationships with and use of forests have changed.

Drawing on ecocriticism, posthumanism, and multidisciplinary new-spiritual research, I investigate the connection between forests and the lament tradition and what it reveals about the cultural values of forests.