Varsinais-Suomi, Vehmaa, Laittinen village, Huolila farm. The Huolila house nowadays functions as a local museum. The tree stands directly to the south of the main house and dominates the view from the "tupa" (common room and kitchen) window.

Huolilan Haltiasaarni

Sacrificial or "guardian" trees are a tradition recorded from most parts of Finland. The tree is linked to one house and usually stands directly in front of the house or it´s immediate proximity. The tree is linked to the fate of the house and it is sometimes seen as an analogy of the household spirit (haltia). Customs of sacrificing milk and beer to the roots of the tree have been recorded in the 20th century. Although recorded memories of giving sacrifice to individual trees are very rare, the special nature of solitary huge trees in the proximity of farmhouses makes them easy to identify. Often the cultic or sacred nature has developed into nothing more than a prohibition from cutting or harming the tree. Inland, the guardian trees are often birches, firs or rowans, whereas on the southwestern coast, ash and oak trees are also common.

2015 04

John Björkman

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