History and Symbols of Karjalainen Osakunta

History

In the beginning there were less nations which later on broke up to smaller parts. Finland has for centuries been devided to different parent regions. Savo-Karjalainen Osakunta was originally a part of Wiipurilainen Osakunta. Situation today is a result of Savo-Karjalainen Osakunta breaking up 1905. The original area of Finnish Carelia were larger before the wars but parts of it were ceded to the Soviet Union after Winter War.

In 2005 Karjalainen Osakunta will have its 100th Aniversary.

When the old osakunta was divided into the Karjalainen and Savolainen Osakunta, one piece of common property was retained: a large drinking vessel fashioned from the horn of a wild ox. This drinking horn is exhanged between Karjalainen and Savolainen Osakunta each year in a special party as a reminder of the old, undivided osakunta. The drinking horn had its 125th birthday also in 2001, and there were grand party together with Savolax Nation in the Vanha (the old Studen Union house) included in the Annual Celebration party.

Other property was divided evenly between the osakuntas, including two shares in the Finnish National Theatre, purchased when the National Theatre was collecting funds for its current building 100 years ago.

Symbols of Nation

The colours of Karjalainen Osakunta are red and black. These colours are used in nations band and the flag that is designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, one of the foremost artists of the national romantic period. Traditionally nations use the coat of arms from their own province as a symbol. Karjalainen osakunta also uses the Coat of arms of Carelia.

Kalevala, the Finnish national epic, is collected mainly from Carelia. The 28th of February, day of Kalevala, is also the day for the Annual Celebration. See the story and the short sample of the Kalevala in Finnish, in English (sample) and in Estonian (sample) and in Swedish (Digital Kalevala is provided by Society of Finnish Literature).

Regional anthem, "Karjalaisten laulu" is composed by P.J. Hannikainen. Usually the first, fourth and seventh (the last) verse is song. See the lyrics of this song.

Future

Karjalainen osakunta is preparing for a big celebration in year 2005 when is its 100th birthday. For this purpose there is a etnographic history project that collects the phases of the Karjalainen osakunta into one book.