Figure 1.-- Here we see Swedish Boy Scouts leading a group of children in a Hembygdsförbund held at Brännkyrka/Midsommarkransen near Stockenholm. The press caption read, "i BRÄNNKYRKA HEMBYGDSFÖRENING hade i söndags hembygdsfest vid Midsommarkransen, och vår bild visar bur populära Brännkyrkapojkarna öppna festen med fanor wb klingande spel." That means something like, "In Brännkyrka Hembygdsförening had Sunday homeland celebration at Midsommarkransen, and our picture shows the Brännkyrka Boy Souts open the event with banners announcing activities." The photograph was taken August 2, 1943. This was during World War II when Sweden's very national existence was in question. By the time this photograph was taken the Red army in the East had begun to carve the heart out of the German Wehrmacht. And the Allies had scored important advances in the West as wll had begun to destroy German war indutries from the air. While many Swedes did not yet know fully understand it, their country was finally safe.

Interest in traditional folk culture began to develop in Europe at about the same gime that the industril revolution and the modern economy began to take shape (late-18th century). This development affected sweden along with the rest of Europe. The more the industrial revolution and urbnization progressed, the more the interest in traditional and rural origins. We see this in the art through out Europe with painters depicting rural imges in idelic, romantic terms. In Sweden, Pastor Arvid August Afzelius was a leading figure. With the 19th century, the historical development of nations became a popular academic topic. Annd by mid-century we behin to see collections beginning that would lad to modrn regional museums. Eventually the Swedish government began documentation of folk culture. Skansen in Stockholm and Lund Culture inspired the creation of local open-air museums and heritage centers. Industrialization and the associated urbanizatiom created a nostalgic feeling for the old rural culture and a feeling of loss that the oldSweden they grew up with was rapidly disappearing. Thus many came to belive that the folk culture had to be protected for posterity. Interest in folk culture was a first an interest of educated people who engaged in ethnographic study. Ordinary Swedes were more interested in modernization ans urbanization which was beining a better life style. Gradually as the Swedish people became more prosperous in the late-19th century, ordinary people becam increasingly intereted in their origins and folk culture. Leksands handicraft (founded 1904) and the Hembygdsförbund fol movement, promoted by painter Gustaf Ankarcrona. It was a major force in the developmnt folk movement.

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Created: 5:57 AM 1/22/2017
Last updated: 5:57 AM 1/22/2017