ANNI ARTS CRAFTS
  • HOME
    • FREEBIES
    • CONTACT
    • DISCOUNT DEALS
    • ARTICLES
    • PHOTO GALLERIES
  • CATEGORIES
    • TEMPLATES-PAPERS >
      • KIDS 3D MUG
      • CUT FILES >
        • BLANK CUT FILES
        • PRINT-n-CUTS
      • FUN PACKS MIX >
        • FUN PACKS USB-CD
      • FAVOR PACKS
      • PATTERNED PAPERS
    • CARD MAKING KITS
    • BIRTH FLOWER CARD KITS
    • BIRTHFLOWER CHOC WRAPS
    • CROSS STITCH
  • PAPER PORCELAIN
    • BIRTH FLOWER 3D CUPS AND SAUCERS
    • BIRTH FLOWER 3D MUGS
    • BIRTH FLOWER CRADLE TEACUPS
    • SEASONS REASONS 3D CUPS and SAUCERS
    • SEASONS AND REASONS 3D MUGS
    • SEASONS REASONS CRADLE TEACUPS
    • DECORATE IT MUG BLANKS
    • MOSAIC 3D MUG
  • BIRTH FLOWERS
    • BIRTH FLOWER STATIONERY
    • BIRTH FLOWER PORCELAIN CUPS NOVELTY CARDS
    • BIRTHSTONE PIRATES
    • BIRTH FLOWER FAIRIES
    • JANUARY BIRTH FLOWER
    • FEBRUARY BIRTH FLOWER
    • MARCH BIRTH FLOWER
    • APRIL BIRTH FLOWER
    • MAY BIRTH FLOWER
    • JUNE BIRTH FLOWER
    • JULY BIRTH FLOWER
    • AUGUST BIRTH FLOWER
    • SEPTEMBER BIRTH FLOWER
    • OCTOBER BIRTH FLOWER
    • NOVEMBER BIRTH FLOWER
    • DECEMBER BIRTH FLOWER
  • SEASONS
    • FOLKFEST PAPER CRAFTS
    • CLUB - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
    • MOD SCANDI HOLIDAY BIRD
    • SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS - FOLK JUL
    • REINDEER TOILE DE JOUY
    • FOLK SANTA
    • FOLK TREES
    • POINSETTIA CRAFTS
    • CHRISTMAS FAIRY
    • XMAS JOLLY HOLLY
    • XMAS JOLLY HOLLY LACE
    • XMAS JOLLY HOLLY FASHION
    • RED AND GREEN CUPS
    • BLACK CHALKBOARD HOLIDAY CARDS TAGS
    • HAPPY REINDEER
    • SOLSTICE CRAFTS
    • MUG GIFTS FAIRY/PIXIE
    • SCOTTIE DOG HOLIDAY
    • XMAS TOYS TREE
    • RECYCLE CHRISTMAS CARDS
    • SUMMER BUTTERFLIES
    • GINGHAM STAR PICNIC
    • DRAGONFLIES and LILIES
    • SUMMER ROSE STATIONERY
    • SUMMER ROSE SHOE CARDS
    • DELFT BLUE BIRD
    • BLACK CROW
    • CROW PARADE
    • AUTUMN LEAVES CRAFTS
    • HALLOWEEN CRAFTS
    • FASHIONISTA WITCH
    • DAYS OF THE DEAD
    • THANKSGIVING CRAFTS
    • SHAMROCK BIRD
    • SHAMROCK HEART
    • PYSANKI EASTER EGGS
    • DELFT RABBIT
    • SPRING TULIPS
    • EASTER DAFFODILS
    • EASTER CHICKEN
    • SHOE CARDS
    • NEW YEAR CARDS
    • ROSES and DIAMONDS BIRDCAGE
    • ROSE HEART DIAMONDS
    • RED HEART AND LOVE BIRDS
  • REASONS
    • MERMAID PARTY AND CRAFTS PRINTABLES US
    • MERMAID PARTY AND CRAFTS PRINTABLES UK
    • ELLIE BABY SHOWER PRINTABLES US
    • ELLIE BABY SHOWER PRINTABLES UK
    • BUGBABY GARDEN LADYBUG PRINTABLES
    • LUCK BUG
    • METAL AND STEEL
    • VINTAGE GOLF PATENTS
    • GOLF PATENTS PRINTABLE POSTERS
    • EXPIRED PATENTS CARDS
    • VINTAGE TOOLS
    • VINTAGE HARDWARE
    • VINTAGE HARDWARE PRINTABLE POSTERS
    • DELFT DESIGNS
    • CRAFT TOOLS 3D MUG
    • BIRDS OF A FEATHER CRAFT TOGETHER
    • TEACHER'S APPLE
    • MOTHERS DAY BOUQUET
    • MOTHER'S DAY
    • PINK AND GREEN LACE
    • RED AND WHITE LACE ROSES
    • RED BLUE WHITE LACE
    • RED ROSE NOTELET BOX
    • FOLK ROSES-GET WELL
    • FATHER'S DAY
    • BIRDCAGE BW WEDDING KIT
    • LUCKY DOTS PARTY
    • BW SOCCER SETS
    • SOCCER SAFARI PRINTABLE BOOK
    • SOCCER SAFARI PARTY
    • TEENIE GREENIE PARTY
  • VINTAGE
    • FARMHOUSE
    • VINTAGE XMAS
    • VINTAGE AMARYLLIS
    • VINTAGE CRAFTS FOR MEN
    • VINTAGE HALLOWEEN
    • VINTAGE VALENTINE
    • VINTAGE EASTER
    • VINTAGE VEHICLES
    • VINTAGE VICTORIAN SCRAPS 3D MUG
    • VINTAGE SUNFLOWERS
    • VINTAGE BLUE FLOWER CUP
    • VINTAGE PINK FLOWER CUP

FINNISH FOLK CUSTOMS
CULTURAL HOLIDAYS
TRADITIONS and CELEBRATIONS


LEAD-POURING ON FINNISH NEW YEAR 
The old Finnish custom of Lead-pouring as a New Year oracle is still popular

You are welcome to use a sample paragraph or short abstract of my article on your site or blog, but must then link back to the full article on this page for readers to follow. 
Enjoy, but do not use full article without permission from me! Contact.

The Finnish Folk Year: Lead Pouring-Anneke Lipsanen
Lead pouring as a Finnish folk custom took place on Old Year's Eve

According to the old Finnish folk calendar, the year ended when the agricultural activities ceased. This was after the harvest and the autumn slaughter, sometime in October.

Some ten to twelve days elapsed between the end of the old year and the start of the new. This period enabled the peasant calendar (which was calculated according to the moon phases) to catch up with the sun’s cycle. This meant that the event originally took place in autumn.

Leadpouring was a custom of west European origin that spread to Finland via Sweden. It took root in south–western Finland but was slow to spread to the eastern parts.

The old folks sought to read future revelations in various rituals on New Year’s eve, but lead-pouring became the most popular. The main questions concerned marriage, death and material welfare.

The whole family gathered around the oven at midnight on New Year’s Eve. A piece of lead was placed in a ladle and melted in the flames. Then the ladle was carefully removed while the onlookers said the name of the person for whom the lead was to be poured.

It was usually the head of the family who took the first turn. He quickly poured the molten lead into a bucket filled with water, producing a sizzling sound and steam. The cooled and bizarrely formed piece of lead was retrieved by a younger family member and inspected by all. Ideally the lead had to have the shape of a recogniseable object – however vague. A verdict was then passed about its meaning.

If one could discern the shape of a grain-bag, it promised a good harvest during the following year. Bulging bubbles on the surface of the lead held the promise of forthcoming money. A coffin obviously had connotations of death.

When no clear conclusions could be drawn from the shape, shadow pictures were resorted to. The lead-shape was held in front of a candle-flame so that a shadow was produced on the wall. This silhouette was studied to determine the object it represented, and the meaning thereof discussed.

A horse and cart meant a journey would be undertaken sometime in the future, and a ship would bring happiness. Unmarried girls searched for signs that indicated marriage, like rings or bridal crowns. The breaking up of the lead mass as it hit the water meant shattered luck and each person tried to avoid this.

The whole procedure was repeated when the next piece of lead was poured for the mistress of the household. The sequence was repeated until each member of the family had had their turn and their future discussed.

The last piece was poured for the resident troll or house spirit to establish his disposition towards the household. In Ostrobothnia however, it was generally the first piece of lead that was poured for the house troll.

If there was enough lead each person kept his or her lead for the rest of the year. The water in the bucket was also believed to posess special properties. An unmarried girl could dip her scarf into it and sleep with the scarf under her pillow. She would then dream of who her groom was going to be.

Leadpouring is still a favourite event in modern Finland. Special ladles and lead in the shape of little horse-shoes can be bought at market-stalls and in shops towards the year-end. Family and friends then gather at midnight on new year’s eve as the old folks used to do.
Picture
Modern lead-pouring ladle and lead horseshoes
Text, Illustrations and Photos Copyright Anneke Lipsanen www.anniarts.com
Leadpouring on Finnish New Year was compiled from the book "The Finnish Folk Year" by Anneke Lipsanen. A collection of articles from the book can be read on this site


I am the author of the original book which is no longer in print. 
However, it is in the process of being released again in a new format.  

FINNISH FOLK CUSTOMS, CULTURAL HOLIDAYS, 
TRADITIONS and CELEBRATIONS IN JANUARY
• THE FINNISH FOLK CALENDAR STAFFS 
• THE FINNISH FOLK DAYS FOR JANUARY 
• THE FINNISH FOLK WAYS IN JANUARY 

Back to Article Index
ABOUT
CONTACT
PRIVACY
TERMS OF USE
PORTFOLIO
ARTICLES
TESTIMONIALS
  • HOME
    • FREEBIES
    • CONTACT
    • DISCOUNT DEALS
    • ARTICLES
    • PHOTO GALLERIES
  • CATEGORIES
    • TEMPLATES-PAPERS >
      • KIDS 3D MUG
      • CUT FILES >
        • BLANK CUT FILES
        • PRINT-n-CUTS
      • FUN PACKS MIX >
        • FUN PACKS USB-CD
      • FAVOR PACKS
      • PATTERNED PAPERS
    • CARD MAKING KITS
    • BIRTH FLOWER CARD KITS
    • BIRTHFLOWER CHOC WRAPS
    • CROSS STITCH
  • PAPER PORCELAIN
    • BIRTH FLOWER 3D CUPS AND SAUCERS
    • BIRTH FLOWER 3D MUGS
    • BIRTH FLOWER CRADLE TEACUPS
    • SEASONS REASONS 3D CUPS and SAUCERS
    • SEASONS AND REASONS 3D MUGS
    • SEASONS REASONS CRADLE TEACUPS
    • DECORATE IT MUG BLANKS
    • MOSAIC 3D MUG
  • BIRTH FLOWERS
    • BIRTH FLOWER STATIONERY
    • BIRTH FLOWER PORCELAIN CUPS NOVELTY CARDS
    • BIRTHSTONE PIRATES
    • BIRTH FLOWER FAIRIES
    • JANUARY BIRTH FLOWER
    • FEBRUARY BIRTH FLOWER
    • MARCH BIRTH FLOWER
    • APRIL BIRTH FLOWER
    • MAY BIRTH FLOWER
    • JUNE BIRTH FLOWER
    • JULY BIRTH FLOWER
    • AUGUST BIRTH FLOWER
    • SEPTEMBER BIRTH FLOWER
    • OCTOBER BIRTH FLOWER
    • NOVEMBER BIRTH FLOWER
    • DECEMBER BIRTH FLOWER
  • SEASONS
    • FOLKFEST PAPER CRAFTS
    • CLUB - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
    • MOD SCANDI HOLIDAY BIRD
    • SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS - FOLK JUL
    • REINDEER TOILE DE JOUY
    • FOLK SANTA
    • FOLK TREES
    • POINSETTIA CRAFTS
    • CHRISTMAS FAIRY
    • XMAS JOLLY HOLLY
    • XMAS JOLLY HOLLY LACE
    • XMAS JOLLY HOLLY FASHION
    • RED AND GREEN CUPS
    • BLACK CHALKBOARD HOLIDAY CARDS TAGS
    • HAPPY REINDEER
    • SOLSTICE CRAFTS
    • MUG GIFTS FAIRY/PIXIE
    • SCOTTIE DOG HOLIDAY
    • XMAS TOYS TREE
    • RECYCLE CHRISTMAS CARDS
    • SUMMER BUTTERFLIES
    • GINGHAM STAR PICNIC
    • DRAGONFLIES and LILIES
    • SUMMER ROSE STATIONERY
    • SUMMER ROSE SHOE CARDS
    • DELFT BLUE BIRD
    • BLACK CROW
    • CROW PARADE
    • AUTUMN LEAVES CRAFTS
    • HALLOWEEN CRAFTS
    • FASHIONISTA WITCH
    • DAYS OF THE DEAD
    • THANKSGIVING CRAFTS
    • SHAMROCK BIRD
    • SHAMROCK HEART
    • PYSANKI EASTER EGGS
    • DELFT RABBIT
    • SPRING TULIPS
    • EASTER DAFFODILS
    • EASTER CHICKEN
    • SHOE CARDS
    • NEW YEAR CARDS
    • ROSES and DIAMONDS BIRDCAGE
    • ROSE HEART DIAMONDS
    • RED HEART AND LOVE BIRDS
  • REASONS
    • MERMAID PARTY AND CRAFTS PRINTABLES US
    • MERMAID PARTY AND CRAFTS PRINTABLES UK
    • ELLIE BABY SHOWER PRINTABLES US
    • ELLIE BABY SHOWER PRINTABLES UK
    • BUGBABY GARDEN LADYBUG PRINTABLES
    • LUCK BUG
    • METAL AND STEEL
    • VINTAGE GOLF PATENTS
    • GOLF PATENTS PRINTABLE POSTERS
    • EXPIRED PATENTS CARDS
    • VINTAGE TOOLS
    • VINTAGE HARDWARE
    • VINTAGE HARDWARE PRINTABLE POSTERS
    • DELFT DESIGNS
    • CRAFT TOOLS 3D MUG
    • BIRDS OF A FEATHER CRAFT TOGETHER
    • TEACHER'S APPLE
    • MOTHERS DAY BOUQUET
    • MOTHER'S DAY
    • PINK AND GREEN LACE
    • RED AND WHITE LACE ROSES
    • RED BLUE WHITE LACE
    • RED ROSE NOTELET BOX
    • FOLK ROSES-GET WELL
    • FATHER'S DAY
    • BIRDCAGE BW WEDDING KIT
    • LUCKY DOTS PARTY
    • BW SOCCER SETS
    • SOCCER SAFARI PRINTABLE BOOK
    • SOCCER SAFARI PARTY
    • TEENIE GREENIE PARTY
  • VINTAGE
    • FARMHOUSE
    • VINTAGE XMAS
    • VINTAGE AMARYLLIS
    • VINTAGE CRAFTS FOR MEN
    • VINTAGE HALLOWEEN
    • VINTAGE VALENTINE
    • VINTAGE EASTER
    • VINTAGE VEHICLES
    • VINTAGE VICTORIAN SCRAPS 3D MUG
    • VINTAGE SUNFLOWERS
    • VINTAGE BLUE FLOWER CUP
    • VINTAGE PINK FLOWER CUP