Vaivaisukko

A vaivaisukko ( Finnish ) or fattiggubbe ( Swedish ) is a special form of the sacrificial cane that is placed in front of many historic churches in the Finnish Pohjanmaa (Swedish: Österbotten) countryside .

These are almost life-size half or full sculptures, carved out of wood, of a finely dressed elderly gentleman (in Finnish ukko ) who asks for alms for the poor; often he holds out a cupped hand to the viewer. The place of the sternum is typically the slot for money. Usually the vaivaisukko is set up in front of the church, often attached to the church wall, sometimes free-standing. In many places, the historical vaivaisukot have recently been relocated to the interior of the church for reasons of conservation. A distinction is made between two main types, on the one hand vaivaisukot in the costume of a minstrel , on the other hand those depicting a war disabled person. The only vaivaisakka , that is, the only female figure, can be found in the church of Soini .

The oldest vaivaisukot are those in Hauho and Raahe , which were probably made towards the end of the 17th century; most of the 108 surviving specimens date from the 18th century.

Examples

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  Haukipudas

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  Ilmajoki

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  Temmes

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  Nurmo

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  Kälviä

literature

• Kaija Santaholma: Vaivaisukot - Tummatukka yes kirkonäijät . Sarmala Oy / Rakennusalan kustantajat RAK, Helsinki 2001. ISBN 951-664-078-8 .

Web links

Commons : Poor man statues  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Sacrificial cans in human form in Kerimäki - German text accompanying an exhibition by Vaivaisukot in Kerimäki, 2013.