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Finnish folk music can be roughly divided into two historical eras differing considerably from each other both in their music and culture and in their use in the community. The earlier stratum is often called the ancient Finnish period or the Kalevala era. It covers such genres as the singing of Kalevala poetry, the chain dance, the lament, and a distinctive brand of music performed on such instruments as the five-stringed kantele, the bowed harp, and a host of folk wind instruments.

The later stratum of Finnish folk music is the period of agrarian or pelimanni music and it is clearly rooted in Western culture.

The Sami, the indigenous people of Lapland, have had a culture and music of their very own. The Sami developed a unique archaic idiom the most distinctive feature of which is a vocal genre called the yoik. Even today the yoiks of the Sami from the north still represent one of the oldest strata of the arctic way of life. The singer may choose almost anything connected with nature, either animate or inanimate, as the subject for his or her yoik: a landscape, animal or person. The use of a witch’s drum reflects the shamanistic nature of Sami music.

The melancholy Finnish tango:
The grim conditions of wartime Finland provided the substance for a genre of the tango with a Finnish flavor all of its own. The lyrics, telling of parting and longing, held special meaning for many who had lost their loved-ones for ever. The tango has become an accepted form of Finnish culture. Even those Finns who personally have other musical preferences feel that the tango belongs to Finland just as much as skiing and the sauna.

Original Finnish High Carbon steel blades for Scandinavian knife making!

In Scandinavia and all of Europe, the Finnish puukko is well known and highly esteemed. These knives are razor sharp, have long edge retention, and are easy to sharpen. Finnish knives are comfortable, practical, lightweight and durable. The Puukko is an excellent tool that will endure for many decades. Some are rugged working tools, others are beautiful collector's knives, but all are made for use.

Puukko and Leuku knives in general have the peculiarity that there is only one bevel on the blade, which forms the working edge, they are therefore very easily sharpened, as all is needed is to grind this bevel to get the sharpness back. The fact that the bevel is big allows finding it intuitively on the stone. The puukko often sport a grind that looks like a saber grind. However, there are no secondary edge bevels which leave the edge extremely thin and incredibly sharp. Due to the sharpness of the edge, these knives will often out cut just about anything.

In Scandinavia and all of Europe, the Finnish puukko is well known and highly esteemed. These knives are razor sharp, have long edge retention, and are easy to sharpen. Finnish knives are comfortable, practical, lightweight and durable. The Puukko is an excellent tool that will endure for many decades. Some are rugged working tools, others are beautiful collector’s knives, but all are made for use.

Puukkos, and Nordic knives in general have the peculiarity that there is only one bevel on the blade, which forms the working edge, they are therefore very easily sharpened, as all is needed is to grind this bevel to get the sharpness back. The fact that the bevel is big allows finding it intuitively on the stone. The puukko often sport a grind that looks like a saber grind. However, there are no secondary edge bevels which leave the edge extremely thin and incredibly sharp. Due to the sharpness of the edge, these knives will often out cut just about anything.

Leuku is a Finnish word for a knife used mostly by Lapland (Northern Finland) people, Sámi. It is a very versatile knife, developed from the needs of the reindeer herder-lifestyle of the Sámi people. They are all-purpose knives rather than woodworking knives. The handles are typical of those used in the far North. They provide a solid grip for the draw strokes that are favored where the hands are often gloved, or stiff with cold. The wide flat pommel allows the use of the second hand to apply force to the point. The sheaths take almost the entire handle, which is a reflection of how serious a lost leuku can be in the wilderness.

In the larger sizes they combine the functions of camp knife and machete, and are used for everything from building shelters and gathering firewood, to butchering reindeer. It is an excellent outdoor tool for bush crafting. On the northern tundra a 8 or 9 inch leuku is far better to chop firewood with than an ax, as brush and willows are to weak to offer the ax the resistance needed for a easy cut. The leuku just slices thin branches off easily with a flick of your hand. But the big one also splits larger firewood well with the use of a baton. For fishing and hunting it is very handy as it is both knife and ax in one. The blades are relatively thin, and the knives are quite light for their size.

Kalevala Jewelry is a living, vibrant community of artists and craftsmen, creating contemporary Finnish jewelry designs that breathe with the times. Kalevala Jewelry collection includes both traditional designs and modern jewelry. KK designers have exceptional insight into traditional design, combined with a strong personal vision. The result is confidence and skill in creating jewelry that represents a unique and modern idiom.

Taigakoru is owned by two famous Finnish master goldsmiths, Juha Janger from Rovaniemi and Seppo Penttinen from Sodankyla. Both men graduated from Lahti Goldsmith School in early 1980's and draw their inspiration from Lapland's nature and rich cultural heritage. Janger was awarded with "The Goldsmight of the Year" diploma in 1995 in Finland and continue to create unique and exceptional designs. Penttinen is also well known as a nature photographer and has captured Nordic wildlife and sceneries also in his jewelry designs.

Rainbow Jewelry was founded 1976 to quarry and cut Finnish Spectrolite from its own mine area for jeweleries, watch dials, paper weights etc. They are the oldest working company in this business in Finland. A number of Rainbow Jewelry designs in our store is unique specimens and the individual experiment models which are not available from elsewhere. Every piece of Spectrolite is unique and you will never find two alike.

We are proud to be official Kalevala Koru and Taigakoru importers!