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Käänt’jä, or dagmar, is a type of embroidery that is popular in Finland. The tradition of darning and sewing with woolen thread started in Viking times, and dagmar became a favorite art form because it was easy to do on a small scale. Today, dagmar is undergoing a revival thanks to new technology and artisanal producers all over the world who are using the traditional craft to create contemporary works of art. In this article, Dagmar will discuss the history of dagmar and its relevance today.
Dagmar and the Origins
Dagmar is the most well-known of the six Käänt’jä girls, who were instrumental in helping preserve the unique Saami cultural heritage. Dagmar’s story begins with her mother, a healer and shamaness named Ajajuva. Ajajuva was born in the early 1800s to a Saami family living on the reindeer herding tundra of Lapland. At an early age, she realized that there was something different about her—she could see energy fields around people and animals.
In 1826, when Ajajuva was only 12 years old, she married a man from another Saami tribe. The marriage soon ended in divorce, and Ajajuva soon discovered that she had a special gift for healing. She began to travel throughout the region, helping people with their injuries and illnesses.
Ajajuva’s travels took her to various villages and settlements on the tundra. One day, she met Dagmar’s father, Leelo Sammallahti. Leelo was a trader working for an oil company headquartered in Oslo. He quickly became impressed by Ajajuva’s skills as a healer and decided to bring her along with him on his next trading expedition to Lapland.
While they were traveling through the wilderness, Ajajuva met Dagmar’s six other sisters—Juulia, Iida, Taina, Satuja-Liisa
The Legacy of Dagmar Käänt’jä
Dagmar Käänt’jä (1879-1963) was a Finnish artist who is best known for her stunning watercolor paintings of the Finnish landscape. Born in Viipuri, Dagmar spent her childhood traveling with her family throughout Finland and documenting the natural beauty she saw. After completing her secondary education in Helsinki, Dagmar began studying art at the Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts in 1902.
Despite early success, Dagmar struggled to find consistent success as an artist during her lifetime. However, her work has since gained international recognition, and she has been awarded numerous honors including the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the nation’s highest award for artists, the Grand Gold Medal.
In addition to her artwork, Dagmar also wrote several books about art and travel including Vanishing Finland (1924), The Art of Travel (1935), and In Northern Lights (1953). She also served as president of the Finnish Artists’ Society from 1951-1955.
Dagmar Käänt’jä was a remarkable artist who represented both Finnish tradition and modernity in her landscapes. Her life and work is an inspiration to all who love beautiful scenery and cherish creativity in all its forms.
The Future of Käänt’jä
The history of Käänt’jä can be traced back to the 17th century when the area was part of the Saami Lands. The first written record of Käänt’jä dates back to 1656, when a Swedish missionary named Peder Claesson visited the area and noted that there were “Kantare” living in the region. Kantare is an archaic name for the Sami people.
In 1812, Käänt’jä was ceded to Russia as part of the Treaty of Tilsit. During the Russian Revolution of 1917, Saamis participated in several uprisings against Tsarism. After Finland gained its independence in 1917, Käänt’jä became part of it. Today, Käänt’jæ is an autonomous municipality within Lapland County, Finland.
