History of South-Savo and Lake Saimaa ON THE PIER Living on the shores of Lake Saimaa

Saimaa becomes inhabited Savo between East and West Town built on islands Expanding town The harbour Strait Kyrönsalmi Tarburning Ironworks Agriculture Life in the archipelago Savo dwelling Villas Sääminki parish Church boats Savo boats Boats for every occasion Tar steamers Constructing a tar steamer Life on tar steamers Winter journeys   CHURCH BOATS AND JOURNEYS As the Sääminki area is fragmented by waters church boats became necessary for journeys to church. The boats were in co-ownership; houses of an individual village would form a crew, and each co-owning household would in turn be responsible for the annual tarring and caulking of the boat. Boat masters were highly esteemed craftsmen, and a church boat was considered his masterpiece. The largest Church boats in the country were used in Sääminki. Usually, they had nine pairs of oars, and were 15 metres long and 2.5 metres wide. However, there is knowledge of churchgoers being transported in a boat with 30 pairs of oars, facilitating room for 120-150 passengers. Those living in remote parts would combine their town and church journeys. They would travel to town on Saturdays to sell butter, eggs, berries and fish, do some shopping, take care of banking and other errands, and visit the doctor. The evening would be spent at church and going to confession. For people living in outlying areas, church trips were the only way for unwinding from the toil and drudgery of every-day life. One would leave in good time in order to catch up with acquaintances on the churchyard. Church journeys were almost the only way for youth to meet their peers from other villages. It was not uncommon to meet one’s future spouse on the church green. People had prepared a packed lunch for the journey, and women brought a basket or bundle containing church clothes; a semi-woollen skirt and church silk, hand-made stockings to be attached by weaver’s reed and a hymn book. People would change into the clothes once they reached the church shore to prevent any wear and tear during the journey. Women stepped ashore with their shoes dangling over their shoulders, wearing a long undershirt and a multi-coloured underskirt. Men rowed clothed in their underpants, a shirt, boots, a knife round the waist, and a felt hat on their heads; a semi-woollen suit was hanging on a rack.

29.7.2005