Karelian häävirsi from Kurkijoki (wedding poem song)
The tales from Kurkijoki tell that in the morning of the wedding the head of the household sits by the table, pours drinks for the wedding party and sings:
Onkos teijän niin ku on meijän.
Mikäs meijän on eläissä.
Meill’ on soitut soppiloissa,
kanteleet kammarit ovilla,
porokellot portin päällä,
petran nahkat peittehenä,
karhun nahkat kattehena.
This poem song describes how well everything in this household is and wonders if its the same on the other one. Brought to modern day it symbolizes a challenge for the other spouse and family to make sure the child of this household gets to live in abundance – that in this case is spiritual and physical safety, warmth and being surrounded by music.
I don’t know the melody this was sung with in Kurkijoki, so I improvised a version from a traditional poem song melody. This was done to celebrate and wish abundance for a newly wed couple I know.
Source:
Pekka Valkeapää
SKVR XIII2 4154. Kurkijoki, Otsanlahti. Tereska 57. 94.
skvr.fi