Of Church Boats and Wife Carrying

Some of my colleagues are Finnish. They've described to me two very Finnish pastimes: church boat racing and wife carrying races. I have stolen the photos here: the church boat photo came from wikipedia and the wife carrying came from a web site. I also stole some of the descriptions.

There are records of church boats from the 1600s. At that time the church started to demand that everyone confess and take part in church services. In the lake districts and by the shores, a boat was the fastest transport because the journeys were long and roads were non-existent. Church boats disappeared by the 1920s because railways, steamboats and coaches and the freedom of religion law made church boats unnecessary. Now church boats have become racing events. One Finn told me it was because originally the men would get their family into the boat and see a neighbor close by in his boat. Then the testosterone would kick in and the two men would unofficially race. Nowadays, church boat racing is popular at Finnish campgrounds and competitions.

There has been a revival in church boats in recent years. Finland's Rowing Association sponsors many church boat racing events and many competitors trains. One Finn told me he trained a lot but didn't train by actually rowing a real boat. Then during the race he developed terrible blisters.


The following is quoted from the web with a little editing on my part: The idea of Wife Carrying Competition originated in Sonkajärvi, Finland. In spite of its humorous aspects, it has deep roots in the local history. In the late 1800’s there was a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen in the area, who is said to have required his troops to prove themselves physically. Since, in those days, it was common to steal women from the enemies villages, being able to carry wives (the enemies wives) would be a desirable trait.

In those days the soldier would not only get a new wife but as an incentive to route the enemy, receive the equivalent of the wife’s weight in beer. Nowadays, the old custom morphed into a racing competition, the winners get beer, a bag full of wife carrying products and a statue with wife carrying motif. There are also prises for first and second runners up and "most entertaining" couple. I assume that the modern events do not include village sacking and other men's wives. I also have no idea what would be in a sack of "wife carrying products."

There are a team and sprint competition as part of the more serious wife carrying world championships.

In the team competition the track is the same as Wife Carrying World Championships but three men in the team carry the wife in turns. At the exchange point the carrier has to drink the official "wife carrying drink" before continuing the race. The winners receive wife carrying products and statues. The team with best costumes will be awarded with wife carrying products and statues.

In the sprint competition the length of the track is 100 meters, and the surface of the track is sand and gravel. The track has a water obstacle, about one meter deep. The contestants run the qualification round 5 to 10 couples at a time and the first three of each heat will continue in the next round until there are just three couples left to compete in the final. Winners will receive MP3-players, wife carrying products and statues. MP3 players! Whoa, now that seems out of place.

There is a cheerleaders’ competition for the spectators. Four to six spectators or fans form a group that takes part in the competition. They often have "helpers" in the audience to add humor to the event.

I suggest thigh exercises and a petite wife to be competitive.