Swedish Kukkolaforsen
Kukkola – a village divided by the border
Kukkola was originally located on both the Swedish and Finnish sides and was the largest village in the Torne Valley in the early 1800s. In 1809, when Finland was annexed to Russia, the national border was drawn along the Torne River, dividing the village into two eastern and western parts.
Changing traditions in whitefish distribution
In Kukkola, Sweden, the distribution of whitefish is similar in origin to that on the eastern side. The whitefish distribution tradition ended for the first time in 1932, when the local meeting decided to organise whitefish fishing in the same way as salmon fishing. In 1933, the old method of distribution was restored, but in 1937 a new arrangement was adopted, in which the village community gathered fishermen to fish for joint sale. When the fish decreased, the village stopped organising the work and moved to auction: in the 1970s, 5–6 villagers bid for the rapids. In years when the catch was plentiful, the village could take over fishing, most recently in the 1990s. In recent years, fishing has been sold at auction for three years for three fishing spots, the other spots are sold in shorter batches.
Centuries of whitefish festivals
Kukkolankoski has long served as a venue for traditional whitefish festivals. These celebrations have traditionally been celebrated on the Sunday of St. James’s Day week, and their roots go back to at least the early 1500s, when Olaus Magnus mentioned them in his descriptions. The whitefish festival is based on the belief that the first fish should be offered to the community to maintain good fishing luck. The tradition lives on in Kukkolaforsen, Sweden, where the Sikfäst festival is held every year.
Visit Swedish Kukkolaforsen
