Ola Värmlänning

Ola Värmlänning

Ola Värmlänning is a drunken prankster whose legendary exploits were once very popular among the Swedish-American communities of Minnesota. A Swedish language book about him is in the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Folk hero

According to legend, Ola Värmlänning was born in the Swedish province of Värmland. According to some accounts, he was the black sheep son of the Swedish nobility. He is alleged to have been packed off to America and provided a periodic stipend to remain away from his embarrassed relations (see Remittance Man). Other storytellers state that he came to America to forget a failed love affair. Still others describe his father as a minister of the Church of Sweden.

After working in the pine forests near Duluth, Minnesota, he is alleged to have arrived in Saint Paul via a private train. The huge crowd who had arrived to greet him was shocked to see Ola step off the train in the garb of an unwashed lumberjack.

Ola is said to have thrived in the Twin Cities of the 1880s and 1890s, living by his wits in a manner similar to Reynard the Fox or Till Eulenspiegel. In one popular legend, he tricks an officer of the Saint Paul Police Department into helping him steal a butcher's pig and sticking the unsuspecting lawman with the blame. Other stories tell of many other encounters with the police and with immigrants fresh off the boat, all of whom he frequently reduces to bumbling fools.

He is alleged to have died in a gutter and to have been buried in an unmarked grave.

See also

Source

  • Roy Swanson, "A Swedish Immigrant Folk Figure: Ola Värmlänning", Minnesota History, Volume 29, pages 105-113.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Brother Jonathan — For the paddle steamer, see Brother Jonathan (steamer). Brother Jonathan as drawn by Thomas Nast Brother Jonathan was a fictional character created to personify the entire United States, in the early days of the country s existence. In editorial… …   Wikipedia

  • Daniel Boone — This article is about the American pioneer. For other uses, see Daniel Boone (disambiguation). Daniel Boone This 1820 painting by Chester Harding is the only portrait of Daniel Boone made from life …   Wikipedia

  • Davy Crockett — For other uses, see Davy Crockett (disambiguation). David Davy Crockett Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee s 12th district In office March 4, 18 …   Wikipedia

  • Jedediah Smith — For the United States Representative from New Hampshire, see Jedediah K. Smith. Jedediah Smith Jedediah Smith Born January 6, 1799 (1799 01 0 …   Wikipedia

  • Calamity Jane — For other uses, see Calamity Jane (disambiguation). Calamity Jane Calamity Jane in 1895 by H.R. Locke Born Martha Jane Cannary May 1, 1852(1852 05 01) Princeton …   Wikipedia

  • Mike Fink — An early drawing of Fink on a keelboat.[1] Mike Fink (also spelled Miche Phinck)[1][2] …   Wikipedia

  • Hiawatha — This article is about the co founder of the Iroquois Confederacy. For the fictional character in the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, see The Song of Hiawatha. For other uses, see Hiawatha (disambiguation). Hiawatha by Thomas Eakins. Hiawatha… …   Wikipedia

  • Geronimo — For other uses, see Geronimo (disambiguation). ‹ The template below (Infobox American Indian chief) is being considered for deletion. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus.› Geronimo …   Wikipedia

  • Hodag — captured by Eugene Shepard, 1893 The Hodag is a folkloric animal of the American state of Wisconsin. Its history is focused mainly around the city of Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin, where it was said to have been discovered. Contents …   Wikipedia

  • Jersey Devil — New Jersey Devil redirects here. For the NHL Hockey Team, see New Jersey Devils. For other uses, see Jersey Devil (disambiguation). New Jersey Devil (Leeds Devil) The Jersey Devi …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”