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Røros winter market, Norway


Aldhissla

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I can't remember if this subject has been taken up here before, but here goes:

 

Have you heard about the "Rørosmartnan", an annual winter market in the town of Røros in Norway? It's an old market with traditions going back several hundred years. Back in the days it was an important market for the farmers and villagers from both Sweden and Norway, and people would travel over 300 km to get to the market. These were called "forbönder", roughly meaning "travelling farmers" and their journeys could take up to two or three weeks to get to the market. Their way of transportation was by horse and sled and since they travelled in the midst of winter they of course brought their furs with them! And not just any furs, but big, thick and warm wolf fur coats.

This tradition with horses and sleds still lives on to this day, but now more for the cultural value of course. And still, the ways of travelling is the same as it was then, and the furs are still plentiful in the city during the market. Judge for yourself by these clips:

Rørosmartnan 2010

Röros market 2009

Official website (only in norwegian I think)

http://www.rorosmartnan.no/

 

I also remember a clip from a local newspaper when they had two guys walking around talking and joking to people wearing fur, but I can't find it at the moment. Maybe some of our Norwegian friends can help me with this, or any other comments about the market?

 

This winter it's held between the 15-20 of February 2011. I'm going to be there in my furs, are you?

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Aldhissla...

 

Wow!!! What a fantastic post. This indeed rivals White Turf I would think. Not a good place for a coyote to stroll around though. Whole lot of Coyote coats but noticed some foxes in there too.

 

Boy, wish it wasn't so far away. I would be there for certain!

 

W

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What an excellent post! And for more than the obvious reason. A very interesting look at another culture and a fascinating trip back to another era! Well done, aldhissla!

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This winter it's held between the 15-20 of February 2011. I'm going to be there in my furs, are you?

 

 

I suppose the St Moritz polo cup is around the beginning of February. And then one could possibly fit in the fall-winter 2011-2012 fashion shows of Paris and Milan into the schedule, to have a long a fur-filled Euro-trip during February:) Anyone fancy that?

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This proves once more that fur is warm. Warmer than any of those gortex coat. Warmer than anything else. And its not a question of fashion. This place is not about the most beautiful coat as it is in Aspen/Vail Colorado or in the Alpes. This is about tradition but also keeping you warm for a long walk in a cold winter.

 

Now try to imagine these guys in a room with a fireplace.....I wouldn't mind being the person responsible in the cloakroom......hummm what a party that would be....for me!

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Thanks guys, it is good to see you liked it! As you said, wouldn't be fun to be a coyote on the run here

 

Some more pics and videos from last years market:

http://www.retten.no/rorosmartnan/article4864258.ece?start=7 (slide show with a lot of furs)

http://www.retten.no/Video_import/article4864351.ece (video with the tourist manager of Röros, wearing a coyote coat I'd love to see more of)

http://www.retten.no/Video_import/article4878917.ece (Part one with two guys whom I believe is some sort of local entertainers walking around in the market with the goal of finding fur and to talk about the furs with their owners. It's all supposed to be kind of comical and I suspect that the interwievers has had a beer or ten before doing this clip

http://www.retten.no/Video_import/article4878926.ece (part two)

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Thank you! Loved the videos.

 

In the post you just added, the second video has a lady talking. Behind her there is a lady in a dark gray parka. Isn' that Seal?

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In the post you just added, the second video has a lady talking. Behind her there is a lady in a dark gray parka. Isn' that Seal?

Yes, I believe it is. Not so common these days, at least not here in Sweden. I think it's still quite popular in Denmark, probably because they get more seal fur from Greenland, which territorially belongs to Denmark.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Found some more pictures. Soon just one more month to go!

 

http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/MD/Bilder/Kulturminner/Hestesleder_Rorosmartnan_170209_536x319.jpg

http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.6997775 (a slideshow with pics, some with fur and some without)

http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.6484492 (another slideshow, also some with and some without fur. As an extra bonus, on pic #2 you'll see my favourite mountains in the background, where I have spent many years working at a mountain lodge by the foot of the massif)

 

And, the best saved for last:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tore.vefferstad/Roerosmartnan2009# (an album with lots of fur in it, with #12 & #13 as special favourites of mine)

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  • 1 month later...

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