Greed and Work in Finland-Swedish Folklore

Abstract

Greed, or avarice, is one of the cardinal sins. Protestant Swedish Finn folklore demonstrates expressions of greed, even if the actual term is not mentioned. In folk religion Christian norms and values are combined with elements of folk belief. Theologians certainly clarify the gospel, but how lay people have implemented it should also be considered. With the help of proverbs and folklore legends from rural Swedish-Finland in the nineteenth century, this paper reflects on the idea of the Sabbath, or holiday, and work, in combination with considerations of envy and ‘the limited good’. Greed can be regarded as an expression for work in the wrong time and in the wrong way.

Keywords

• Folklore, Finnish
• Folklore, Swedish
• Swedish language
• Work
• Lutheran churches -- Finland
• Suomen evankelis-luterilainen kirkko