Hälsingland

Infobox Landskap
fullname=Hälsingland
name=Hälsingland
land=Norrland
county=Gävleborg County Jämtland County Västernorrland County
area=14,200
flower=Flax
flower_swe=Lin
flower_lat=Linium
usitatissimum
animal=Lynx
bird=Ural owl
fish=Ide

Audio|sv-Hälsingland.ogg|Hälsingland, is a historical province or "landskap" in central Sweden. It borders to Gästrikland, Dalarna, Härjedalen, Medelpad and to the Gulf of Bothnia. It is part of the land of Norrland.

In English the province is sometimes referred to as "Helsinga" or similar derivations.

Administration

The traditional provinces of Sweden serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of Hälsingland the province constitutes the northern part of the administrative county, "län", Gävleborg County. Minor parts of the province are in Jämtland County and in Västernorrland County.

Heraldry

The coat of arms were granted in 1560 in the era of King Gustav Vasa. At that time, Hälsingland was known for its large scale goat breeding, and the arms depicted a standing coat facing heraldic right. Blazon: "Sable, a Goat rampant Or attired and hoofed Gules". This, combined with the arms of Gästrikland, forms the coat of arms for Gävleborg County.

Geography

The terrain is mostly of the mountainous rocky, sloping down towards the coast. The highest elevation in its northern parts is 530 meters; and 600 meters in the western parts. Circa 85% of the land area is covered with woods, and the wood industry has historically been the main source of income. Apart from some areas around the river systems, notable around river Ljusnan, the soil is barren. Large areas consist of rocks and bogs, and is additional unsuitable for agriculture.

Part of the coast line on the Gulf of Bothnia, called "High Coast", has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, used for the study of isostasy, i.e. the land elevation. The land still raises at close to 1 cm annually.

Other notable geological features are the Dellen lake system, in fact meteoric impact craters. It is the only location in Sweden of the vulcanic Andesite rock, which has given its name dellenite.

History

The earliest mention of the people of Hälsingland may be in the Old English poem "Widsith", from the 9th - 10th century, where a people called the "Hælsings" are referred to. The first affirmative mention of the people is made by Adam of Bremen around 1070, in reference to the leidang shipping fleet.

In this medieval age, the "Helsings" were the Swedish speaking inhabitants of the entire coastal region north of Uppland, a rather unprecise denomination. In the early provincial law of Uppland, Uppland bordered north to Hälsingland by the Ödmården forest.

In 13th century a large number of people emigrated from Hälsingland to southern coasts of Österland, now called Finland. They named places after Hälsingland: most notably the river Helsingeå and its first rapids Helsingfors. In 1550 the latter gave name to a new town founded next to it by king Gustav Vasa. In 1812 the city of Helsinki became capital of Finland.

The oldest city in Hälsingland is Hudiksvall, chartered in 1582. After that, Söderhamn was chartered in 1620. Not until 1942 was Hälsingland granted its third city, that of Bollnäs. It was to become the last city (in Hälsingland) as City status in Sweden was abolished in 1971.

The town of Hudiksvall, one of the oldest in Norrland, was ransacked by Russian troops in 1721. Hälsingland Regiment was the provincial regiment.

Dukes of Hälsingland

Since 1772, Swedish Princes and Princesses have been created Dukes/Dutchesses of various Swedish provinces. This is solely a nominal title, however. Current holder:
* Princess Madeleine (1982-); Dutchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland

Culture

Tongue

The local dialect is known as "Hälsingemål" or "Hälsingska" but has no official linguistical recognition. The accent as it is spoken today is relatively similar to the accent of the Standard Swedish language. Some notable aberrations are to be found, such as the old Bergsjö and Hassela-dialects; and the Delsbo dialect which features some Norwegian characteristics.

Folk architecture

Hälsingland is known for its magnificent farmhouses, the so-called hälsingegårdar. Two or even three storeys high, they are built to show wealth and independence, and much inventiveness has gone into decorating their interiors, which combine aristocratic fashions with traditional materials and techniques.

Notable natives

Archbishop Nathan Söderblom, Nobel Prize laureate for Peace in 1930, was born in Trönö, Hälsingland in 1866.

Subdivisions

Hälsingland was historically divided in districts.

* Arbrå Court District
* Bergsjö Court District
* Delsbo Court District
* Enånger Court District
* Forsa Court District
*Hälsingland South-Eastern Court District
*Hälsingland South-Western Court District
*Järvsö Court District
*Ljusdal Court District

References

* [http://runeberg.org/nfbl/0076.html article "Hälsingland"] in Nordisk familjebok

External links

* [http://www.halsingland.nu/ Hälsingland.nu]
* [http://www.halsingegardar.se Hälsingegårdar]