The Modernization of Finnish Lament Singing

Lamenting is an ancient way of releasing emotions through a type of singing when one is feeling overwhelmed by grief, sadness, pain, anger, or other negative emotions. Before laments were sung at times of loss and upheaval, the practice was about connecting to one's ancestors, and was often focused on helping move people from one world to another. In Finland, lamenting is rife with symbolism and rarely uses straightforward descriptions of the lament, which itself is sweet, positive, light, and bright, unless referring directly to the lamenter. But while Finland is experiencing a revival in the practice of lament singing, the rest of the world is seeing a steady decline, often due to competing religious beliefs and modernization. While previous generations of lamenters have died out, a new generation has arisen in Finland, keen on both preserving the traditions of old, and adapting them to suit modern issues.

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