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Visit Finland for the Wife Carrying World Championships
25 May 2011
There will be some memorable sights and experiences on offer to travellers visiting Finland this year when an unusual event returns to the town of Sonkajarvi.
The 2011 Wife Carrying World Championships is scheduled for 1 and 2 July, with a range of events and challenges planned for the two days.
Founded in 1992, the competition invites men to take part by carrying their wives on their backs through a course covering about 250 metres, featuring obstacles including a water jump.
Whoever completes the run in the shortest time is rewarded with his spouse's weight in beer.
In addition to the main competition, the two-day festival includes a sprint challenge, a wife carrying karaoke contest, markets, parties and other events.
The tradition is thought to date back to the early 19th century, when a Finnish bandit ordered local men who wanted to join his gang to take part in a contest that involved stealing women from neighbouring villages.
Travellers interested in taking in some of the sights and experiences that Finland has to offer can begin their trip to the country by catching flights to Helsinki, which are available with carriers such as SAS, Finnair, Air Baltic and KLM.
Opodo cheap flights, hotels and car hire - let the journey begin!
The 2011 Wife Carrying World Championships is scheduled for 1 and 2 July, with a range of events and challenges planned for the two days.
Founded in 1992, the competition invites men to take part by carrying their wives on their backs through a course covering about 250 metres, featuring obstacles including a water jump.
Whoever completes the run in the shortest time is rewarded with his spouse's weight in beer.
In addition to the main competition, the two-day festival includes a sprint challenge, a wife carrying karaoke contest, markets, parties and other events.
The tradition is thought to date back to the early 19th century, when a Finnish bandit ordered local men who wanted to join his gang to take part in a contest that involved stealing women from neighbouring villages.
Travellers interested in taking in some of the sights and experiences that Finland has to offer can begin their trip to the country by catching flights to Helsinki, which are available with carriers such as SAS, Finnair, Air Baltic and KLM.
Opodo cheap flights, hotels and car hire - let the journey begin!
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