Fagning

Fagning First of all – “fagning” is not even Swedish – it’s a thing indigenous to Gotland. Most Swedes don’t even know what it means. In the old days a special type of meadow was very important to the Gotland people – called an “änge”. This was an area... More

Fagning First of all – “fagning” is not even Swedish – it’s a thing indigenous to Gotland. Most Swedes don’t even know what it means. In the old days a special type of meadow was very important to the Gotland people – called an “änge”. This was an area where the community grew hazels, aspens and oaks amongst the long grass. These trees were used to make tools; people ate the hazelnuts, and fed the pigs with the grass and the acorns. Since the “änge” played quite an important role, people took good care of them. That meant that in late spring, before the grass really started growing, it was time for “fagning” – that is to clean the “änge” from last year’s dead leaves. This is a custom people on Gotland still hold on to, even if today it’s mostly to keep the old culture alive – and to meet and have some fun of course! Less