Savonia (Finnish: Savo, Swedish: Savolax) is a historical province in the east of Finland. It borders to Uusimaa, Tavastia, Ostrobothnia, and Karelia. Largest cities in Savo by population are Kuopio, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus.
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For current affairs see: Eastern Finland
Savonia is virtually comprised within the boundaries of the administrative province of Eastern Finland and is divided into the regions of Northern Savonia and Southern Savonia. Formerly, the area was divided into Kuopio Province and Mikkeli Province.
The province of Savo represents the original area of Savonians, one of the subgroups that later became assimilitated to the Finns and the heartland of East Finnish dialect. The people of Savo traditionally pursued slash-and-burn agriculture, which settlers successfully imported in Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, Värmland in south western part of Sweden and eastern Norway.
Savonian settlers migrated also to Finnish Karelia, Ingria (see: Ingrian Finns) and to southern Sweden and Norway (see: Forest Finns).
Savo, which had been a part of Sweden from the late 13th century, was separated from Sweden when Finland was ceded to Russia in 1809. The provinces have no administrative function today but live on as an historical legacy in both countries.
Savonia is the heartland of Savonian dialects of the Finnish language, but the dialect is spoken in a much larger region.
Traditionally, the Savonian people have often been considered as "sneaky". However, recent research has shown that this fame is largely due to misunderstandings caused by the traditional Savonian social indirectness.[1]
Generally speaking, in Savonian region people have a tendency to tell things by not mentioning them directly, in fact it is sometimes considered even somewhat impolite to say simply "yes" or "no". Savonian people often like to veil their opinions in a more complex way of speech.
The arms is crowned by a countal coronet, though by Finnish tradition this more resembles a Swedish baronal coronet. Blazon: "Sable, a drawn hand bow in and arrow aimed toward dexter chief, or; bow string, arrowhead and feathered tail, argent".
Traditional provincial colors are black and gold.
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