The province of Finland Proper boasts a particularly rich medieval cultural heritage. Turku Castle, the centre of the historical Finland Proper, was the first castle built in Finland. Moreover, more than half of Finland’s medieval manors are located in Finland Proper.

The Turku Cathedral and the Naantali Church are counted among Finland’s most important sites of religious architecture. As for the ruins of Kuusisto Castle, they mark the administrative site and sanctuary of the medieval Archbishops of Turku. In the Middle Ages, Kuusisto Castle was built at Kaarina, on the shores of Piikkiönlahti bay as the sanctuary of Finland’s Catholic bishops.

The Decorative Tankards were Made during Early Modern Times for the Weddings of Nobility

The kousa or the decorative wooden tankard was Finland Proper’s earliest export product. Large numbers of tankards were exported from Finland Proper in the 16th century, particularly to Sweden. The Finland Proper coin depicts a Rusko tankard made of a spruce rootstalk. The Rusko tankard is the only remaining festive tankard in Finland. It is one of the most valuable objects at the National Museum of Finland.

Most of the festive tankards complete with the year and coat of arms were made in the early 16th century for the weddings of the nobility. The Rusko tankard, used at biblical study gatherings, dates back to 1542.

The Tankard was Used to Sip Drinks while Learning to Read

In the 19th century, the festive Rusko tankard was used at biblical study gatherings in the Hujala village of the Rusko parish. These study gatherings were known as kinkerit, the equivalent of the modern confirmation class, and they became an established practice in Finland with the enforcement of the 1686 Church Law.

Before general compulsory education, these reading events played an important role in the promotion of literacy and the knowledge of catechism among the people. The reading event was generally arranged in large farm houses where home-brew could be served during the religious programme. After the event, a procession carried the tankard to the house where the next study gathering would take place.