The Sepia Saturday prompt photo this week made me think of this one from my grandfather's album. Unusually it comes with a note of the year (1924), location (name of a farm/estate) - and the occasion being what we in Swedish call a gökotta. 'Gök' means cuckoo, and 'otta' means early morning; put it together, and you have an early morning outing in the spring (May) to listen to the birds - especially the cuckoo, as a sign of spring.
There are some superstitions connected with hearing the cuckoo - bad luck or good luck depending on from which direction you hear it. I don't know if it's the same in other countries, as in the Swedish language the meanings are also connected to rhymes:
Södergök är dödergök, västergök är bästergök, östergök är tröstergök, norrgök är sorggök. In English that is: (Hearing the cuckoo) from the south means death; from the west is the best; from the east means comfort (consolation); from the north means sorrow
In church context, however, gökotta usually denotes an outdoors early church service on Ascension day (commemorating the ascension of Jesus into heaven, after his resurrection). But the word can also be used for an early picnic on another spring day - for example 1st May, which is Labour Day here. But as 1st May was not made a holiday in Sweden until 1939, I assume that the occasion in the photo above was Ascension Day, and an outdoors church service. A quick search informs me that in 1924, Ascension Day was 29th May; which in that case dates the photo more precisely.
At first I felt I could not identify anyone in the photo, but having got it enlarged on the computer screen, I do think I recognize the tall man in the dark hat in the middle in the top row as my grandfather. In May 1924, he would have been just a month short of turning 20 years old. I don't recognize anyone else in the photo (like my grandmother or her sister or brother).
The 'gökotta' context set me thinking about a few of those kinds of outings that I attended myself back in my youth.
For example, in 1975, when I was 19 going on 20, a youth group from my church back then went on an early morning gökotta on 1st May (which by then was a holiday). This was in the forest up on the (not very high) mountain Hunneberg - better known for chances to catch a glimpse of an elk (moose) than a cuckoo, but I'm not sure we saw any of those either. The photo below shows the classical charms of cooking breakfast outdoors in the forest on a chilly and damp morning in May, though:
On Ascension Day the same year (only a week later), a larger group from the same small free church went on a day-trip to an island off the west coast, visiting another church there. But of course following the tradition of holding the meeting outdoors on this day. Our choir probably joined forces with theirs - I don't recognize half the people in these photos.
Of course the ritual again also included the usual burning of sausages on open fire... ;) And that's me on the right, by the way - just to prove how hard it can be to recognize people in old photos! (Hey, did I really have that much hair, once upon a time?!)
Linking to Sepia Saturday 563
i really enjoyed this, we used to have church outdoor meetings, they called it dinner on the grounds, singing and stuff outside and talbes heaped with food to feed and army. i love all these photos especial the last two of you. this was fun and interesting. i like seeing the clothing in old photos
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. Looking at my old photo albums brings back lots of memories for me, too :)
DeleteThe first photo of the very large group is marvelous, but it's the subsequent photos of youth group outings that brought back some wonderful memories of the church youth group I belonged to in my teens. We were a fairly large group of 25-30 and we went on late afternoon picnics, playing softball before dinner and holding vesper services in a meadow or under trees later. Then there were the (Surprise!) "Come as you are" breakfasts with everyone in jammies and curlers in our hair - no make up (Ack!) We had so much fun that when some began graduating from high school, a college-age group was started because no one wanted to stop the gatherings!
ReplyDeleteGlad my photos brought back some good memories for you as well, La N!
DeleteThe older photo is so beautiful! Lots of details to ponder in the clothing. You were very brave to wear white pants at a campfire! :) Looks like a lot of fun, especially the choirs singing outside with the accordions.
ReplyDeleteMary-Alice, yes, that first photo is also of very good quality, quite sharp even when enlarged (the original photo is very small). It must have been taken by a good photographer.
DeleteAs for your comment on my white pants, I probably didn't know there was going to be a campfire. On the other hand, I'm not sure it would have made a difference if I did, at that age... ;)
I see your grandfather, he cut a dashing figure. I love your long hair!
ReplyDeleteGinny, one thing I really miss from that age is the much better quality of my hair...! (not only gray now but so much thinner...)
DeleteLovely memories here of church, sports clubs, school and works picnics. Simple pleasures that we don't seem to enjoy in these modern times. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteLiz, simple pleasures are often the best, aren't they?
DeleteThe quality of that first photo is great - you can see everyone fairly clearly, I think. Nobody was hidden by a hat or big hair.
ReplyDeleteWendy, yes, it seems very neatly arranged, doesn't it!
DeleteDidn't everyone have so much hair back in the 1970s :-)
ReplyDeleteI love it that you had those outings with the church, and making music - someone even plays a banjo on that choir picture!
The first picture is great quality indeed, like the others here have said.
Here, the cuckoo apparently tells you how many years you have left to live when you listen. For me, hearing a cuckoo mainly means one thing: it is spring!
Now that I have not been to O.K.'s since January 2nd, I can't wait to see the Black Forest again over Easter - hopefully, the weather will allow for a nice long walk or hike. It's a little early for the cuckoo yet, but there are plenty of other birds to hear right now.
You've got a point about the general hairstyle trend in the 1970s, Meike... To achieve the same kind of look today I'd need a wig, though!
DeleteInteresting to hear another version of sayings connected to the cuckoo. I wish you O.K. a happy Easter!