Fish day – event

Local associations organize together annually Fish day in the charming Oravi village. Come and engage with villagers in this local fishing culture event and with luck you may end the day being a lucky owner of a rowing boat! Since Russian emperor Alexander II ordered to build a canal through narrow Oravi cape in 19th century, it has been a vivid village where fishermen have started their daily trips to lakes both sides of the village. Today there are still many people who get at least part of their income of fishery. All the habitants and summer residents around gather in Oravi village in the end of July to celebrate and respect the ancient fishing culture. It is said that habitants of Oravi live and breathe in the rhythm of fishing, and there is not a single soul who doesn’t fish at least as a hobby. During the day there are vast amount of activities to take part: trolling and more traditional angling competitions. You can learn how to make your own fish traps as well how to prepare fish for food in different ways. Try the local food, specialty is the fish dish made of vendace, small local fish in Saimaa lake. The traditional way of eating vendace is to make it soup, lake shore fish. Rightly, it is made from freshly caught fish and eaten by the campfire. It has been said that lake shore fish will be cooked in the same time as the nets are cleaned. For dessert you must taste the open fire pancakes made by local Martta’s. Enjoy the Finnish rural village atmosphere, live music and buy raffle tickets. If you are not lucky to win your own rowing boat, it is still a good chance to go home with the all time number one raffle prize in Finland: bag of coffee!