The emblems of the Tampere Region

The coat of arms
Gustaf von Numers, 1957
Red and gold represent the municipalities situated in the historical provinces of Häme and Satakunta. The partition line refers to the hunters and fur traders of old.

The standard
Red and gold represent the municipalities situated in the historical provinces of Häme and Satakunta. The partition line refers to the hunters and fur traders of old.

The official song: Sylvia´s song
Once upon a time, a poet spent his summer at the beautiful Franssila manor in Kangasala, Finland. Sitting on the veranda, he heard a small bird sing. It was the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) that inspired Zachary Tope-lius, the poet and writer of children´s fiction, to write the poem “Sylvia´s son”, known today as “A Summer´s Day in Kangasala”. Put to music, the poem became Finland´s best-loved song and choral work and the offi-cial song of the Tampere Region. The “Harjula Ridge” of the song is today´s Haralanharju, a place of pil-grimage for every lover of scenic beauty.

The Regional Song

The official rock: Orbicular granite
The official rocks of Finland´s provinces are on display in the garden of Mäntyniemi, the residence of the president of Finland. Of all of them, the orbicular granite, the official rock of Tampere Region is the most eye-catching. The orbicular granite deposit in the Tampere Region is one of the few in the world.
Some 300 pieces of orbicular granite have been found in the world, some as loose boulders, others embedded in rock. Seventy of these originate in Finland. Ten samples have been found in Tampere Region, five of them in loose boulders and five embedded in rock.
Orbicular granite is an intrusive rock with distinct circular shapes surrounded by rings of different colours, with a radial pattern. The circular shapes are 2-20 cm in diameter. The darker parts contain biotite, while the lighter ones contain feldspar and quartz.

The official bird: Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
If you sit by a lakeshore in late April or early May around the time that the ice breaks up, you will soon be joined by a young dandy wearing a smart black cap.
According to Finnish folklore, the return of the wagtail is a sign that summer is around the corner, so the winsome little bird is always a welcome sight.

The official fish: Asp (Aspius aspius)
Inhabiting the largest lakes in Finland, the asp can weigh up to 8 kilogrammes and reach a length of one metre.
The asp in lakes Kulovesi, Rautavesi and Liekovesi typically weigh under four kilos and range in length 45-60 cm. The asp is classified as an endangered species, and it is being restocked in Lake Pyhäjärvi.

The official animal: White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

The story of the white-tailed deer in Finland began art the historical Laukko estate in Vesilahti. Today a population of some 3000 of the Tampere Region´s majestic official animal roam the deciduous and mixed forests of the region.
Many a driver has been first startled, then charmed (provided the distance was suffi-cient) by the grace and beauty of a white-tailed deer as it suddenly crossed the road in two or three powerful leaps.

In 1934, the Laukko estate ordered seven Virginia deer from Minnesota, USA. Only one male survived the journey, along with four females, three of which could breed.
The first fawns were born in 1937, and the stock multiplied quickly. In 1949 some 100 animals were reported, and in 1966 the figure reached 2500. Around that time, hunting of the deer was allowed for the first time.
Competing with human hunters and at the top of the natural food-chain is the lynx. This big wild feline of the northern forests does not mind a taste of venision now and then.

On 28 January 1997, the Regional Board named the white-tailed deer the official animal of the Tampere Region. This corvine lightweight is 150-190 cm long and has a 25-30 cm tail. It weighs from 70-150 kg and may live to be 16-17 years old.

The traditional folk costume of the Tampere Region
Woman´s costume: Most of the items come in two variations: there are two skirts (narrow and broad stripes), two different aprons (white and striped), two waistcoats and two jackets. The shirt is made of white linen and there are two different bonnets, with four alternative lace pieces.

Man´s costume: Knee-length trousers of white chamois are complemented by a red waistcoat and jacket, a white shirt and a cap that resemples the headgear of 19th century cabbies in Tampere.

The official flower and tree: Bird cherry (prunus padus)
The cherry tree, often associated with geishas and oriental mystique, has a magnificent relative in Europe.
During its lifetime of up to 80 years, the bird cherry can reach a height of 15 metres, towering over its sur-roundings and intoxicating people as well as nectar-gathering insects with its early summer fragrance.
The committee on botanical provincial emblems, appointed by the Association of Finnish Culture and Iden-tity and the Flower Foundation of Finnish Homes, selected the bird cherry as the official flower of the Tam-pere Region. Following their example, the Board of the Council of the Tampere Region confirmed the bird cherry as the official tree.