Mora, Sweden
Encyclopedia
Mora is a locality and the seat of Mora Municipality in Dalarna County
, Sweden
, with 10,940 inhabitants in 2005.
Zorns gammelgård ("Zorn's old homestead").
Mora parish was established in the 13th century.
In late 1520, Gustav Vasa stopped in Mora, in order to organize a rebellion against the Danish troops which occupied Sweden. The citizens of Mora first declined to help Gustav Vasa, but later changed their minds and sought Gustav Vasa when he was about to cross the Norwegian
border. According to the legend two men from Mora (Lars Jakobsson and Engelbrekt Jonsson) caught up with Gustav Vasa in Sälen
and told him his people would now fight with him. The rebellion managed to overthrow the Danish government
in Sweden and Gustav Vasa was installed as king of Sweden.
In the 17th-century, it was the place for the famous Mora witch trial
.
During the 18th century the area around Mora was struck by famine, and many citizens abandoned their homes. Most went to Stockholm
and southern Sweden where they learnt new craftman skills. Returning to Mora they used their new knowledge to build up new industries. During the end of the 18th century and the 19th cottage industries of clocks, sewing machine
s, knives and water taps were important to the economy.
and the southern shore of lake Orsasjön where the Österdal River
enters Siljan. Mora lies on the west side of Europe's largest meteor impact crater
(Siljansringen).
The northern part of the municipality marks the beginning of the Scandinavian mountain range.
celebration of Midsummer
plays an important role in the cultural life. People dress up in traditional folk costumes, raise maypole
s, play traditional music and dance around the maypole.
was born in 1860 is located next to the church of Mora and is open to the public. A museum containing many of his works of art has been built next door.
in Mora. Another statue picturing Anders Zorn is located in the park behind the district court house of Mora. A third statue of a cross country skier is placed in front of the municipal house next to the town's characteristic red wooden clock tower.
played a couple of seasons in Elitserien
, the highest Swedish ice hockey
league. Currently the team plays in the second league Hockeyallsvenskan.
, a 90 kilometer cross country skiing event held in the honour of Gustav Vasa. The competition is visited by more than 48,000 annual participants in all the skiing events throughout the Vasaloppetweek in the beginning of March.
, held in FM Mattsson Arena
. Another sporting event is 1984 World's Strongest Man
.
just outside Mora.
In Mora, the high quality and inexpensive morakniv
are produced.
Dalarna County
Dalarna County is a county or län in middle Sweden. It borders the counties of Jämtland, Gävleborg, Västmanland, Örebro and Värmland. It is also bordered by the Norwegian counties of Hedmark and Sør-Trøndelag in the west...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, with 10,940 inhabitants in 2005.
History
There are signs of human activity in the surroundings of Mora dating from 4000 B.C. The earliest found buildings in Mora are from the 7th century. Some of the buildings can today be found in Mora's open air museumOpen air museum
An open-air museum is a distinct type of museum exhibiting its collections out-of-doors. The first open-air museums were established in Scandinavia towards the end of the nineteenth century, and the concept soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Open-air museums are variously known as...
Zorns gammelgård ("Zorn's old homestead").
Mora parish was established in the 13th century.
In late 1520, Gustav Vasa stopped in Mora, in order to organize a rebellion against the Danish troops which occupied Sweden. The citizens of Mora first declined to help Gustav Vasa, but later changed their minds and sought Gustav Vasa when he was about to cross the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
border. According to the legend two men from Mora (Lars Jakobsson and Engelbrekt Jonsson) caught up with Gustav Vasa in Sälen
Sälen
Sälen is a locality situated in Malung-Sälen Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 508 inhabitants in 2005.In the winter tens of thousands of tourists enter the area. Sälen is noted for hosting the start of Vasaloppet, the oldest , longest , and largest cross country ski race in the world...
and told him his people would now fight with him. The rebellion managed to overthrow the Danish government
Swedish War of Liberation
The Swedish War of Liberation , , was a civil war in which the Swedish nobleman Gustav Vasa successfully deposed the Danish king Christian II as regent of the Kalmar Union in Sweden. The war started in January 1521 when Gustav Vasa was appointed "hövitsman" over Dalarna. After Gustav Vasa sacked...
in Sweden and Gustav Vasa was installed as king of Sweden.
In the 17th-century, it was the place for the famous Mora witch trial
Mora witch trial
The Mora witch trial, which took place in Mora, Sweden, in 1669, is the most internationally famous Swedish witch trial. Reports of the trial spread throughout Europe, and a provocative German illustration of the execution is considered to have had some influence on the Salem witch trials...
.
During the 18th century the area around Mora was struck by famine, and many citizens abandoned their homes. Most went to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and southern Sweden where they learnt new craftman skills. Returning to Mora they used their new knowledge to build up new industries. During the end of the 18th century and the 19th cottage industries of clocks, sewing machine
Sewing machine
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
s, knives and water taps were important to the economy.
Geography
Mora is located between the northern shore of lake SiljanSiljan (lake)
Siljan, in Dalarna in central Sweden, is Sweden's sixth largest lake. The cumulative area of Siljan and the adjacent, smaller lakes Orsasjön and Insjön is . Siljan reaches a maximum depth of , and its surface is situated above sea level...
and the southern shore of lake Orsasjön where the Österdal River
Österdal River
Österdalälven is a 300 km long river in Sweden that flows southeast through Dalarna. Its sources are Storån, Grövlan and Sörälven and the end point is Djurås, in the municipality of Gagnef, where it connects with Västerdalälven to form Dalälven. Österdalälven flows through the Trängslet dam...
enters Siljan. Mora lies on the west side of Europe's largest meteor impact crater
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
(Siljansringen).
The northern part of the municipality marks the beginning of the Scandinavian mountain range.
Culture
Midsummer
As the rest of the municipalities around Lake Siljan, also in Mora, the summer solsticeSummer solstice
The summer solstice occurs exactly when the axial tilt of a planet's semi-axis in a given hemisphere is most inclined towards the star that it orbits. Earth's maximum axial tilt to our star, the Sun, during a solstice is 23° 26'. Though the summer solstice is an instant in time, the term is also...
celebration of Midsummer
Midsummer
Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different...
plays an important role in the cultural life. People dress up in traditional folk costumes, raise maypole
Maypole
A maypole is a tall wooden pole erected as a part of various European folk festivals, particularly on May Day, or Pentecost although in some countries it is instead erected at Midsummer...
s, play traditional music and dance around the maypole.
Anders Zorn
The house where Swedish painter Anders ZornAnders Zorn
Anders Leonard Zorn was one of Sweden’s foremost artists who obtained international success as a painter, sculptor and printmaker in etching.-Biography:...
was born in 1860 is located next to the church of Mora and is open to the public. A museum containing many of his works of art has been built next door.
Statues
A statue of King Gustav Vasa, made by Zorn is placed on a small hill at the finishing line of VasaloppetVasaloppet
Vasaloppet is an annual long distance cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March in northwestern Dalarna, Sweden between the village of Sälen and town of Mora. It is the oldest, one of the longest, and in popular consideration the biggest cross-country ski race in the world...
in Mora. Another statue picturing Anders Zorn is located in the park behind the district court house of Mora. A third statue of a cross country skier is placed in front of the municipal house next to the town's characteristic red wooden clock tower.
Ice hockey
Mora IKMora IK
Mora Ishockeyklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey club from Mora, Sweden. They are currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan...
played a couple of seasons in Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
, the highest Swedish ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
league. Currently the team plays in the second league Hockeyallsvenskan.
Skiing
Mora is also known as the finish of the annual VasaloppetVasaloppet
Vasaloppet is an annual long distance cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March in northwestern Dalarna, Sweden between the village of Sälen and town of Mora. It is the oldest, one of the longest, and in popular consideration the biggest cross-country ski race in the world...
, a 90 kilometer cross country skiing event held in the honour of Gustav Vasa. The competition is visited by more than 48,000 annual participants in all the skiing events throughout the Vasaloppetweek in the beginning of March.
Cycling
The VasaTrampet is a summer version of the Vasaloppet with its start and finish in Mora.Tournaments
Mora played host to 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 2007 edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Mora and Leksand, Sweden between December 26, 2006 and January 5, 2007. The venues were FM Mattsson Arena in Mora, and Ejendals Arena in Leksand...
, held in FM Mattsson Arena
FM Mattsson Arena
FM Mattsson Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Mora, Sweden. The capacity of the arena is 4,500 and it was built in 1967. It is the home arena of the Mora IK ice hockey team. Together with Ejendals Arena in Leksand, it hosted the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.-External...
. Another sporting event is 1984 World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
.
Craftmanship
The town of Mora is well known for its craft products. A famous Swedish souvenir, dalahäst, a wooden horse, is produced in the village NusnäsNusnäs
Nusnäs is a locality situated in Mora Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 724 inhabitants in 2005....
just outside Mora.
In Mora, the high quality and inexpensive morakniv
Mora knife
Mora knife is a term used to refer to a range of popular belt-knives manufactured by the cutleries of the town of Mora in Dalarna, Sweden, primarily by Mora of Sweden...
are produced.