Wife Carrying World Championship in Finland

The Wife Carrying World Championship in Finland is precisely what you think it is. It is a contest to carry your wife over an obstacle run.

‘Eukonkanto’ as the Finnish call it originated in Finland. It is said it has its origins in the 1800’s when stories circled about robbers abducting wives and running away. Later the thieves actually trained by carrying heavy sacks, from where this sport originated.

You might find it funny to see men carry their wives on their back, but they actually do take it pretty seriously. There are wife-carrying contests all over the world, From Australia to India, Germany, and the United States.

The championship consists of several competitions like the sprint on Friday and the main contest on Saturday. But there is more. You’ll be able to enjoy a traditional market, live music,  and Karaoke. One thing is for sure, you’ll never forget this experience.

Did you know there are pretty specific rules at the Wife Carrying World Championship in Finland? For example, the track is exactly 253,50 meters long, the minimum weight of the wife has to be 48 kilo’s, and you must enjoy yourself.

Since you are already thinking about traveling to Europe you might want to visit another country in Europe, like Germany, or France. Read our destination pages about these countries to learn more.

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