LECTURE: KNITTING, FOLK SPIRIT AND GENDER ROLES

28/9/2023

Doors: 13:00 // Lecture: 16:30

Come to a lecture on knitting, folk spirit and gender roles when the Aarhus Folk Festival moves into turkis from 28 September - 1 October. The lecture will be held in Danish.

Kasper Thomsen, who is a historian with a special interest in knitwear, in his spare time is a mediator in Den Gamle By, Aarhus, a lecturer and frequently attends balls and dances.

At this year's festival, he will give a lecture on knitting in the 1800s, but also on how knitting later takes on an almost legendary role in the cohesion of nationalism, which mistakenly equates knitting as a symbol of belonging to regions and countries.

Many may know the myth that you could recognize a fisherman by his shirt if he drowned. It is a myth – there are no sources before 1906 about the phenomenon, and the first time it is mentioned in 1906 is through a play, which is just a story. But today, clothes are used to express a "people" and their belonging. It is the same with the Danish folk costumes, which are actually to a large extent a result of the folk dance movement in Denmark at the beginning of the 20th century.

150 years ago, knitting was part of everyday life for many people in Denmark, both women and men - But why are these men and their work not part of this new wave of interest in knitting. It is a rare sight today; a man with knitting in his lap - but it hasn't always been like that.

You are of course welcome to bring your knitting or other needlework to the lecture.

AARHUS FOLK FESTIVAL TICKETS

➤ A thursday ticket costs DKK 100 (+ fee) // Young ticket DKK 80 (+ fee)
➤ A partout ticket costs DKK 490 (+ fee) // Young ticket DKK 400 (+ fee)

Find more information about the program and tickets at: aarhusfolkfestival.dk

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