An Introduction to Östergötland, the Case Region

Östergötland (East Gothia) is one of Sweden’s 25 provinces (landskap). Historically, a landskap is “a part of the land”, and “land” is found in the name of half of the Swedish provinces. During the Middle Ages many landskap were independent political units with their own legislation (landskapslagarna; the law-rolls of the Swedish Provinces), judges and assemblies/things (ting). Thus, the division of the country into landskap was originally a political one, founded on specific cultural and geographical features in different parts of the country. To this day, however, many people identify quite strongly with these features, and profound sentiments for one’s own landskap are very common. Each landskap has its traditional customs and feasts, as well as, e.g., special clothing (landskapsdräkt). Quite recent additions to the landskap features are particular flowers, animals, fish, birds, stones and mushrooms symbolizing nature in the area.