I happened to come across some short documentaries showing traditions and techniques and skills of the rural Finland. These documentaries were filmed in 30's, just few years before the start of the WWII. The films were made to preserve some of the habits and skills of the "old folks" to generations to come, as these skills were already rare and disappearing. Some have Finnish commentary and some are silent films. All are black and white. Most are divided in two or more parts. All are made publicly available on the internet by the Finnish officials.
The skills and traditions shown include preparing a field for crops by slash and burn, games and "strength tests" of the old, building a sort of a dugout canoe called "haapio", making a fence, fishing and so on.
I'm not certain if these films fit the guidelines so I thought I'd check first. If I'm to post them, I'll add a description with the embedded films so that the main idea and the context of the film is clear. I'm certain that even though the commentary is in a language you won't understand the picture will speak for it self. I have a strong feeling that you would find these films useful or at least interesting.
I'll add a You Tube url's to one film here for moderator review.
PART 1: Wood working, games and tests of strength.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fdCFheNS_Q
First part starts really at 1:50, so feel free to skip there, you'll loose only the finnish description of the contents. First is shown a way of making a fence that no longer is used.
Then we move to games and such, starting with a big swing.
After that follows the "jumping board", predecessor of the trampoline. Note the villagers wearing their Sunday clothes.
After the board is a strength test called "manlifting" one succeeds if the man is lifted upright.
Then follows the "thumb stick" Hold the stick between your thumbs. Winner is the one who can keep the stick.
Next is "finger hook", use your middle finger and pull until the looser quits.
Then comes the "salt weighting". I'm not sure if this is just a game, child's play, or a competition of who lifts the most times.
"Strenght block" pull the other person up from sitting position.
"Cat's tail" Pull the stick from the other person.
"Neck line", I'm not certain of the rules, but I'd imagine that the idea is to pull the line off from behind the oppositions neck.
"Knot trick" continues on the part 2. Seems to be a magic trick aka sleight of hand.
PART 2: Continues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2EwZSOfZs8
Second part shows two boys making simple toy boats from reed leafs. The wind catches those things really nicely.
