ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the story and tradition of a village idiot known as 'The Preacher of Limeland' The story of the Preacher of Limeland is still widely known in the area of the Torne Valley, in Finnish Lapland. The promotion of Finnish culture and language was part of a larger, Europe-wide movement of nationalism, and it manifested itself in many ways. The Preacher of Limeland could be seen as the embodiment of the ideological goals of the Youth Association Movement; he was very talented and willing to live a good life. Hegemonic and public discussion in Finland remained largely under the influence of the Enlightenment and philosophers such as Hegel and Snellman. The rhetoric of patriotism and nationalism was used to emphasize the unity of the Finnish nation. Individualization in contemporary thought is understood as breaking the bondage of traditional thinking, as a part of modernization and development.
