Cultural Identity & Folk Art | The Meaning of Dala Horse of Sweden

In this interview with Julie, you will hear her personal stories and insights from her life in lobster fishing in Maine, including:

• An overview of the Dala horse’s ancient origins, dating back to Stone Age horse figurines, and its controversial history as both a pagan symbol and “devil’s toy” condemned by Christian bishops
• A description of the traditional craftsmanship involved in creating Dalahäst horses, including the kurbits painting style, the use of natural pigments from the Falun copper mine, and the secret signature marks artisans once used to identify their work
• The story of how family businesses like Grannas A. Olsson now produce 100,000 pieces per year while maintaining traditional techniques
• Personal accounts from contemporary master artisans like Bosse Kristenson, who creates custom horses inspired by his farm’s pony, and decorative painter Åse Larsjos, who was commissioned to paint “The Little Star” Dala horse celebrating the birth of Crown Princess Victoria’s child

Expected Learning Outcome:

This lesson includes clear expected learning outcomes that support students in understanding cultural identity through first-person perspectives, while building intercultural awareness and connections between individual experience and global traditions.

• Students will identify and describe key cultural practices and beliefs from the lesson’s focus community (i.e., Swedish culture). 
• Students will articulate insights into their own cultural identities and how those identities relate to what they learned. 
• Students will analyze how cultural expressions (like folk art) reflect values, history, and social traditions.
• Students will compare perspectives across cultures while finding similarities and differences through human themes. 
• Students will make connections between cultural traditions and broader global contexts (religious conflicts, history, cultural preservation), showing critical thinking about identity and intercultural understanding.