While rove around a ScandinavianChristmasmarket , you ’ll probably come up across booths sell carved wooden horses , typically paint in an assortment of bright colors and flowered pattern . These traditional Swedish toys are much more than a classicholiday giftor travel souvenir : The Dala buck has become intertwined with the very image of Sweden itself .
The termDalais light forDalecarlian ; the name touch to where the horses were first made . Thefigurinescome from the Dalarna ( also known as Dalecarlia ) region of Sweden , a province in the land ’s cardinal area . People begin crafting plain , wooden horses aschildren ’s toysin the Village of Bergkarlås , Risa , Vattnäs , and Nusnä in the 17th century . cutter opted to make horses over other puppet because of the animals ’ condition as a prized family ownership in these rural communities .
Their midget handmade steed were a hit . Dala horses ’ popularity spread as those who travelled around Sweden peddling slyness beganincluding the toysamong their item for sales agreement . As meter went on , their feel began to acquire ; the mod , morecolorful creationsonly became uncouth in the 19th century .
The miniature — originally meant to entertain child — enter the interior spotlight toward the final stage of the 1800s . As a response to concerns about Swedes bequeath the area for opportunity elsewhere , the Dala horse was deemedan iconto which Swedish identity could be tied .
TwoWorld ’s Fairscemented the wooden trinkets as an emblem of the Nordic country . TheDala horsewas used as the ocular symbolic representation for Sweden at the 1937 expo in Paris ; later , it became a virtuoso of the New York World ’s Fair in 1939–40 , where a vast painted horse was rate in front of the Swedish pavilion . Similar statues soonbegan appearinginSwedish communitiesacross the U.S. soon after .
The figurines have come a tenacious means since they were first paw - chip at by woodworker in rural Sweden . Now , you’re able to find Dala knight - themed items in various brick - and - mortar and on-line shop class — evenIKEA .
