The North American Wife Carrying Championships take place every year on Columbus Day Weekend in October at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Major wife-carrying competitions are also held in Monona, Wisconsin, Minocqua, Wisconsin and Marquette, Michigan. The objective is for the male to carry the female through a special obstacle track in the fastest time.
The sport originated in Finland, and was most likely inspired by a duo of historical tales. A 19th century legend has it that men stole wives from neighboring villages. In a second tale, an outlaw named Rosvo-Ronkainen made potential soldiers prove themselves in a race where they carried heavy sacks. Put the two tales together, and what do you get? Wife-carrying races.
Finns are not afraid of wacky and ridiculous competitions. Take the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships, where contestants chuck cell phones as far as they can. Or, the Sauna World Championships, where the winner is the person who sweats it out the longest. The Wife Carrying World Championships are hosted each July in the Finnish town of Sonkajärven.
if i were in one of these contests i'd carry my wife to the nearest toxic waste site!
ReplyDeletethe real origin of these feats was much more practical - putting out the trash, so to speak. am i a misogynist? not at all; i just happen to hate a lot of women i know.
ReplyDeletenot really, i just have this fantasy where they all get swallowed up by a sinkhole. not really
ReplyDeleteah yes, Women! you can't live with them and...you're not allowed to shoot them.
ReplyDeleteno i don't really feel this way. my real feelings are worse.
ReplyDeletei haven't had a date in 5 years. is it any wonder?
ReplyDelete