What is Onionesbërg?

Onionesbërg is a traditional fish-stroking festival dating back to the 17th century, which is held in Lainioälven every three years in July. 

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The first Onionesbërg festival was held in 1678, in honor of fisherman, who had lost their lives in the devastating Lainio storm. The ongoing turbulence had affected and destroyed land, families, the economy, livelihoods, and the wider community. The storm came unexpectedly and its out-of-the-blue arrival meant that fishermen and townsfolk were not prepared to put proper safety measures in place or flee the area. Some fishermen died and many more were injured whilst out in the Lainio river on the first day of the storm. While some quit their work and had to give up business due to the storm, other attempted to face the storm and continue fishing, which only resulted in more losses.

After the harsh weather had subsided, there was a month of mourning, before the idea of Onionesbërg was born - a festival to celebrate the lives of hardworking fishermen, boost the region’s damaged economy, and bring the broken community back together. 

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