Hilma Granqvist facts for kids
Hilma Natalia Granqvist (born July 17, 1890, in Sipoo – died February 25, 1972, in Helsinki) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish anthropologist. An anthropologist is someone who studies human societies and cultures. Hilma is famous for her long research trips to Palestine. There, she learned a lot about the lives of Palestinian people. She was a student of a well-known professor named Edvard Westermarck.
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Hilma Granqvist's Amazing Studies
Discovering a New Path in Palestine
In the 1920s, Hilma Granqvist traveled to a village called Artas. This village is near Bethlehem in what was then called the British Mandate of Palestine. She went there to study the women mentioned in the Old Testament, a part of the Bible. Hilma hoped to find the ancient Jewish ancestors described in the scriptures.
However, when she arrived, she found something different. She met Palestinian people with their own unique culture and way of life. This discovery changed her research plans completely. Instead of looking for ancient history, she decided to study the people living there right then.
Documenting Village Life in Artas
Hilma Granqvist stayed in Artas until 1931. During this time, she carefully documented everything about village life. She wrote down their customs, habits, and ways of thinking. She also took hundreds of photographs. These pictures and notes helped her show the world the daily lives of the people in Artas. Her work became very important for understanding Palestinian culture.
Example of a Wedding Song
Hilma Granqvist recorded many songs and stories during her time in Artas. Here is an example of a wedding song she wrote down. It shows how people celebrated special events.
"God knows that our outfit today
(Granqvist: Marriage conditions in a Palestinian village, vol. 2 (1931), p. 42.)
A hundred ‘royal’ robes which we have cut
For the bride to whom we are betrothed.
God knows – today is our outfit
A green and a ‘royal’ [malak] dress we have bought
For the bride to whom we are betrothed!
Ten jackets [taqsireh] have we bought
For the beloved ones in order to appease her"
