Nätti-Jussi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nätti-Jussi
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Nätti-Jussi
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| Born |
Johan Viktor Nätti
31 August 1890 |
| Died | 4 August 1964 (aged 73) |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Occupation | Forest laborer |
Juho Vihtori (Johan Viktor) Nätti (31 August 1890 – 4 August 1964), known as "Nätti-Jussi" (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈnætːi ˈjusːi]; English: "Pretty-John") was a Finnish forest laborer. The stories told by Nätti made him a legendary figure, particularly in Lapland. Nätti was born to a six-member family in Karstula, Central Finland, in August 1890. His parents were log driver Juho Nätti and hostess Maija Nätti. He had three sisters. Nätti migrated with other members of his family to the Northern logging sites, and worked there for most of his life. He was a well-known lumberjack who was known in Tervola, Pisa, Muurola and Rovaniemi.
Life
Nätti was also known for his clubfoot: his left foot had turned backwards. From the 1950s on, Nätti was paralysed and was admitted into the Rautiosaari nursing home in Rovaniemi. Nätti died in the Palosalmi nursing home for lumberjacks on 4 August 1964. He was buried in the Rovaniemi Viirinkangas cemetery in a common burial plot reserved for the Palosalmi residents.
Nätti got his own grave marker at the cemetery in the summer of 2006; the unveiling took place on 25 August 2006. The grave marker has a quote from Nätti-Jussi himself: "Over there, I was. Spoke with St. Peter about the sights for the coming winter, and agreed to work with him on a contractual basis, going about lighting the Northern Lights."
Nätti-Jussi name used for other purposes
The first pizzeria in Rovaniemi was named "Il Bel Giovanni", Italian for Nätti-Jussi. In the late 1990s the Nätti room Muurola restaurant was established in former rural municipality of Rovaniemi. In 2003, Karstula founded the Nätti-Jussi restaurant. Vaasan & Vaasan bakery also manufactures Lapland Pakari Nätti-Jussi called rye bread.
