Laukkuryssä

Laukkuryssä or reppuryssä is the Finnish, påsaryss or kontryss the Swedish term for flying traders from Russia who traveled through the villages of Finland every summer until the beginning of the 20th century. Translated literally, the terms "pocket crusades" and "kiepenrusse" are used; many of these peddlers were, however, not Russians, but (East) Karelians or Tatars.

They have played an important role in the supply of foodstuffs, particularly textiles and tobacco, to the rural population in Finland since the 17th century; which was often not Russian products, but import goods from Western Europe and from overseas, which bought the lakkkury sowet in the ports of St. Petersburg or Arkhangelsk. Their business with the Finnish rural population often took the form of barter trade, in particular furs being accepted as consideration. Weblinks Edit sourcetext

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