Praktiker kring vårdträd
(2026) HEKK03 20252Department of Human Geography
Human Ecology
- Abstract
- This thesis examines the practices and importance of the “care-tree” (vårdträd) for human-nature relations in Sweden during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The “care-tree” have a long history of use, are entwined with supernatural beliefs, and are said to reflect the well-being and luckiness of the yard where it’s planted. Using theories of social control, non-human agencies and the dwelling perspective, the study examines folklife archival data from the provinces of Småland, Skåne and Blekinge. The analysis of the data reveals that the “care-tree” and other sacred trees such as “healing-tree” (sjukdomsträd) were an important part of how people viewed and interpreted nature during this time. The significance of the “care-tree” is... (More)
- This thesis examines the practices and importance of the “care-tree” (vårdträd) for human-nature relations in Sweden during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The “care-tree” have a long history of use, are entwined with supernatural beliefs, and are said to reflect the well-being and luckiness of the yard where it’s planted. Using theories of social control, non-human agencies and the dwelling perspective, the study examines folklife archival data from the provinces of Småland, Skåne and Blekinge. The analysis of the data reveals that the “care-tree” and other sacred trees such as “healing-tree” (sjukdomsträd) were an important part of how people viewed and interpreted nature during this time. The significance of the “care-tree” is highlighted in the practices that surrounded the tree, through which people formed a more-than-symbolic relationship with the tree and its surroundings. The “care-tree” was seen as an actor in the landscape and the yard, through its attributed abilities to make worlds and “take action”. Furthermore, the supernatural beliefs of the “care-tree” reinforced social control, and regulated people’s attributed roles within the society. Simultaneously, people’s view of nature changed during this time, as industrialism made a greater impact on people's everyday lives. However, some of the practices surrounding the “care-tree” still existed and lived on, but came to be motivated by other aspects than the original ones. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9223830
- author
- Brattberg, Caroline LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- En kvalitativ studie om vårdträdets betydelse för människa-naturrelationer i Sverige under 1800-talet och tidigt 1900-tal
- course
- HEKK03 20252
- year
- 2026
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Vårdträd, "care-tree", human-nature relations, none-human agencies, social control, folkbeliefs
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9223830
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-30 10:07:10
- date last changed
- 2026-03-30 10:07:10
@misc{9223830,
abstract = {{This thesis examines the practices and importance of the “care-tree” (vårdträd) for human-nature relations in Sweden during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The “care-tree” have a long history of use, are entwined with supernatural beliefs, and are said to reflect the well-being and luckiness of the yard where it’s planted. Using theories of social control, non-human agencies and the dwelling perspective, the study examines folklife archival data from the provinces of Småland, Skåne and Blekinge. The analysis of the data reveals that the “care-tree” and other sacred trees such as “healing-tree” (sjukdomsträd) were an important part of how people viewed and interpreted nature during this time. The significance of the “care-tree” is highlighted in the practices that surrounded the tree, through which people formed a more-than-symbolic relationship with the tree and its surroundings. The “care-tree” was seen as an actor in the landscape and the yard, through its attributed abilities to make worlds and “take action”. Furthermore, the supernatural beliefs of the “care-tree” reinforced social control, and regulated people’s attributed roles within the society. Simultaneously, people’s view of nature changed during this time, as industrialism made a greater impact on people's everyday lives. However, some of the practices surrounding the “care-tree” still existed and lived on, but came to be motivated by other aspects than the original ones.}},
author = {{Brattberg, Caroline}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Praktiker kring vårdträd}},
year = {{2026}},
}