The word himmeli is believed to derive from the German word for heaven, himmel, which in turn derives from the Old Norse word himinn, variously translated as heaven or sky. For hundreds of years himmeli has incorporating many beliefs, myths and traditions. Himmelis have decorated homes, hoping to bring their owners happiness, wealth and a bountiful harvest in the summer. Himmeli were traditionally hung over the table or middle of the room during the harvest festival to ensure a good harvest the following year.

Traditionally, himmeli are made from specially selected and prepared straw in an octahedron, an eight-sided polyhedron. This octahedron consists of 12 interconnected straws and it symbolizes the year with it’s 12 months. Octahedran is the basic unit in himmeli and it iillustrates how each small everyday object contributes in creating a greater one.

Viime yönä uneksin.
Täällä tuuli saa puhaltaa – näyttely, Kouvolan taidemuseo 2021. Kuva Jonas Tölle. //
Solo exhibition in Kouvola Art Museum, Finland. 2021. Photo Jonas Tölle.

Metsän vaalea tytär.
Meijerin metsä ympäristötaiteen näyttely, kesä 2020 //
Environmental art exhibition summer 2020.